UPDATE: Free Antivirus Programs - Comments Page 1

There's no right answer to this question.

If you have an underpowered PC, performance matters too -- and most of the security packages out there will have an impact.

If you can take the time to experiment, you should. eSet have a useful (and free) AV removal tool that will help you get shot of the more difficult-to-remove packages, if you try something that doesn't want to go away again.

Bob doesn't mention F-Secure, so I will: it's not quite the most secure but it IS good enough for normal people and it's also less likely to deep six your PC's performance. (eSet is good on this front too, but I lost faith in them a year or so back.)

Comodo is good but hard to get right -- it's quite intrusive, early on -- and there are some compatibility issues in some very odd places that I didn't realise until I switched to something else. And, unusually, the paid version seemed to me to be the inferior product, in performance terms, to the free one -- go figure.

F-Secure is also about the only one you can be reasonably sure the NSA doesn't have a backdoor into. Apparently. But then, maybe they WOULD say that...? ;)

I downloaded the new Win 10 and other than not
seeing thing where they used to be, I was getting
along OK.
Then I went to make up some business cards on Publisher. I no longer have Publisher, in fact I can't find my Office Program. I have Word and Excel but none of the rest of Office is there.
Then I went to play hearts, it too is gone. The file folder is there but it's empty. ??

Many ISPs will provide you with a high quality Antivirus program for free. For example, Comcast provides Norton 360 for up to 7 computers per subscriber. I think AT&T provide McAfee. So check with your provider. You may be able to get a paid subscription for free.

All the ones that Bob suggests (AVG, AVAST, Avira) are good.

I used Bitdfender for three years a while back and started using it again two years ago. I has warts but overall it's a really good program. I would recommend it to anyone. (I've never used the free version) I also use Comodo Internet Security on one machine. I kind of like tinkering with its many firewall options. :-)

Thanks for this and all of your articles! FTG

OH PLEASE!!!

I had a major computer crash recently!
None of the anti-virus software I tried (one-by-one) and not simultaneously were able to flush out the malware that was embedded inside my computer prior to its crash!

I am now using the Linux Distribution (Distro) Linux Mint 17.2 and have NOT looked back at Windows and I had been a Die-HARD Windows User for two decades!

i

I have Malwarebytes, Panda Cloud and Avast on a Win 10 HP machine, and I regularly scan with all three at LEAST once a week. I have Zone Alarm Free firewall (it works for me).
I've been a Faithful Follower of yours since the Tour Bus and you've never let me down. Keep on rockin', Mr. Bob!

If I choose to go with a paid full service antivirus program on my Windows machine, can I/should I turn off windows defender/Microsoft Security Essentials?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, you should have only ONE real-time antivirus tool active.

where's any updated info
btw which is the lightest on resources
cheers

What about Spybot-Search & Destroy? That's another favorite of ours. And I also really like CryptoPrevent... a program which resets your computer's Group Policies to make you less likely to inadvertently launch a possibly-malicious piece of malware.

I have used Avast and AVG at different times with reasonable results and I regularly run Malware Bytes, Comodo and iObit System Care. Even so, until recently I was haunted by the idea that something was bound to get through.

I recently downloaded Browser in the Box - a hardened Debian Linux system running Firefox inside a Virtual Machine. To my mind, this massively reduces the chances of catching a virus, Trojan or malware programme in the first place. I am immune to phishing and picky about what I download so both these threats are relatively trivial. Browser in the Box, which is free for single, private users, has at last made my Internet browsing completely safe.

Hi Bob, and many thanks for your persistent efforts to do us good. Or whatever. (I would like to regret the US bias, but I recognise that my friends in the States need help as well - though it is sometimes a bit trying to be offered an amazing breakthrough that only works if you are Minnesota or circumambient terotory)

AV suppliers seem to have reduced the Free options drastically, which is not reflected in your note.

Avast now only give you a 60-day option, after which they want to switch you to a paid version.

