Free Anti-Virus Programs - Comments Page 2

You mention Nod 32, but what is the smart security like? Is it worth it? Or is it better to get the Nod32 and then use widows firewall and windows defender to supplement it?

You mention four best protection software:

1) CA antivirus

2) Windows Defender

3) Google Toolbar, and

4) XRay PC

What about the recent claims from Redmond where the guys from M..soft mention that Windows Live OneCare

(http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/prodinfo/default.htm) protects against viruses and malware?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I'm sure OneCare is a decent product, but I have not used it, and it's not free. My guess is that they have packaged up Windows Defender and some commercial anti-virus program under their own brand.

I tried the AVG Free software, but it only worked for a day or so, then would not update or work anymore because a .bin file was missing. I did this on both of my computers, same results each time. What's the deal with that?

I ditched Norton for this - and the very fact I ditched Norton (which has gotten more bloated than Elvis over the years - and user-unfriendly) has had a positive effect on my machines. I will not be using Norton anymore. Any ideas on the AVG issue?

Nigel, I updated from AVG Free 7.5 to 8.0 a while back and it ran fine for a week or so, then I had the same problem. I reinstalled it, but instead of doing a complete reinstall, I selected the option that said something about fixing broken or missing files and haven't had any problems since.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Sounds like a list of Meta tags! I don't see much on that site except ad feeds and affiliate links.

I installed the three month trial for CA Internet Security Suite, and it did a scan automatically when it started.

It detected a little bit of low threat spyware, but then it said that I can't remove it because I didn't buy it.

Is that supposed to happen with the trial?

About five years ago, I installed Norton on my computer and it slowed the system to the point of uselessness after a few months. The included uninstaller did not remove all the bits and pieces, I had to do a lot regedit and I still find bits now and then. I like AVG, I've used it for several years with no problems, daily updates, and only a small bit of my memory.

I get all the bells and whistles on Avast including scheduled boot time scan.

You forgot one of the best anti virus etc programs I have found inm 34 years on line. Go mtaske a very hard look at comodo.com and their new Internet Security. It too is free but for a small fee you can have 24/7 on line fixing your system if infected.

I have justt reclained 4 systems from the worst dose of trojjansd and virii I hve ever heard of. It wass generating new users and all kinds of problems. None of the expensive and otherwise programs I had been [payong to found much at all. When I downkloaded the Comodo program it founsd 183 trojans etc and now my systems ater bworking prfectly again and I actually watched an attack 2 das ago as 8 different trojans were sent and Comodo poped upp a note and killed them all.
I have run earlier versions of the Comodo software but for some reason it had been removed beffore the attacks. No I can sleep in peace as my systems are in great shape. They have several programs all free.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
John

I have been using OneCare for 2 years on 3 computers and it works very well. It maybe isn't free but if you watch for rebates it can be. Each one I bought cost me $30 and had a $30 rebate.

It's worth bearing in mind not merely the cost of antivirus software in monetary terms but also the cost in reduction of efficiency of your computer. In that regard, free antivirus is not always the ideal choice.
A good place for comparisons:
http://www.pcantivirusreviews.com/comparison
Personally I'm switching to VIPRE...

From http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html:
"All-inclusive and comprehensive protection FREE avast! antivirus Home Edition includes ANTI-SPYWARE protection, certified by the West Coast Labs Checkmark process, and ANTI-ROOTKIT detection based on the best-in class GMER technology. No additional purchase is required."
That's the freeware version. Includes anti-spyware protection.

I have been using norton anti virus for past 3-4 years. Your view regarding this software is correct and I also held the same view until the recent Norton 2009 which gives much better system performance. Now, hardly I have to shut it off for smooth functioning of my PC.

This article still poses AVG Free as antivirus only. The current free version of AVG 8.5 includes antispyware, antivirus, email scanning, browser link scanning, auto daily updates & scheduled scans. As an IT professional, I also install Malwarebyte's Antimalware for manual "2nd option" scans no matter what the primary defense is. There is no single silver bullet anymore. http://free.avg.com & http://www.malwarebytes.org

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks, Ive updated the description for AVG in the article above. But note that the free AVG does not do email scanning, or screen your downloads.

I bought the Avira AntiVir Premium in June and it is supposed to have virus update everyday, but it never did. After a week or so trying I went to their support page and found out that they have a problem with one of the servers, and I have to do manual update through a link. I did it for a month and they never repaired their faulty server. I asked for a refund and they did refund immediately. Now I am on AVG free one and I don't have any problems.

Comodo Internet Security-- very good free anti virus/spyware plus award winning firewall for free. I'm surprised this one wasn't listed. It's one of the very best and was released for public use around March 2009.

The other one that is free right now (8/009) is Panda Cloud Antivirus, which is in final Beta testing with the public.

(I'm a community computer tech for a living)

Internet Explorer Question -- While doing a download from Internet Explorer a pop up showed the New Internet Explorer 8. I thought, sure; why not. I downloaded it and now it will not go to Internet Explorer at all. It just times and times, but never goes to the site.

It doesn't show in the control panel... to uninstall it, even though the properties shows it as loaded in the C:\Programs file. In that file it does not offer an Uninstall. How do I get rid of it and reinstall the normal Internet Explorer??

EDITOR'S NOTE: Use System Restore. See http://askbobrankin.com/system_restore.html

My LCD computer monitor "Wriggles" but not all the time. I took it in for repair and they found nothing, the fault did not occur. Any clues, the power supply maybe? Any cheap solutions?

EDITOR'S NOTE: If it didn't happen while connected to another PC, then I would suspect the power supply. They're cheap and easy to replace. All you need is a screwdriver - give it a try!

One more note about using the antivirus Comodo.com: It's the ONLY free antivirus which is licensed for use in businesses. All the others are strictly for home use only.

As a matter of course i take nortons off my customers machines,too resource hungry is the main reason and replace it with avast,because it is rock solid.
But the i also like to test out anti-virus programmes and am using Immunet protect which i believe is still in beta stage at the moment,it appears to protect my computers very well.
my only gripe is sometimes i have to restart the scan after its started.