No More Free Antivirus? - Comments Page 1

I have been using Microsoft Essentials it works good for me. I do run quick scan every day and full once a week.

Just point them to www.ninite.com to install and update securely.

Joan in Reno

More than one person has come to me about their Free AVG expiring. And I blame AVG. When you click on the Free link (unless they changed it recently) they ended up with the full version anyway. During install you would be asked if you wanted to install the Basic or Full protection. And if you chose full you end up with the premium version installed.

AVG doesn't make it clear. If you accidentally installed AVG premium just go to uninstall it and you will have the option to downgrade to the free version.

My choice is Avira, by the way.

I, too, have been caught in this confusion, mostly due to haste on my part. However, I did figure out my error by googling, "avast not free anymore?" and getting an explanation. I did decide to pay for the Avast upgrade on at least one of our laptops, as a "thank you" for the free use, and to express my happiness with the product, though, as that just seemed like the right thing to do after using it for free for so long!

I switched to Zone alarm free anti virus and firewall, I have never been happier, before I switched I was getting a lot of downloaders and virus's since I have been on Z/A I'm more secure than ever, I still use malwarebytes free also.Zone alarm might be worth adding to your "good" list

Using free Avast for last 5 years. Does the job and doesn't hog resources. I visit questionable sites every day and I've been virus free with Avast. I recommend highly.

Hi Bob

Another excellent article and free! I think if I had to pay for my free antivirus currently AVG it would be time to consider a more secure PC an Apple, there is nothing else is there? The price for versions that have to be paid for are invariably the same. No one wants to break ranks. It could all be seen as a moneymaking ripoff. On the other hand, we all need to earn a living. I have at least four PCs running Windows, various versions, and although I run a small company I cannot afford to pay for antivirus protection for four PCs. My use of the PCs is mainly non-commercial as I tend to use them for activities that are personal. As for the commercial use I have still not managed to get my accounts in the black. Obviously, if I was making money I would upgrade to the paid versions of my software.

I had paid version of Avast, but it was due to renew I stopped the payment because that version was invasive and slowed down my computer. I installed free version and Avast kept hounding me to upgrade till I finally gave in and purchased paid version when they had a sale at 50% off. It isn't as invasive as previous versions were.

I've used avast for many years. They do that registration thing every year. No big deal if you read the screen. Still the best!

Free is great for try outs and for for those who can't afford to pay , I feel if your going to use some developers product and you can pay the freight then give them their fair share .

I've used the Free version of Avast for some time now and I'm very happy with it.

In High School, a teacher gave each of us a copy of an instruction sheet with 20 items on it. At the top in large letters it read "READ EVERYTHING BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING".

Most of the class, myself included, were loudly reciting Mary had a little lamb, counting out loud backwards from 10, and other inane things. A very few students wrote down 3 short lines and turned their papers in. Item 18 said that now that you've read the first 17 lines, write down your name, age, and favorite color. A good lesson learned.

I been using Avast for a long and don't need the pay version, but wish they had a way to "Donate" so I can maybe donate $5 or $10 dollars instead of buying the Pro Version to help them out.... just a thought :)

Yet another excellent article Bob - as always, informative and comprehensive. Your point that programmers need to eat and cannot survive on altruism is well taken which is why I urge my relatively small circle of cohorts to donate if possible what they can afford.

I use the OS included Windows Defender on my 5 Windows 8.1 machines, and OS included Security Essentials on my Windows 7 machine. In fact, I have been using "Essentials" or "Defender" on all my Windows Machines, including my old XP machines, since it first came out. I should add that I also have Malwarebytes Antimalware installed on every machine, too. The combination of the two softwares has been enough to protect me even though I am prone to occasionally visiting questionable websites. That said, I have had to clean machines for others that had the free Avast, Avira, AVG, or other free AV software, but still became infected. It is my experience that no AV software is perfect, but Defender and Essentials is as good as any of the others as long as care is taken while surfing.

Has anyone considered the fact that many ISP's provide free AV, Comcast provides Norton Security Suite for up to 7 Computers for free, Sometimes they get a better offer from another Provider and may switch to that program for all subscribers. They had McAfee for years and about 10 years ago switched to Norton's, they also have Quick scan on their tool bar.

