What is the best free anti-virus, anti-malware solution?
Feel free to consider any angle - I'm interested in being protected, not just hearing about any one class of software or threat.
Also, do you consider any of the free solutions to be adequate protection, or would you consider a paid option essential?
Some supporting evidence would be nice, either from credible sites or explaining how you know what you know. :)
If the OS matters for your answer, in my case it's Windows XP.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$16 Answers
Spybot S&D has a monitor which will prevent any system file or registry changes without approval. It will also immunize your hosts file. Scans against spy and other mall ware.
The combination is not hogging the system and no noticeable performance changes are detected upon installation.
Note: Avast is free but requires a registration upon which they will issue a one year license which is renewable. They do try to get you to go Pro but not with force. I have extended my license for the third time now. I installed it at all the locations I support privately (friends and family) and one test computer @work. Avast has withstand many attacks while having PCs with McAfee succumb with not much of a fight.
None of the machines where I installed it had an infection (Note: those PCs run FireFox exclusively, IE is used only during MS updates and Avast is set to auto update regularly)
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
1. I have the free AVG anti-virus running all the time. It stops bad stuff from attacking your computer in real time. It also has a system scan you can run every once in a while.
2. I run Ad-Aware by Lavasoft every once in a while. It clear the system of adware and spyware.
3. I run SpyBot Search and Destroy. This is like Ad-Aware. I just use it as an additional resource.
Overall using these 3 has kept my computer pretty safe. I know there are a lot of other option out there for free protection, but I haven't needed any others yet.
Check out the top list at CNET for the most downloaded and recommend programs for this purpose.
http://download.cnet.com/windows/security-software/?tag=rb_content;contentNav
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
@philipy - I have tried AVG and it is good with all the features. the only issue is the automatic update, it doesnt really work well. I had to initiate even though I configured it to auto update everytime I start the computer. I had this issue on all 2 XP and 2 Win 7 Systems, on the 5th one I have McAfee working great (I got it free with my online trading account).
Now I installed the Microsoft Security Essentials (beta) and it works great for me. It's not downloadable anymore, but if you need to try, let me know. But soon, final version will be available for free.
I have been using PC for last 10 + years, and as well as internet, the most annoying part of computing is when your computer gets infected with virus/malware/adware and what ever other names are given to software programs indented to harm your computer.
Once infected with virus and thier relatives(adware/malware/worms,rootkits,dialers..) you will have hard time using your computer, as it slows down the computer and you are at risk of loosing your data or even the HDD getting useless if its a boot sector virus.
Its more annoying when you have an anti virus on your computer which does detect the virus but cannot remove it and the message keeps up showing that your computer is infected, you just cannot have peace of mind.
when i started experiencing virus attacks, the causes i could say were lack of knowledge of security measures when using the computer, by using infected cds, floppies, usb drives, downloading toolbars , downloading free softwares, installing them, trying too many pc tools which lead to virus infection.
The only solution comes to mind is to format your system and reinstall it.
But mostly people format there C: drive and reintall OS thinking that everything would be fine, but mostly that is not the case, once the virus has infected other drives and files, its again to square one.
Coming to free anti virus softwares,
Generally Free anti virus or Free adware tools do provide a certain level of security for your computer, but then most of them do not come with update virus database which is very important to protect your computer for upcoming viruses, the base line is that free anti virus do have limitations that they mostly provide security for only past virus and not with latest one and also they do have other limitations of not detecting intrusions to your system, that is network security, adware or malware security.
I have been using Kaspersky for last 4 years now which is i renew or purchase on yearly basis and it comes with 3 licences, the other two are used by my friends and thus sharing the cost of the anti virus too. I am with peace of mind using this one as i dont need to worry about infections nor format my drives every few weeks , which i used to do earlier.
Once you have kaspersky, you dont need a registry mechanic, adware,malware,spyware tool and and you have lots of peace of mind.
I do use windows XP Professional and which gets regularly updated with updates from MS.