The two free AVs that do well in the latest AV comparitives (UK: comparatives) test (March -June 15) are Panda (which comes out top with 99.9% pretection rate and Lavasoft (at 19 out of 22 - only 90% protection rate).

The only drawback about Panda, which I have used for the past year and installed on my younger daughter's machine (the elder is a law unto herself), is that it keeps popping up an offer to upgrade to the paid comprehensive version (I have not worked out how to disable this, tho' if anyone has any bright ideas ... ?)

Otherwise you have to pay for the top AVs such as BitDefender (2nd), Kaspersky, Trend Micro and Tencent - unless I have missed something, which is quite possible.

Personally I would add the paid-for Malwarebytes Pro, to keep an eye on what is going on (it is resource intensive, compared to the free version - but on modern machines, with 8MB or more of RAM, only negligibly so) and also at least the free version of Hitman Pro.

For what it is worth (2 cents ?) you are absolutely right about back-ups - I do them neurotically, in part because the Restore option in Windows (7 ultimate) seems to have stopped working completely for me: I cannot remember when I was last able to do a successful restore from any point, automatic or manual (and I do check with Msoft's fixit and sysinternals that things are as they ought to be).

Keep up the good work, best, a.

EDITOR'S NOTE: You comment about Avast is not correct. There is no obligation to upgrade to a paid version after 60 days. I've heard this rumor about Avast, Avira and AVG. In each case, the upgrade to paid is optional.

Lately I have been changing my AV programs quite often (free versions, not trial versions). Most find ANY problems I might have, some will correct them and others will ask me to upgrade to the paid version to correct them. They do seem to work quite well anyways.

But, they all get in the way: watching a video, playing a game, surfing through social nets, ... and so forth. Somehow, they all slow down my system.

After uninstalling the AV software: my game playing is better (higher fps, lower pings); surfing is faster (no matter which browser I use); and online videos are smoother. But I don't know how many “left over’s" are working in the background after the uninstalation.

In any case I need a free Av program, even if it slows me down. I want one for the many and the few things I do on my computer.

Thanks Bob> I have gone with avast.

MBAM -- I used it for 3 different periods of time. Each time the only thing it catches are PUPs and each time when I accessed it, it would try to change my browser to something strange I've never heard of. Last time I checked was last week. I've deleted it for the last time.

Recently purchased a dell laptop with McAfee anti-virus. A few days later a screen warned me that I had no anti-virus, the firewall was off and windows defender was off. I had planned on loading Bitdefender free after the McAfee trial so I loaded it and turned on the firewall. I noticed that the fan was running much less without the McAfee. I'm sold on Bitdefender. I also use Web of Trust, another free download.

It seems that over the quarter century I have been using a PC I have used most antivirus products out there and have never had my system infected. This says a fair bit for the suppliers.

But I now use Webroot Secure Anywhere which is highly rated by sources I consult even if Bob's sources don't seem to consider it. I also run MBAM occasionally. I won't say my system is impregnable but it is one which is as secure as I think it has to be.

I read some of what you all had to say, and I suppose in reality we all worry about virus in our computers, it is unavoidable and even the very best of everything can not always keep them out.

But one thing you do not do as it will not work well for you so do not even consider it. Never use (regardeless of what the manufacturer says) use two or more antivirus software packacges in your computer, it can do more harm that good. More is not always better and in fact could miss something while they are fighting with each other.

This article is excellent and well versed. The man knows what he is talking about. I myself use Malwarebyte and super anitspware pro and Microsoft windows defender which is not really good. But it seems everytime I try a new antivirus something goes wrong, it does not install correctly, it does bad things I have to undo, it interferes with this or that. But never the less, you must have some kind of anti virus and one (1) good one will do, not several.

Just my opinion. :)

I installed Avast free software. Bitdefender was not quite ready for Windows 10, or I would have tried that. My problem is that Avast recommended I uninstall Windows Defender, which I would have been glad to do. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be an option for me. And when you go to its settings, you can't even change them to Off. It's all grayed out. What to do?

Microsoft MSE and Pc Matic - end of story and no drama EVER!