I use the JAWS screen-reader, and currently use AVG Pro for anti-virus protection. My current license expires in March 2011. A friend recently switched from the AVG free version to Microsoft Security Essentials, which is also a free download. My friend doesn't use a screen-reader. A techie I know said the MS download doesn't have any known problems with Window Eyes, so should work with JAWS. I'm strongly considering the switch, but I'm hesitant. I'd appreciate any input from any tech-savvy TF'ers out there.
By Lelia Jo Cordell from Springfield, OH
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I have been using Microsoft Security Essentials for several months, and find it does detect infections, and is a reliable product. MSE was made when Microsoft took over an antivirus company (I think it was called Big).
When you go for Microsoft Security Essentials make certain to go through Microsoft for it. There is a copycat that will use as malware with the same name.
You can install it and if you don't like it you can uninstall it. Personally I use Avast which is free as well and I have never had virus problems. But do what you think you would be most comfortable with. You may even be able to run more than one antivirus program as long as they don't detect each other as a virus.
I too have avast and I've never had anything get through. I also use malwarebytes, and spybot search and destroy and have windows firewall set up.
Here's the key thing you need to remember when switching anti-virus software of any kind. You need to make sure it is totally uninstalled(off of your hard drive and out of your registry) before you install the new anti virus software. My advice would be to follow AVG's uninstall instructions, then run a registry cleaner tool of some kind to make sure AVG is truly all stripped out of your registry. Then install your new virus software. If you do have conflicts with the new software and Windows Eyes, you can always uninstall the new virus software and reinstall AVG.
Thanks for all the input so far, this subject is far from closed! I'll remember to use the AVG uninstall feature, then do a disc cleanup and defrag before I do anything else. Thanks to an AVG tech, I remember how to go into my hard drive to remove bits and pieces of programs that might get left behind.
We run Microsoft Security Essentials and have had absolutely no problems. Another good antivirus to run is Panda Cloud. The nice thing about Panda Cloud is that you never have to update it. It runs in "cloud" - sort of like every time you get on the internet the page you are going to goes through the cloud (out on the 'net) before it gets to your computer. There is no slowdown, etc., you never know it's even there.
www.cloudantivirus.com/
I used MSE for several months but found that it was interferring with my Trojanware, so MSE had to go.
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