Trilight Zone

[tricore]

One of the (few) security tools that does not come with Windows Vista is anti-virus. Tons of people have asked about which one to use, and which are available. The answer is: most are available for 32-bit Vista already. Malke, a Windows Shell MVP, put together a list of 32-bit anti-virus programs that work on Vista.

Fewer of the programs area also available in 64-bit versions. I was able to confirm availability of the following in 64-bit versions:

Name


Cost


Notes

Avast!


Home edition is free.




AVG


$38.95 for two years




CA eTrust


$29.95


Primarily designed for businesses and sold via site-licenses but can be bought stand-alone too. The consumer version is not available in 64-bit yet.

McAfee


$39.99 for one year


The business version works on 64-bit. I am not sure about the home version.

NOD32


$39 for one year




Trend Micro


$39.95 for one year




If you know of a 64-bit anti-virus for Vista that is not listed above please file a comment and I'll verify and add it to the list.

Oh, which one do I use? None. I do not open e-mail attachments that come with a subject line of "This is so funny" or "ILOVEYOU" or "Naked tennis player". I do not use copyright violation software (a.k.a. file sharing software). And, I run as a standard user. The last time I had a virus that got flagged by a virus scanner was in 1992, on a lab machine used by a student; on an Apple Macintosh. Yes Steve Jobs, the Macintosh has had viruses for as long as Windows.

I figure I'm pretty safe without stuff looking at every file on the computer every time I use them.