Advice from the Factory
Antivirus Software
You know, you want to be a good and decent netizen, so as you should, we do this by using the software weapons that we have at your disposal so as defend ourselves and others from passing on virus'. This weapon is Antivirus software. Unlike most of the ads on TV, TV Talk Shows, radio tech talk shows (in Detroit we have a talk radio tech show, 1270), so on and so forth. Buy the latest and greatest in antivirus software. Well it just isn't so, there are some very good antivirus applications out there that are free or have very long trial periods before the antivirus software becomes a pay for subscription application
On my own computer (the one I use at home for personal use) I have used Symantec's System works* (which includes antivirus applications, plus general maintenance utilities), but after a year I had to pay for a yearly subscription to be able to update my antivirus definitions. I ended up have to uninstall System Works and installing the free version of AVG by Grisoft.** I have used Grisoft now for over a year and it does the job. Grisoft's free AVG 6.0 is a download only antivirus application. Currently it will only support Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express±. For those of you that have Windows 2000 and Windows XP (both Home and Professional version) download Grisoft's newest free version (6.0.1). According to Grisoft's FAQ, Windows 2000 and Windows XP are incorrectly identified as Windows 95. Grisoft has a feature on their control panel that will allow the automatic download of definitions from their site. This feature is good for those that keep their computers up 24/7. Myself I just download them manually every few days or sooner if there is a new viral outbreak. As with most free types of software you really do not get any support, other then you sending bug reports (program crashes, errors that will not allow you to run it for some reason). Grisoft's support is done with a frequently asked questions page on their site. Of course there are other free antivirus applications out there and at the end of the article we will list some of these sites. Computer Associates puts out an antivirus application, but be warned, it is one of those good for a year's worth of protection, then it also turns into a yearly subscription. CA's antivirus application is called; eTrust EZ Armor Security Suite. According to their ad it is used by 99% of the fortune 500 companies. Actually it is a antivirus and firewall all rolled into one. Here is CA's offer: EZ is good for a year. The free download is only good until 02/01/2005
Here are the promised sites
that have antivirus applications for free. All of these listings are
at their respective sites and that means you will have to click on the links
below:
Computer Associates
eTrust EZ Armor Security Suite
Grisoft
AVG Free Edition
TheFreeSite.com: Anti-Virus Programs
avast! 4 Home Download
These are just some of the free antivirus sites that are out there, but it should be able to get you started to scan for virus'. Use these antivirus applications on a regular basis you should not have a virus' to re-transmit. If you have an on-line business. it would look bad if you happened to transmit or re-transmit a virus to a client. I know one thing, it would be the last time I would do business with that business.
Rick
*Symantec System Works is a trademark of Symantec Corporation.
**Grisoft AVG is a trademark of Grisoft Corporation.
±Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, Windows
95, Windows 2000 and Windows XP is a trademark of Microsoft
Corporation.
eTrust EZ Armor Security Suite is a trademark of Computer Associates.