Which Free Virus Protection ?

[macabethiel]

Now that I have the wifes PC running on clean installation looking for free anti virus.

What is the best one to use have used AVG in the past is it still good ?

[illy]

I use AVG, I use to use their free version but I opted to up grade when I got my new laptop. I recommended AVG to a friend who was using Norton, it found 54 more problems than Noton. Its also recommended by computer active mag.

illy

PS just search (avg free)

[4x4_Gav]

Avast Anti-Virus is by far the best free anti-virus for Windows machines.

[clivvy]

Microsoft Security Essentials is very good, im using it now and finding it the best so far for my needs.

http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/mse.aspx

I did use AntiVir, which was very good, but you get a nag screen once a day.

[briggie]

Microsoft Security Essentials is very good, im using it now and finding it the best so far for my needs.

http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/mse.aspx

I did use AntiVir, which was very good, but you get a nag screen once a day.

i agree with clive , i use mse and its very good , it picked up a trojan i had that norton and macafee didnt .......:thumb2

[4x4_Gav]

i agree with clive , i use mse and its very good , it picked up a trojan i had that norton and macafee didnt .......:thumb2

I work in IT and we try and push people away from using that lol.

Although I suppose for the average user who doesnt look at porn sites all day or download torrents its fine. :thumbs

[extreme-4x4]

I work in IT and we try and push people away from using that lol.

Although I suppose for the average user who doesnt look at porn sites all day or download torrents its fine. :thumbs
thats me .... and paul stuffed then

paul is always on the torrents :augie

[clivvy]

I work in IT and we try and push people away from using that lol.

Although I suppose for the average user who doesnt look at porn sites all day or download torrents its fine. :thumbs

well, i work in IT also, and yep, I dont use it for client PC's within a business, although if i REALLY had to in an emergency, id be fairly happy installing it. We stick to decent corporate solutions for our AV, but outside a business, MSE is pretty darn good.

[briggie]

i download a awfull lot of torrents ... not had a problem yet i know about ..... i sometimes use porn sites for reference and education purposes too :augie:sly

[briggie]

my buddy uses avg free , if that helps

[clivvy]

i download a awfull lot of torrents ... not had a problem yet i know about ..... i sometimes use porn sites for reference and education purposes too :augie:sly

youre just a naughty boy.

anyhoo, pretty much every AV package will at some point let a virus or trojan or whatever through, wether its free or paid for, you just gotta use whats best for you. I always say, keep it simple, MSE is just that.

[4x4_Gav]

Or you could get an IMac and never worry again ;)

[clivvy]

Or you could get an IMac and never worry again ;)

pah! that requires money!! honestly though, id bloody love one!!

[jims-terrano]

You know what, this sounds like a lot of other things in life when you ask peoples opinion and this is not meant to be disrespectfull of anyone. Everybody gives their own opnion of likes and dislikes, if you read this thread every AV Prog mentioned is pants and in fairness I hate AV progs because generally speaking they take resources from your PC and slow it down to varying extents but we do need them in reality. Free AV progs are slimmed down so don't offer full protection. This said event all singing all dancing progs don't offer full protection either as they don't control the weak link. We as users are the weak link as we can be easily mislead and think before we click. In my experience most bits of malware are self inflicted due to users actions. We do things like open attachments, install software (some freebies), we browse the internet look for images download things and we get messages on the screens that we just click OK and often it's the ok button that can actually be any part of a popup window that gives the malware permission to install. For every person that is clever enough to write code to stop malware there is someone equally clever to write code to get around it and the cycle goes on and on.

My opinion is YES FREE AV's such as AVG, Avast and Microsoft's version are fine as long as you are carefull and think about what you or others are doing on the computer. I always give people this advice about the internet "why would a complete stranger want to give you something for nowt!!!" think about that when you are down loading things or playing free games on the net.

Jim

PS waiting to be shot down in flames!!!

