The best *free* anti-virus program....

E

edgar_allan_poe

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Staff member
Hey guys...I know we did this on the other board...but my computer is buggered and I need to replace some software that was lost. Since my anti-virus program of choice is no longer free...I need to switch to something that is. What are you guys using?

 
Hey guys...I know we did this on the other board...but my computer is buggered and I need to replace some software that was lost. Since my anti-virus program of choice is no longer free...I need to switch to something that is. What are you guys using?
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You can buy megabuck Hubers but you can't buy a piece of software? CHEAP BASTARD, I'LL BET YOU EVEN FILESHARE!

 
When I was having problems a few weeks ago I went and downloaded Norton's free trial version. Worked good for me.

I went out after I got mine cleaned up and bought McAfee 2005.

Between that and microsoft antispyware I have my computer cleaned up with no problems.

McAfee might have a free trial version too.

 
Best one I've found is AVG from Grisoft. It's free, self-updates, very flexible and I have caught zero bugs since I've been using it.

A freebie firewall that's good is Zone Alarm. The paid version is even better and more flexible.

And, of course, AdAware for a freebie spyware cleaner that works.

 
I just deleted Norton and installed MacAffee. When it searched the hard drive, it found 6 files that had been missed by Norton.

I am a believer now.

Edited to add...

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download886.html

This is highly thought of, but I'd rather use a known quantitiy.

 
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I have adaware and spybot. They work. My six year old computer runs as fast as the day I got it.

 
Hey Poe,

I used a Computer Associates freeware that I got off of www.optonline.net - some other suggestions were made but at the time I was getting flooded and couldn't wait on a response to my post. It seems to do an ok job.

 
AVAST....... hands down, free & excellent with frequent auto-free-updates~

you're welcome*

gregc

 
AVAST is the bomb as is Grisoft and both are free. I have been using AVAST for over a year after getting burned bad by both Norton and McAffe.

There is a free ONLINE virus scan at Trend Micro that can be used to SUPPLEMENT whatever anti-virus you use but only SUPPLEMENT, not replace and only use the online scan feature.

Also, never install two anti-virus programs, your machine will crawl. I just cleaned up a friends machine that had Kaspersky and Norton on it. He thought two would be better than one and had no idea why he couldn't run anything. /emoticons/default_wink.png

 
I added AVG (from majorgeeks.com) to both my machines about a week ago, it caught a bunch of trojans on one of them. I have it and Norton and haven't noticed any bad side effects from having both -yet.

 
Hello Hamerheads,

I have to agree with GregC and say that Avast Anti-Virus is the best one out there. It automatically updates itself everytime there is a new update. It also is very effective, should there be a virus found in your computer. It's also free, but you can be nice guys and give the company a donation at your discretion. I have since given up my Norton anti-virus. Norton and McAfee sucks!!

Guitar George

 
My Freeware sucks, I'm going to AVAST. I've had it with junky freeware, norton, macafee, and all I can see is virus after virus slowing crap down. Granted, I'm on my "other" computer, but I can't take it anymore. One day I'll really learn how to protect my PC, or I'm just going to go to Mac, no one I know has any problems with Mac. I know they have thier issues, but it seems that unless you have the expertise of Kiz or Brew, you can't keep your PC clean.

 
For the spyware, I've been running Adaware and Spywareblaster for quite a while, but have still been having some problems. If you use the Yahoo toolbar, it's anti-spy function will catch extra stuff, and I also recently added the Microsoft Antispyware, it found a whole bunch of stuff the others missed www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/default.mspx

AVG found a some trojans and other stuff that Norton missed, but I still like the Norton windoctor.

 
I just ran Adaware, Microsoft, then Yahoo, all within about 5 minutes. They each found 2 to 4 items. Maybe you need a salad of anti-spyware?

 
Jimbilly - for spyware, I run Lavasoft Adaware & Spybot. They both work great. AVAST has already smoked almost 20 virus attacks on my computer, and it's running like a top at the moment. Thanks for the tips, I think I'm finally up to speed. I'm going to download a firewall shortly and see if it helps. Cheers- Craig

 
I've been running SpyBot and AdAware for a long time now, yet about a week ago I damn near had to reformat my hard drive. The PC would black out and reboot almost every time I moved the mouse. Unbelievably frustrating couple of days...

At first I thought it was a virus. I'd been running Norton and AVG. Ran both scans in Safe Mode, found nothing. Ran a diagnostic scan off McAffee's website and found nothing.

I talked to some geeky guys, and was told that SpyBot is not as good as people think it is, as it leaves lots of "traces" of spyware on your machine, and also lets alot in. SpySweeper for $30 was the recommended solution, and it immediately found 11 things that SpyBot and AdAware both missed, and 50-some "traces"....

Since I've been running SpySweeper, knock on wood, things have been okay.

I just downloaded AVAST today. Is it truly better than Norton and / or AVG? It requires you to disable Norton which AVG does not...

Is AVAST running alone better than Norton, or a Norton / AVG dual protection scheme???

Thanks

 
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