Hi all,

My Dad is a maths teacher and a complete computer luddite, and today he asked me what antivirus he should buy. Personally, I use Avira AntiVir, have a regular backup regime and periodically run SpyBot S&D. However I want Dad to have someone to call on the phone when (not if) he has questions and he's going to need something completely automatic. He has already learned about backing stuff up, so what I really need is a recommendation on full-featured retail internet security software for Windows.

Based on universally good reviews, I'm leaning towards Norton 360 but as always I'd like some at0mic advice before I tell him how to spend his hard-earned.

What would you recommend for your n00b relatives?

NO!
No 360! The ammount of bloat and attempted automation in that software leads to trouble.

Noob relatives? I follow the Keep it simple, stupid - method

Windows firewall
Hosts file patched with MVPS hosts file
AVAST Antivirus.
Seperate 'guest' and 'admin' account. (they only log in as admin to install a new program. They know this)


I too use Avira, but I can set avast to auto-delete\quarantine files, and then set it to 'silent mode'. They dont even have to see it update (but it still gets an error icon if it fails).

I think you may be overemphasising phone support. Besides being normally useless; if your relative is noob enough to not know how to use an antivirus, do you really think he should be modifying it or phoning support in the first place?

High detection settings, silent, and automatic. For the people I assist, this is priority.
They dont want to see 9and are often spooked by) a malware warning, so if i can set it up so they just turn it on and use it, so much the better.


EDIT: If you DO go paid software, go for the best - ESET Security (formerly Nod32). They've won 100% awards for how many years running now? And not had one major issue to patch (besides virus updates)? And, despite being so good, being a smaller company, has almost no 'viruses' that disable it, unlike others.

Don't get nortons, grab Kaspersky it does a great job without the annoyance.

???
All the reviews praise Symantec's turnaround with Norton's speed, size and efficacy. Have you tried the latest versions?



I understand everything except this bit. Also, was hoping to avoid having to visit (and future phone calls) just to set up bloody internet security. I suppose there are other things that I could do while I'm at it, but really not keen on the drive right after work.

*sigh* but you're the expert. *grumble*

Any thoughts on Kaspersky? The Jackie Chan ads put me off that one...

bowiee - thanks for the recommendation.

So simple.... : /


The newer versions of 360 are pretty good for just the mum and dad that or kaspersky is what I've been installing for friends etc.

Jackie Chan ads ? Must have missed them. Any how If you are going to buy antivirus Kaspersky Is what I recommend to my clients, but personally I use Microsoft Security Essentials, it works as well as others and is very light on resources. I have tested it by feeding it virile and trojans and it grab them as soon as they were introduced.

Another one using Kaspersky IS. Seems to be quite good and not too expensive.

The more recent Nortons are fine. My Dad was in a similar situation and hs is very happy with Norton Internet Security 2011.

Simple for the USER.

Once its set, nothing can go wrong.
They touch nothing.

also, installing a hosts file and an antivirus really isnt to 'complicated'.
Windows firewall is on by default, and if its Win7 UAC handles the guest account thing.



Yes. 360 though I dont believe s one of those? (is it? is there an updated one?)



kaspersky is fine; I just dont see the need for paid products for a home user. If they dont know enough to fix it themselves, over the phone support likely wont help when it comes to infections.

Also: http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.htm

edit: and it was jackie chan, on a segway, fighting malware... whats not to love? lol

I'd love to meet a user who touches nothing and does this most dont care enough to do anything that you've stated they want a solution they can pay $60 for that work. Norton 2011 and kaspersky is perfect for home users they dont need to fuck around and they dont need anyone else do either just install and follow the simple promts.

The only thing they need to do is have a guest and an admin account.
or if its win 7, NOT disable UAC.

Once ive initially set it up, they dont touch it.

My parents paniced first time they got a virus and a big popup appeared. Theyd never seen one before. They didnt know what quarantine meant; they didnt know what the file was, or what a 'path' was. They just had 'the internet' open and it 'covered the internet with a virus screen'.

I quickly changed to my above silent solution; works 100%

On win7?
Install AV, install MVPS.
Tick 'silent mode' in the AV
done.

I dont know what you consider 'simple' but I dont think it gets much simpler for the user IMO

I think you need to go for a paid solution, free antivirus or firewall software isn't going to cut it.

Making things "simple" is hard to do unless you go Mac or iPad ;-)

kasperspy is cheap

i would not reccomend any norton stuff mainly because symantec has pissed me off again (liveupdating backup exec forces you to restart. even though its a fucking software update..., no restart later option either).

FWIW folks I'm going to attempt Master_Scythe's solution first, as the downside to retail options is that you have to pay for it year after year. Plus I guess I can spare one night of my time now and again for my Dad :--P

Going to visit him tonight after work. Wish me luck!

What bowiee said. MSE is one of the better products on the market. It's to some extent a derivative of Microsoft's excellent FEP solution and is a great performer with widespread features. I am not good with computers but I use this in combination with Windows Firewall and Windows Defender and have had great success. I'd suggest you try these FREEEEE options before you go buying software you and your dad don't need.

Not sure if serous

I don't know, his emoticon made it pretty obvious that he was jesting.

Or was I?
Most people don't worry about any antivirus on Macs, maybe that will change. And with Apples tight control on the iOS there's not too much concern here (hence iPad maybe a consideration).

But kinda expecting to get flamed...