I have replied this one so long as i know how important is to have a secure pc as its very risky if you log into your bank sites, or have private data on your drives or other important data you dont want to loose and it makes lots of sense to buy a anti virus.
Kaspersky is also prefered by Intel as it comes with all thier intel product cds, that is a trail version.
In the sources i am adding few links
I hope this one helps you., feel free to comment on my reply, i will be more than happy to reply you back on this.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$Hope this helps on your decision and if you decide to go with Avast I can recommend settings to keep your system fully protected :O)
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Actually I myself have never used Kaspersky. However in CNET's review it shows a few perks. The fact that it is a very small application size wise and uses very little resources is great. The review though rating it all together 3 and a half stars from CNET but users show 2 stars makes it kind of questionable. It seems to me though that the main perk for this software is that it is very user friendly so it makes it easier for the regular user to configure themselves.
source : http://reviews.cnet.com/internet-security-and-firewall/kaspersky-anti-virus-2009/4505-3667_7-33193837.html?tag=mncol;also
Hope this helps
Good answer, and nice to hear a comparisons with the main paid options.
Any thoughts on Kaspersky? If I went for a paid option I'm inclined towards that.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
I have a list of software I recommend and put on people's computers when I fix them up.
Here is the link to the list
http://www.optionkey.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5
Usually I do a fresh install of XP before I do anything, for the most part I put on AVG Free Edition or Avast Personal Edition. My preference is for AVG personally. Spyware Spybot Search and Destroy I don't find lavasoft does anything anymore I did use to run both but now I just run Spybot for third party spyware. That being said I also keep windows firewall on and have windows defender running as well.
As for any of the free solutions being adequate, nothing will ever be even the pay for anti-virus and anti-spyware. The best thing you can do is adjust your habbits don't open email attachments, unless you know who they are from and what they are, don't surf for porn, don't click on popups or flash things, use firefox or chrome (watch out for a Microsoft update for firefox it leaves firefox vulnerable)
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2009/05/microsoft_update_quietly_insta.html
If you do that you should be fine. Or have a dual boot system and surf the web on Linux or a Mac. You can download a linux live CD and boot off that when you want to surf, etc. That is inconvenience but it works.
Here is the support:
AVG Free PC's World #10 in top 10
http://www.pcworld.com/article/124475/top_antivirus_software.html
Spybot Search and Destroy #1 top 5 on lifehacker.com
http://lifehacker.com/5227896/five-best-malware-removal-tools
My personal endorsement of these two products.
Hope this helps
Trevor
experience, pc world, lifehacker, optionkey.ca
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
The Free AVG is working very good for me! it;s ligh, fast, and do the job!
I just want to tell you that I am running the same system for more than 2 years and didn't need to install XP again!
get it from here:
http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition?cmpid=fr_bn_free_670
just a small note: Even if you have the most powerful anti virus on your system, this doesn't mean you are protected 100% your computer still can get infected, all anti virus programs has a differences because of it's definition virus list that you will update often, the list is never complete!
Good luck!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$www.Ineed-electronics.com
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$http://freeantivirus.zenok.com/
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$I recently switched from AVG because it made my system too slow.
Download it here:
http://www.free-av.com/
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
As of now AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is one of the most widely used for the week of july 26th its been downloaded 1.4 million times.
You can visit the below link which will give you a detailed recap on all the best antivirus softwares. Its a cbs company and they are very well kown in the market.
http://download.cnet.com/windows/security-software/?tag=rb_content;contentNav
You can never be fully protected the best thing to do is get a apple or a linux computer as the security risk goes down my 90% in them.
Cheers,
Vishal Khialani
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
A small advice-
Always test the anti virus with anti virus test file
know more here:
http://www.eicar.org/anti_virus_test_file.htm
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
You can get it free at-
http://www.comodo.com/home/internet-security/free-internet-security.php
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Good info, and good reasons why I should trust your recommendation.
Thanks.