[clivvy]

no, youre right Jim, i think it does go without saying that user care is paramount, BUT, most users dont know or understand in the first place and I dont mean that in a bad way, but everyone cant know everything. The tricks used to get virus's onto a PC are very advanced these days, very clever, and working in IT I see it daily almost, where people have fallen pray to these things.

good AV is important, and generally most AV apps do a good job BUT they are designed for general protection. They are designed to protect people against simple attacks or infections. They arent designed for people who are going to surf porn sites or dodgy software download sites, if you do that, you have to take extra precautions such as better software, user account control ,or have your wits about you!

but, for the purpose of this thread, everybodies suggestion is perfectly adequate, as I said previously, its down to personal preference, so, visit each AV site individually and see what it offers and pick one.

As a side note, I find MSE to use the least resources, but it ties in nicely with the MIcrosoft OS BUT be very aware that there are trojans/virus's out there that now mimic MSE, AVG etc....so learn your software!

[larson]

its avast for me

[kbekl]

we run three different anti virus progs in the house

kids laptop runs microsoft secrity essentials it seems to be ok

wife uses karpinski antivirus as it cam with her laptop and it is crap it slows everything down and can be a pain to run so when that runs out i will be switching it

i use avast and found it to be the better of the free anti-virus programs, it will stop you going to suspect web pages with warnings

i have used avg before but found it too resource hungry over some of the others

so in my opinion avast is the better free program but going onto the stripped out programs avast offers the least removed from the antivirus with only the spam and the secure data, parts missing which is covered by your firewall any way

http://www.avast.com/en-gb/free-antivirus-download

[jims-terrano]

So throw another pebble into the pool, how about adding Zone Alarm firewall too?

Jim

[4x4_Gav]

Neh no point.

Antivirus is Avast

Windows has a very decent soft firewall built in (in Windows 7 anyway) and most of your home routers are also hard firewalls.

[makeitfit]

I use AVG and was told to use "Malewarebytes" too. Seems to be an effective combo :D

[macabethiel]

i download a awfull lot of torrents ... not had a problem yet i know about ..... i sometimes use porn sites for reference and education purposes too :augie:sly


I do not know what a torrent is so my PhD in womens studies must be worthless!

Ten Rupees at the University of Calcutta wasted then.

Thanks for the advice I have downloaded mse for now but have plenty of options.

This thread alone has been worth a tenner for my sub. lol.

[macabethiel]

You know what, this sounds like a lot of other things in life when you ask peoples opinion and this is not meant to be disrespectfull of anyone. Everybody gives their own opnion of likes and dislikes, if you read this thread every AV Prog mentioned is pants and in fairness I hate AV progs because generally speaking they take resources from your PC and slow it down to varying extents but we do need them in reality. Free AV progs are slimmed down so don't offer full protection. This said event all singing all dancing progs don't offer full protection either as they don't control the weak link. We as users are the weak link as we can be easily mislead and think before we click. In my experience most bits of malware are self inflicted due to users actions. We do things like open attachments, install software (some freebies), we browse the internet look for images download things and we get messages on the screens that we just click OK and often it's the ok button that can actually be any part of a popup window that gives the malware permission to install. For every person that is clever enough to write code to stop malware there is someone equally clever to write code to get around it and the cycle goes on and on.

My opinion is YES FREE AV's such as AVG, Avast and Microsoft's version are fine as long as you are carefull and think about what you or others are doing on the computer. I always give people this advice about the internet "why would a complete stranger want to give you something for nowt!!!" think about that when you are down loading things or playing free games on the net.

Jim

PS waiting to be shot down in flames!!!

So Adam started the rot when he took the Apple from Eve !!!!

[Paul]

We use AVG On the phones, can't get over how many at work don't use anti-virus programs and use ebay & the likes.

[jims-terrano]

Well I've been using Virgin Media's freebie for a while on my main PC. It's just come up with a message wanting me to install their remote assistance software on my PC. I think NOT!!!!!!!! looks like it'll be getting removed and Avast or something stuck on instead.

Jim

[ClanWolf]

When I'm doing installs on friends kit, I use Avast Free backed by Spybot Search & Destroy.

Personally I use Eset Smart Security. Costs money but has the smallest footprint and is the most effective I have found.

As an aside, I had a few problems with registry cleaners conflicting with low level anti-virus kit, so had a long discussion with Eset tech. They only use CCleaner as it has the lowest chance of breaking links between your registry and the security software that monitors it.