Anti-Virus Guide -- Consider using an Internet service provider or email service that includes anti-virus and spam filtering as your first line of defense. Propagation of most malicious code (virus, Trojan & worm) is done by email and is designed to take advantage of weaknesses in Microsoft products. For a good overview, see Antivirus software, PC World Magazine, Australia, August 8, 2003. Anti-virus software is only as effective as its most recent update because it is inherently reactive treating "known" threats. So when you install anti-virus software, go to the vendor's web site and update the virus definitions immediately and then turn on the auto update feature.

Comparative Reviews

• Bigger Threats, Better Defense, Mary Landesman, PC World, May 11, 2004, includes Anti-Virus testing of Eset NOD32, Grisoft AVG, McAfee, Panda, Norton & PC-cillin

• Guard of honor [Kaspersky, Norton, McAfee & PC-cillin antivirus review], Bill Bennett, The Age, December 20, 2003
• Antivirus: Norton Antivirus 2004 [editor's choice], also tested McAfee, Norman & ViRobot Expert, Jay Munro, PC Magazine, November 25, 2003
• Pest Zappers, best buys Norton AntiVirus, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Ad-aware, reviews included eight anti-virus programs -- Boomerang Software EXtendia AntiVirus AVK Professional, F-Secure Anti-Virus 2003, GeCad Software RAV AntiVirus Desktop for Windows 8.6, Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal 4, Network Associates McAfee VirusScan 7 Home Edition, Panda Software Antivirus Platinum 7, Symantec Norton AntiVirus 2003, and Trend Micro PC-cillin 2003; and four anti-spyware programs -- Lavasoft Ad-aware Plus 6, PepiMK Software Spybot Search & Destroy 1.2, PestPatrol Software PestPatrol 4.2, and Webroot Software Spy Sweeper 1.5. Scott Spanbauer, PC Magazine, May 29, 2003.
• PC Magazine 2003, Viruses: New Threats, New Defenses, editor's choice Norton, comparative review of McAfee, NOD32, Norton, Panda & PC-cillin, Greg Alwang, PC Magazine, April 22, 2003

Anti-Virus/Trojan/Worm Freeware & Free Online Services

• Article -- Free Antivirus: Finally Ready for Prime Time, Scott Spanbauer, PC World, November 25, 2003
• See our Anti-Trojan page for links to anti-trojan freeware and free online services

• Download Anti-Virus Software or Utilities

  • AntiVir Personal Edition

  • Avast! 4 Home Edition and Virus Cleaner Utility

  • BitDefender Removal Tools

  • F-PROT for DOS

  • Grisoft AVG AntiVirus

  • McAfee AVERT Stinger and AVERT Tools utilities

  • Panda Free Virus Disinfection Utilities

  • Symantec Removal Tools

• Online Anti-Virus Scanners

  • BitDefender Free Online Virus Scan

  • Computer Associates eTrust Antivirus Web Scanner

  • McAfee FreeScan

  • Panda ActiveScan

  • RAV Antivirus

  • Symantec security and virus checks

  • Trend Micro HouseCall

Anti-Virus Payware

• Softwin BidDefender Home Edition $30 download
• Command AntiVirus $25 download; CD version sold as Safeworld Anti-Virus 2003 by Encore.
  • Mary Landesman review, About.com
• Computer Associates eTrust EZ Antivirus $20; eTrust EZ Armor one year free trial available, regular price is $50, has antivirus, firewall and email filter
  • CNet review, Jeff Bertolucci, March 19, 2003
  • IT Resource Guide review, October 2002
• DrWeb Anti-Virus Home Edition $25
  • The "Real world" anti-Trojan tools comparison -- Dr Web, Kaspersky Antivirus, NOD32, Norton Anitvirus, The Cleaner, TDS, Tauscan, Pestpatrol, PC DoorGuard, Digital Patrol, TrojanHunter, TrojanRemover, AntiTrojan & Antiy Ghostbusters, PC Flank, July 4, 2002
• Eset NOD32 $39 download
  • NOD32 Antivirus System v2.0 review, Mary Landesman, antivirus.about.com, November 26, 2003
  • Eset Offers Well-Balanced Virus Protection Software, Vincent Randazzese, CRN, October 17, 2003
  • PC911 review Alex Byron, June 18, 2003
  • Claymania review May 7, 2001
• Frisk F-Prot Antivirus for Windows $25
  • Mary Landesman review, About.com
• Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal $46

  • Kaspersky Anti-Virus 5.0 review, Andy Shaw, Web User UK, May 27, 2004

• InDefense MailDefense $40
  • SC Magazine review, July 2002
  • Mary Landesman review, About.com
• McAfee VirusScan Online subscription $30 per year; VirusScan CD $40 includes firewall

  • McAfee 2004 review, Andy Shaw, Web User, February 16, 2004

  • McAfee Virusscan 8 review, Cliff Joseph, VnuNet, January 22, 2004

  • McAfee Anti-Virus Gripes, April 2003
  • CNet Home Edition 7.0 review, Jeff Bertolucci, September 12, 2002
• Panda Platinum $70, has antivirus and firewall, download $70
  • Panda Titanium AV 2004, Cliff Joseph, Personal Computer World, March 10, 2004
  • CNet review, Jeff Bertolucci, November 20, 2002
  • VnuNet review, Ashley McKinnon, June 18, 2002
  • Mary Landesman review, About.com
• Symantec "Norton" AntiVirus 2003 $50, download or CD
  • Norton AntiVirus 2003 Gripes
  • CNet 2003 review, Jeff Bertolucci, August 20, 2002
  • VnuNet review, Jonathan Bennett, May 7, 2002
  • Mary Landesman review, About.com
• Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2004 $40, has antivirus, anti-spam and firewall
  • PC-cillin Internet Security 2004 review, Jeff Bertolucci, CNet, November 5, 2003
  • PC-cillin Internet Security 2004 review, Mary Landesman, antivirus.about.com
  • PC Advisor 2003 review, Jason Whittaker, June 2003
  • CNet 2003 review, Jeff Bertolucci, January 3, 2003

Anti-Virus Testing -- The importance of the information provided by these organizations is explained in Independent Antivirus Lab Testing, Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, April 22, 2003; and in Continuous Protection, Cade Metz, PC Magazine, June 11, 2002.

• AV-Test.org
• Checkmark Level
• ICSA Labs Certification
• Virus Bulletin 100% Awards