Comp geeks: alternatives to AVG Antivirus?

[Cain]

After reading this, I would like some:

http://www.techworld.com.au/article/267018/flawed_avg_antivirus_update_cripples_windows_xp_pcs

A flawed signature update to AVG Technologies' antivirus software over the weekend crippled some Windows XP PCs by mistakenly deleting a critical system file, the company has confirmed.

According to messages on AVG's support forums and its own support site, an update released late Saturday for the company's security software fingered the "user32.dll" file as a Trojan horse. As per the program's settings, the AVG software, including the newest version 8.0 and its predecessor 7.5, shut the .dll away in quarantine. The result: A crippled computer.

The problem only affects users of the Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish language versions of Windows XP.

"If you have chosen 'heal' or 'quarantine,' your PC will no longer restart," said a panicked user named "pa3bar" in a message Sunday. "It shows a blue screen at start up and tells you it cannot find winsvr, error c0000135. System recovery has no effect."

The problem only affects users of the Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish language versions of Windows XP, according to the company. English versions of AVG are not affected.

AVG, best known for its free Antivirus, confirmed the error in a FAQ on its support site. "In case you are not able to run your Windows XP operating system after AVG 8.0 virus definition update, it may be caused by a false positive on a specific 'user32.dll' system file," the company said. "The file was moved to the AVG Virus Vault and deleted. Therefore it is not possible to start Windows."

Although some systems refused to boot, others rebooted endlessly instead.

On its support site, AVG posted instructions for affected users that involved running Windows XP's Recovery Console, disabling several AVG services and restoring the user32.dll file by copying it from the operating system's install CD. For users unable to locate their installation disc, AVG offered a utility that fixed the problem; those users also needed to create a bootable CD or USB drive.

The utility work-around was for AVG Antivirus 8.0 only; a similar utility for AVG Antivirus 7.5 will be available "soon," according to a message posted by a support forum moderator Tuesday.

[Verbal Mike]

I've wanted to switch ever since Slashdot explained how their "safe surfing" agent loads all possible links on a page in the background to check them for viruses, adding hundreds of percents to your traffic. (and that of the websites)
But I boot to Windows so rarely now I didn't bother.
Gonna watch this thread for recommendations now tho.

[Dr Goofy]

all i know of is Avast and panda

[Cain]

Hmm, I've used Avast before...doesn't it only have a limited warranty for free use?

[Dr Goofy]

It doesn't say so But it might I have not used it since 2005. When I used it it was free but it liked to pop up stuff every so often to make you purchase a better one, I think.

[East Coast Hustle]

I use Zone Alarm.

yeah, it's $30 a year, but $30 is cheap for never needing to worry about this kind of shit.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

Linux

[Cain]

I use Zone Alarm.

yeah, it's $30 a year, but $30 is cheap for never needing to worry about this kind of shit.

I cant afford $3 a year, to be honest.  But if I am earning, I will consider it, since I have heard good things about it.

Linux

Amazingly, I don't have the time  or inclination to covert all my fucking files to work with whatever spagware Linux comes with.

[Dysfunctional Cunt]

But wait, has AVG gone out of business or something?  I mean I've used them for years and this is the first problem I have ever heard of, and while it is a dmaned serious one, it is still fixable for them right?  So if you weren't affected by thier fuckup can't you continue to use AVG, they have fixed it right???

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

I use Zone Alarm.

yeah, it's $30 a year, but $30 is cheap for never needing to worry about this kind of shit.

I cant afford $3 a year, to be honest.  But if I am earning, I will consider it, since I have heard good things about it.

Linux

Amazingly, I don't have the time  or inclination to covert all my fucking files to work with whatever spagware Linux comes with.

It really depends on the types of files you use these days, in a lot of cases there's not much to convert . With distros like Mandriva and Ubunto, and software like Open Office, most stuff simply works. If you were into heavy gaming, it might be a problem, but even that has gotten better.

In fact, the Mandriva Free CD and (I think) the Ubunto image both allow you to boot from CD/DVD and NOT overwrite your existing system just to play with it and see if conversion would be a problem for you.

[Cainad (dec.)]

Linux

Mac

*flees thread as fast as he fucking can*

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I like my mac.

[Triple Zero]

i always heard a lot of good stories about AVG, so what Khara says, if possible, stick with them.

otherwise, Linux :-P

[BADGE OF HONOR]

I really loathe how every time anyone talks about any sort of computer problem, some asshole instantly shows up and says "You fool, use Linux instead!"

Makes me never want to use Linux, in case that sort of behavior is infectious.

[Cain]

hey guys, lets ignore my question and having a fucking religious OS war!

Idiots.