Best Anti Virus

[Kodox]

Wats up Interlopers!

I'm going to Kent State University in August for Computer Design, Animation, and Game Design, I'm buying a new laptop, and I need to know which antivirus program is the best.

Thanks

[Dives]

I highly recommend Microsoft Security Essentials. http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Its extremely lightweight, has a huge detection library, has no conflicts with other programs, and gets updated every week with new definitions. I've been using it for 8 months now and it has worked splendidly.

Wouldn't hurt to install Malware Bytes Anti-Malware too.

[Dr. KillPatient]

I use Avira and MWB, but Security Essentials is a good choice as well.

[xoqolatl]

Windows 7 +

[Major Banter]

I use a combination of PCTools antispyware, MalwareBytes anti-malware and CCleaner.

Works quite well.

[ROFLhacks]

antivirus is dumb use regedit

[BattleGrunt]

AVG, Malware Bytes, and SuperAntiSpyware. The last one will remove the PC AntiVirus trojan that infects a lot of systems nowadays.

http://www.superantispyware.com/

[Bramblepath]

I use Avast!, and have done for a while now. I also use Malware Bytes, but Avast! is great for its real-time shields.

[Chopium]

Windows Security Essentials is hands down the best free-no-strings-attached antivirus program I've ever used. It's simple, powerful, and out of your face. Everyone should try it out. It might be one of the best Windows programs ever made.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

[MayheM]

I am partial to Kaspersky. I started using it a while ago and have not had any issues since...

But at my job my best friends are ccleaner and malwarebytes... those things have saved me many many times...

[SixThree]

+1 for MS/Windows Security Essentials.

[Mr-Jigsaw]

Spybot Search & Destroy is nice, and free.

[Unreal_Me]

Used to use ESET/Nod32 until I found some disappointing benchmarks for their stuff. Switched over to MS Security Essentials, which apparently does a great job. Although I've read that it's not great at detecting rootkits that are already on the machine.
I don't use any form of anti-malware, but I probably will the next time I format.

Also, what kind of firewalls do you guys use most? Or does everyone just rely on windows/routers

[zombie@computer]

currently still have trend micro internet security (free license from my dads company). Since its free for me i dont have high expectations, but its a pretty complete package. As far as internet reviews go its no the best in detection and removal of virusses, but the completeness of the package is probably the best there is. Luckily i have a brain of my own, and are behind a hardware firewall, so i dont have to rely on this alone.

so far, the things ive discovered are: virus (duh), firewall, network security (it also detects if new wireless clients are added and such), scans email + attachments (works for thunderbird as well ), phising (sp?) detection, blocks suspected websites and programs, detects suspicious program behaviour, etc.

[Spike]

Best antivirus is yourself