Well he was calling you stupid, and I was defending you, so you should have just run with it. :P

i was more just going with the first 'not sure if' meme i could think of. and it fit.

m happy to agree mac is 'simple', in the same way you may call inbred people 'simple'

I think the stupidness comes in when you dismiss something so easily ;-) ;-)

Please ignore MS's weird, outdated testimonial based rantings.

Go with Norton 360.

Yep its the last thing I would have recommended 2-3 years ago but its quiet a good product now days.

Even I would suggest it these days for what the OP wants.


But then, MS is usually right....

Eset Smart Security, by far the best suite i've ever used!

And it's also worthwhile mentioning that Symantec has got their shit together with their latest release.

Agreed !!!!!

I'm using a trial of Norton 360 that I got with my motherboard, was skeptical at first, but its quite amazing, its automation is less intrusive than Kaspersky, its really good.

Testimonial? Normally people are sure when they write a testimonial




I admited I wasnt SURE if 360 had been 'updated'

Err, you seemed pretty sure when the first lines of your first post were "No! No 360!" before you went on a rant about setting up free AV for noob relatives with edited host files and about 5 different programs.

Why can't you just admit you're wrong? Like once.

Because when someone is asking your oppinion, you cant be wrong?
If you dont like something, say, music, that I do i dont call you wrong. I assume we have different oppinions.
If he wanted hard an fast 'which is better' you'd go and get statistics and what not. Instead, hes on a public forum, asking for oppinions.

Not to mention, the clarification that I was unsure if said update had applied to 360 was stated before the OP had decided. And reguardless of that, it wouldnt sway my oppinion anyway

Also, my solution involved ONE program, and a hosts file.
OOOOOooooo complicated!

Okay, so maybe I went overboard, but it still applies. It seemed like you were saying not to use Norton 360 because it sucked, because of your experiences.

Also, I never said your solution was complicated.

Gotta admit, I do like watching you backstep though.

In my experience, yes, that is the case.
However im happy to admit my last experience with it was about a year ago, av-comparatives shows its kicking some real ass now detection wise; but i'm interested in footprint and scanning method; and reguardless it seems way overpriced considering how close the free options come.


EDIT: and yeah, you'll get used to me backstepping. Its mainly because in the heat of the moment im happy to make hugely exaggerated broad sweeping claims; mainly because its a real life habit to get my point across. Then when people start wanting specifics I have to go and clarify. People seem to 'get that' when you're using words, but seem to pick it to pieces in text format. *shrug* such is society i guess.

I saw a detection rate comparison a few weeks ago and theres not much in it between the big AVs and the free AVs, MSSE was about 95%, kaspersky was about 97%, AVG was like 92% etc.

But I can't seem to find the article anymore, was linked on facebook by a mate but I cbf going through all his stupid wall posts to find it.

I will say this in regards to Norton though.

I used to hate it, was a horrible, bloated AV back when I used to use it, but I got a free 2 month trial with my motherboard and I thought, screw it, I'll give it a bash, so I removed MSSE and installed it and its been amazing. It runs background scans that don't use up all your resources, it auto quarantines/deletes sus files etc. It checks websites for me to make sure they're safe and blocks me from viewing them if they are unsafe. I'm really loving it and if my experience with it over the next 8 weeks is the same, then I will most likely buy a sub.

you can get avast to do all that to

Yep it did but it relied on the consumer not touching anything and you having to educate them on what you'd done. AV clients now days you just install and let em do their thing.

I think much of the anti-Norton sentiment is based on old experiences and Chinese whispers. I have a bunch of family and friends using it(norton 360) for the past 18 months with only one minor update issue.

It's fine.

I'm thinking I'll get the 3 PC sub, one for my girlfriend, one for myself and one for my laptop, I like its safe browsing features, virtually zero setup and full automation, no bullshit.

Without norton bashing; because apparently its fixed up (which is actually good to hear :D), Have you tried Avast?

Im an Avira supporter, but Avast I must say, automates itself amazingly. Does some tricky proxy stuff to scan all incoming stuff from your browser, has sandboxing built in and on by default.
For a 'set and forget', I wasnt recommending it purely on 'norton hate', I think its honestly a very good, simple, all round program. And the sandboxing is a bonus.

Dude, you really gotta try and be a bit more accurate with your rants.
It reflects badly on this forum. When someone is scouring the web looking for solutions, they will stumble across this and see that a "Hero" is posting utter rubbish and then dismiss Atomic all together instead of embracing it and all of the Atomicans who actually do know what they are talking about.

I'd go with Kaspersky. It has a good track record over the last 5-6 years. Nortons has definitely learned it's lesson that it can't just be bloated crap and expect people to buy it anymore. I love the ads they had with reviews saying they had returned to form. I couldn't help but feel annoyed that they were admitting they're product had been complete arse for 5 years and NOW it was good even though they had been spruiking it all that time. Kaspersky is well priced and well regarded. Not quite as automated but it doesn't just delete stuff without asking either (which shits me no end with nortons but probably would be fine for the average user) and when it does ask a question it always has a recommended action which your average joe can feel fairly assured will be right.

I'm using Norton and its great but believe me the 360 is a waste of money for a few unimportant features.

Just don't get Trend Micro.

What does "Hero" status have to do with knowledge?

Absolutely nothing.
We know that.
Someone who knows nothing about Atomic may not.

Or somebody that isn't that intellectual.

I have heard Kaspersky is really good.
I use Avast! Free which does the job.