With so many anti-virus solutions and complete system maintenance packages out on the web, it’s hard to figure out what’s best. In ever changing landscape of threats including malware, spyware, viruses, trojans and a slew of others – ranging nowadays on multiple operating systems – require a program that can both monitor and catch them before they inflict any harm.
While browsing through Usenet newsgroups and accessing articles, a secure system offers piece of mind to make sure that the accessed post won’t make your system roast.
So what’s the best out there? Here at ThunderNews, we’ve compiled our best picks for 2010:
Best Free Solution
Microsoft Security Essentials – Great detection rates and pretty light on resources, Microsoft has come back with a free solution that works better than many of its competitors, including paid versions. The simple controls limit some of the functionalities that pros would like to see, it still scores higher at monitoring, detecting and killing most variants of viruses for Windows PCs with out of the box settings.
Runner Up: Avira Personal EditionBest Paid Solution
Norton Antivirus 2010 – One of the top rated solutions out, the 2010 version is much different than previous slow versions from the years before. A complete rewrite of the software which creates a small footprint on resources while protecting your entire system tops our choice for a reliable and customer supported paid solution. It’s also budget minded.
Runner Up: ESET NOD32
What about Linux and Mac OS X Usenet Newsgroup subscribers? An antivirus really is not needed with the way the operating systems are designed; however, there still may be a need. With emails you forward and windows attached storage devices that may be on your network, it may be good to have something just to scan files so you’re not a carrier. Especially when accessing or replying to a Usenet newsgroup article, it may help from spreading a possible virus. For both operating systems, the free solution, ClamAV may be worth a look at.
Some newsgroup newsreaders such as NewsRover and Newsbin offer integration with some antivirus solutions. However, even if the newsreader you use does not have complete integration, the above solutions will keep your entire system monitored constantly.
Whichever you use, updating your anti-virus should be done routinely if not daily. It’s also advised to check out free cloud storage such as DropBox that allows you to store a backup of your most important files on the cloud just in case a worm slips through whatever solution you have.
