Antivirus software - free versions

[GTT1]

Well I have decided to can my old Norton 2002 AV program. Its become bloated over the years as Norton keeps changing it and is a pain to delete and reinstall to get free use. I can install the Rogers Norton version which is free but am wondering if there aren't better alternatives out there.

Was thinking of giving AVG a try. I seem to recall it had decent reviews. Anyone using this? How well do updated work and are they automatic.

What are the thoughts of members here, especially those not wanting to pay.

[Bell Rep]

http://www.download.com/sort/3150-2239_4-0-1-4.html?tag=cat

The AVG is most downloaded and its pretty good for free

[Fahrenheit]

I personally like Avast better, seems to be more feature rich.

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10019223.html

There is a bunch of free antivirus programs now: Comodo, AntiVir, Clamwin, and of course, AVG. My understanding is that they are all quite good. Just try different ones until you find your favorite. Be sure to uninstall one before you install another.

[Amourek]

I like AntiVir best. Avast and AVG are also good choices though.

[GTT1]

I personally like Avast better, seems to be more feature rich.

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10019223.html

There is a bunch of free antivirus programs now: Comodo, AntiVir, Clamwin, and of course, AVG. My understanding is that they are all quite good. Just try different ones until you find your favorite. Be sure to uninstall one before you install another.

Thanks am leaning towards Avast after reading reviews.

[ktokes12]

I would use either Avast or Antivir. You can also use free online scanners from Kaspersky, Trend Micro, BitDefender and the like. When i download something i use a couple of these online scanners to scan the file.

[GTT1]

So I have tried Antvir but find it very hands on compared to Norton AV which I have used for years. It may be bloated but it grabs updates on its own and you can schedule scans very conveniently.

While you can set up for daily updates with Antvir and schedule scans I don't have a comfortable feeling. When I installed the program and went for the updates for the first time it failed to update twice and I had to manually get it to go for the update each time after the first one. I would be afraid that if I set it to invisible like Norton it wouldn't be current. From reading the forum it seems their servers get bogged down for the free version.

I understand Avast doesn't even let you set up scheduled scans on the free version.

Any Antvir users that can give me their experience?

Still looking for ideas.

[IoannI]

AVG
AVAST
Kaspersky
all good for free

[Evi7sh]

search on tor..?

avast pro ftw.

[terrybear]

I recent got the AVG when my trend micro couldn't find a trojan I had gotten earlier in the week ... BUT it still didn't get it all.

[GTT1]

So I have tried Antvir but find it very hands on compared to Norton AV which I have used for years. It may be bloated but it grabs updates on its own and you can schedule scans very conveniently.

While you can set up for daily updates with Antvir and schedule scans I don't have a comfortable feeling. When I installed the program and went for the updates for the first time it failed to update twice and I had to manually get it to go for the update each time after the first one. I would be afraid that if I set it to invisible like Norton it wouldn't be current. From reading the forum it seems their servers get bogged down for the free version.

I understand Avast doesn't even let you set up scheduled scans on the free version.

Any Antvir users that can give me their experience?

Still looking for ideas.

Just an update for others who may be looking for a free program.

Removed Antvir and installed Avast. Much more user friendly and it grabs the updated files automatically and lets you know it has done it. Avast also checks email which Antvir doesn't. Scans need to be done manually but I can live with that for now. Might get the pro version if I find its a problem remembering to do it.

[ali123]

I like AntiVir best. Avast and AVG are also good choices though.


+1 I used to use avast and am still using it once in a while but antivir detects much more viruses then avast does

[GTT1]

+1 I used to use avast and am still using it once in a while but antivir detects much more viruses then avast does

That statement antivir detects much more viruses then avast does can you support that with some review/study that backs it up. You might well be right but if they want people to use the free program then they need to enable it to check emails before they are opened, which Avast does.

Both are supposed to be superior to Norton which I have used for years and it stopped me from getting attacked. I think for the average user who doesn't download pirated software or frequent porn/apz sites then Avast, AVG probably are fine. I for sure want one that checks email on my wifes computer as I have caught her opening spam that I would just delete.

[Starglider]

That statement antivir detects much more viruses then avast does can you support that with some review/study that backs it up. You might well be right but if they want people to use the free program then they need to enable it to check emails before they are opened, which Avast does.

Both are supposed to be superior to Norton which I have used for years and it stopped me from getting attacked. I think for the average user who doesn't download pirated software or frequent porn/apz sites then Avast, AVG probably are fine. I for sure want one that checks email on my wifes computer as I have caught her opening spam that I would just delete.

Try this link for a comparison of various anti-virus programs:

http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/comparatives.html

[GTT1]

That site isn't that up to date and doesn't test the free versions. I am also concerned that they do not define"new" in their ProActive detection of "NEW" samples**

http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse_2007_05.php

The did indicate the following statement
"Please rely on the reached certification levels and NOT on the percentages. "

Antvir PE Premium was rated Standard while Avast Pro was rated Advanced

I found the following statement in their full report to be very helpful
Please rely on the reached certification levels and NOT on the percentages.



"

[Firefoxer]

1. Avast home and PRO has the same scanning engine and definitions.
http://www.avast.com/eng/av4_version_comp.html

Same for antivir but the free version doesn't scan for email malware as you said. It may block them in memory if they automatically load though.
http://www.avira.com/en/products/personal.html

2. The proActive test that you saw is the one that compare malware that aren't categorized yet because they are too new. Its there to test the capacity of antivirus of finding those who aren't in the definitions. Antivir doesn't get a high certification there because it detects many legit executables/drivers with memory hooks or raw socket hooks as malware. Its true that it isn't helpful for average people who won't know how to differentiate between what is good or not.
You can see that at both the comparative and proActive tests that antivir does detect more malware than Avast and also Antivir got a better certification than Avast on the comparative scan.

The next comparative(definitions scan) will be up this month, do you want me to bump this thread when I see it?

3. While you can set up for daily updates with Antvir and schedule scans I don't have a comfortable feeling.

I believe you can set it up to update 8 times a day or more, just set up different jobs with different times.

4. As you said, different uses for different people. Being a pirate I use Antivir, comodo firewall, spyware blaster, ProcessExplorer , RootkitRevealer .
I also replaced IE with Firefox ( adblock+ and noscript )
and outlook with Thunderbird. Killed many services that aren't useful for me or I only want them to load when I need those.

[Greatger]

The Avast edition, either Home or Pro from the link above, by the looks of it is a 60 day trial version. Please correct me if I'm wrong

[Firefoxer]

I don't know if you have to register using their website or it has a register program in it to get the key for after the "60 days trial".


https://secure.avast.com/web/eng/home-registration.php

"avast! 4 Home Edition works for 60 days after the installation in demo mode. You will obtain your FREE license key by E-mail after the registration. The license key is valid for 1 year. After one year you will need to just re-register."