Hey all!
I have another computer question for you ... do you run any anti-virus programs on your computers (ie: Norton 360 2.0)?

I recently purchased a new Vista machine for my parents and we were told that an anti-virus software was an absolute must. However, my past experiences with Norton and other anti-virus, antispyware programs were disappointing (slow computer while background protection was running, slow scans, inadvertently deleting important files, etc...)

They occasionally make purchases with their credit card online (plane tickets) and thats about it.

I've been running Vista on my laptop without any sort of protection aside from Windows Defender that came with Vista and have not had any problems with viruses so far.

Why do you guys think?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thank-you so much!!

Not sure how many want to chance it, but I would think anything running a Microsoft OS should have a full suite running to protect against all the boogers out there.

I do use one and it was one recommended by my old neighbor who owns a business locally doing computer network design and install, custom systems, and al that. He said it was suggested strongly by Microsoft, and was a free run for the first year through MS. I have had it 3 years with no issues ever on either my XP or new Vista systems...It is the CA (computer associates) Internet Security Suite...

I use BITDEFENDER Internet Security 2008, very low on resources and very efficient. Give it a try. De sure to turn off windows defender & firewall.
http://download.bitdefender.com/windows/desktop/internet_security/final/ro/bitdefender_internetsecurity_2008_32b.exe

I don't use anything, never have. Any virus I've gotten was from someone else using my computer. Spyware is the main culpret these days and the anti-virus softewares out there don't address them. The spyware packages don't do much easiest.

One of those 'ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure' sort of things. Just make sure your windows patches and updates are up to snuff and stay off the warez sites and you should be fine.

ok. thanks for confirming my suspicions that Norton 360 won't do a whole lot in terms of virus and spyware protection.

will definitely keep windows up to date.

thank-you once again.

Might be worth looking into AVG though. It's free anyway.

Using AVG myself and happy with it. Although I'm rather careful, it detects about 1 to 2 minor infections a year (might be the wife though).
I do not notice it's presence in the background and find it quite easy and self-supporting. But I reject the automatic scan because that will slow down things and always when you least want it. Run a manual scan regularly which suits me fine.
Had my share of cat fights with Norton and MacAfee in the past like was described in the first post. Slowing your system significantly etc etc. If that were the only options, I'd go without anti-virus.

I'm using Windows XP SP2 without any antivirus.
My PC is not really powerful so adding an AV running in background would be horrible.

The only virus I got was "blaster" and that's because I had desactivated the updates of windows (bad idea).

Keep a safe internet browsing and you'll be ok with virus.

I've been using AVG(free) as well, for the last couple of years. Didn't use anything before that. No complaints so far.

Always have used Norton Utilities (still good for 10 free years !) and never had a problem, but Norton uses a lot of ressources but I run XP service pack 3 and have enough memory so it is not a problem,

I'm using AVG Free on a low-end Vista machine and it isn't obtrusive - nothing bad has happened, but who knows if that's because of AVG. It hasn't hurt either way.

I have been running AVG on my work laptop with XP - so far so good.

Not bad for a free AVP.

One of the best combos are:

AV = AVG (Free is okay)
ANTISPY/MALWArE = Spybot SSD and Adaware2008

works for me.