retired_gutsch

100% Kaspersky. Widely recognised as the best protection out there. Low on resources, and easy to use. Excellent software.

retired_andrea.fife

NOD32, one of the better performers out there (and there aren't many).

I would i have said Kaspersky, as i've used it before, but once i found out they used rootkits (and they admitted to it) i don't recommend them (perhaps they've changed their ways). Theres absolutely zero reasons in my book to hide things from a users OS.

allygator

Explain to a complete n00b what a rootkit is in simple terms and why they'd use it.

retired_venomm

Second this, I've been using it for a while now and it's been brilliant. Can't tell that it's running unless (it finds something) and auto-updates definitions every day. Best freeware solution I've come across.

retired_andrea.fife

A rootkit allows someone, either legitimate or malicious, to maintain command and control over a computer system, without the the computer system user knowing about it. This means that the owner of the rootkit is capable of executing files and changing system configurations on the target machine, as well as accessing log files or monitoring activity to covertly spy on the user's computer usage.

Back in 2005 Sony-BMG caused an uproar when on some of their music cd's, if you popped it into your pc it would secretly install a rootkit which was soon confirmed as being malicious.

retired_Fit

I've got a new computer and using avast at the moment. Have Zone Alarm on my other computer though and always liked that

dejasade

nod32 all the way.