Verizon had McAfee I believe they still do. Windows Defender is a stand alone without installing Security Essentials. Also if you have multiple computers many like Symantec and McAfee offer deals on 3, 5, and 10 pack.

I been using Comodo Internet Security Premium for a long. It is a free version of antivirus + firewall and that's good enough for me. I also use IObit Malware Fighter (free version) and Spybot Search & Destroy.

I don't think, any computer topic is more written about than the Anti-Virus Programs!!! :) :) :)

To be Free or Paid, is the question. For years, I used the Free versions of both AVG and Avast!. I finally, settled on Avast!, for the same reasons, less intrusive and the Anti-Rootkits protection, on a free version. Over a year ago, I finally purchased the Paid version of Avast!. I even got a good bargain, in the deal ... I paid $89.99 for a 3 years subscription, for 3 PCs!!! That's $10 a year, for each PC. I can't complain about that.

Am I against the Free versions? Heavens, NO!!! I used them for years and always suggest using them, to others. I just finally made my own decision, about how I would "handle", my own Anti-Virus Program.

I still get an occasional virus??? Yes but, Avast! does it's job, by putting "it" in the Virus Chest, like I want it to do. That is what an Anti-Virus Program is for, to catch viruses, before ... They harm your PC!!!

Surfing "safely" is not the right answer, anymore. Heavens, ask all of us geeks, that got caught with our "pants down" and got the horrid crap ... Conduit, from CNET Download and a few other, supposedly "safe places" for downloading!!! Malware is out there to "nail you", even with "safe surfing."

Believe me, I was almost ready to "pull my hair out", when I got the Conduit crap. It took me one week, to clear it up and I was still considering completely re-formatting my 1TB Hard Drive, to be sure that it was gone, forever. Re-formatting a Hard Drive was so much easier, when the drives were only 40GBs or less. The very first Hard Drive, I ever re-formatted was a 1.6GB Hard Drive!!! WOW, was that a hard one, too. The reason it was hard, it was the first I had ever done. In March 1997, 1.6GB was considered a large sized Hard Drive!!! Boy, how we laugh today, at that statement. LOLOLOL

Bottom line, either the Free version or the Paid version of a good, solid Anti-Virus Program is what you need, to keep your PC or Laptop running smoothly, without any viruses to impede your computing. It all depends on your budget and that is the real truth. I used both and both have given me, excellent service.

I'm continually monitoring antimalware software and activities. It has taken "a while" to find the right combination of antimalware programs and I'm still sometimes uncertain how secure my system it. I'm using Bitdefender (it was recommended by the people who custom built my computer), along with Spyhunter. I've tried using other software in combination with Bitdefender (e.g., Spybot and Vipre) but there were too many conflicts. I also run cleanup utilities (e.g., Glary and PrivaZer). I subscribe to your newsletter, as well as some others, to keep up on computing news and, especially, on security issues and answers. I frequently follow your recommendations. And: I _buy_ the antimalware products I use. JJA 2014-06-20

In a way I don't blame the companies for trying to sell their users the "full" version. Developing a reliable AV system is serious business. But frankly, they push it a little too far.
I used AVG free for a couple of years on all my computers, then decided I need the the protection of the paid version for my three desktops. I still use the free version on my laptop because I only use it a couple of months out of the year when I travel. I also had the free version on my wife's laptop, which gets very light use and is not likely to wander into dangerous territory. But a year ago I changed her machine to Avast because AVG became such an incredible pain, not only to her but to me, every year when I had to TRY to re-install the free version. Unfortunately Avast is driving her crazy now with constant attempts to get her to "upgrade" to their paid version.
I like the protection of AVG and so far it has caught the few threats I've encountered. But even with the paid versions installed I still get constant ads and promos for other products, including things I think should be included in the package.
And last year I apprently had the "internet security" version and didn't know it because I had a firewall then and now I don't, after installing the 2014 version, so I'm using Windows firewall, which as far as I know is ok.
At the end of this year I may look long and hard at what product I install. But I really think they would annoy users less if they backed off a little with the sales pitches. A PO'd user is not likely to be eager to pay them money for anything. And I say that from personal experience.