A "convenience" listing of AntiVirus makers is at Microsoft:

List of antivirus software vendors KB 49500.

This list includes the major makers. Note that company names are listed at the top, which may not be the same as AV Program names you're accustomed to seeing in the advertising. The actual programs each vendor produces are mostly listed in the details lower down.

The above linked page includes a link:

"For additional antivirus resources and lists of antivirus products that are designed to work with various Microsoft products, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Microsoft Security Antivirus Information"

Here you can check out how to claim your reward for finding a couple of virus creators, how to report stuff to "the authorities." Linked from here, you can proceed to:

Microsoft Antivirus Partners.

This last link shows companies who have entered into specific agreements for producing and distributing "Windows compatible" AV products. (Note that absence from this list does not necessarily mean a product is not compatible, although most of the best you may have heard of are probably here.) This link possibly will be of most interest to anyone wanting to look seriously at what AV programs are available from "respectable" sources.


As side information, at Microsoft and possibly useful if someone wants to check out another kind of software maker:

Hardware and software vendor contact information, A-K
Hardware and software vendor contact information, L-P
Hardware and software vendor contact information, Q-Z

The listings are in plain text, so web addresses don't appear as links. This is a general listing and is not limited to AV or other Security related software.

Note that this list probably includes all software makers whose programs have been certified compatible with Microsoft programs; but may also include software makers whose stuff has caused problems. Appearance on the list doesn't necessarily mean it's "good for Windows."

John