UPDATE: Free Antivirus Programs - Comments Page 2

Have been seeing a lot of ads for PCMatic.com. Any comments from you or other users?
Thanks.

I chose Webroot (paid) three years ago after Bob called it the "smallest, fastest and best" antivirus program. I got tired of some of the large, slow packages. Like Steve, I still use it because of its good protection. I have no plans to switch any time soon.

Bob, as you know, I have been a fan of Avast!, for about the past decade. I have used Avast!, both the FREE and Paid versions.

While, I am very pleased with the overall Avast! program -- I am getting tired of their pushing other programs, that are not included in my Paid version. Example: Avast!'s Secureline VPN and Clean-Up, which, both are added costs. Yes, these two programs are included in their Premium version, but, I have their Internet Security version. I wonder why, neither of these programs are included with the Internet Security version. Safe Zone comes with my Paid version and allows me to go safely and securely, to my financial institutes and well known shopping sites, that I purchase from.

I have been considering to try the FREE version of Bitdefender. I have been impressed with their results in independent anti-virus results, that you Bob have published yourself. I have also, read about these results, in other reliable newsletters and online computer magazines.

I found Avast!, by simply trying the FREE version, all those many years ago. I left AVG, for Avast! -- Many it is time, to look for a new Anti-Virus program and Bitdefender, really intriques me.

Just had a really horrible computer mess. Went to start the comp in the morning and it got stuck at the bios routine. Was able to start the comp from a USB clone of drive c: which took 10 minutes to boot Windows.
Turns out it was a worst case scenario of a worst case scenario.
1.The primary hard drive, the WD 500GB, was failing intermittently
2.There was a conflict where I installed the most recent Catalyst Control Center with Avast AV program running. Avast is aware of this issue and has posted an obscure bulletin regarding it.
3.There was a conflict between the latest Win7 update and Avast
4.There were numerous instances of corrupt data which were a combination of 1, 2, and or 3.
5.My back ups were corrupted by corrupt system files
6.The hard drive gave the BIOS misleading information which compounded various problems.
7.The restored corrupt back up acted more or less like a virus moving corruption to my new hard drive.
8.Win7 itself was damaged when I attempted to repair the drive, further corrupting the new drives data.
9.The newest Catalyst Control Center appears to be incompatible with my graphics card. When I reverted to the older driver with the newer control center this compounded the problem.

All of the above was gleaned by starting Win step by step and where it balked I made a note of what program it stuck at and researched it. Oddly, the old HD still works and several disk checking programs find no problem with it. It has to be hot, Windows multitasking, and the graphics card working overtime, then it writes erroneous files to the disk.

Anyway, watch out for the Avast-Win7 and Avast-Catalyst Control Center conflicts. Lots of info on the net about it.

Bitdefender Free! It outperforms other AVs. Highly rated and inobtrusive. Tou dont even know its there. I dont need all the bells & whistles that some of these others like Avast have!

Please to keep in mind, after hearing from Bitdefender and some other people, it is not yet ready for windows 10 and does not function correctly (according to them in scanning), this is the free version I am speaking of, I am told by them they do plan to update it but gave no date...

You don't mention Kaspersky (free). I installed it several years ago upon the recommendation of your friend Leo (Ask Leo). It seems to do the job although I upgraded to a paid version.

Just removed Avast free and went back to MS Security Essentials on windows 7. The NAGS from Avast just became too much. Yes, I do realize MSSE is not very highly rated.

I have used all of the recommended free programs over the years and have settled with Panda for my desktops and laptop. It uses very little resources, is fast, and keeps up-to-date.

Bob Rankin! Just wanted you to know how much I have appreciated your advice over the years. I have no computer background but have had to use computers since the early days and I appreciate the way your advice is given so someone still with one foot in the 20th Century can understand.

Thanks again! You rock!

Hello everyone:

This is the system I have set-up:

I run Malwarebyte's full time. I run Super AntiSpyware on schedule for three times a week, then Hitman Pro runs only on start-up.

My computer has been clean for the last year or two. Each program has caught something.

I go to only three places: mail, Amazon and Barnes and Noble for a few books.

Thanks for your time.

I recently uninstalled Avast because it apparently was responsible for a Windows 10 issue that locked up the Start menu & Cortana. When I Googled the problem, I found a lot of highly-technical back-and-forth that was way above me, but the understandable advice was: Uninstall Avast. That worked for me. (I agree with Don Brohm that the nags were excessive - I sure won't miss them!)

Hi there thanks for your wonderful posts like this i have been going trough all of your recommendations of antiviruses so far I have tried Kaspersky, Mcfee (came with the PC) and now currently trying bitdefender trial, which is okay, ill try esod next just wanted to point out that the link is wrong it starts with ww2 when you click on it. Thanks Bob.

One caution I would give readers is to take care din downloading 'Free Version' software from the source vendor's website. Many download sites mimic the source site, alongside "free download" services. Each of these derives their income by including adware of various kinds in the download bundle. The more honest sites give you a means to opt out, but that is not always clear to see and many users just do not pay attention to it. If you have had problems after downloading free software, this is the most likely cause.

Bob, I read your newsletters religiously. I see you are on PCPitstop as a contributor. I wonder why I have never seen you suggest them. I have been with then actually longer than you and trust both of you very much. How do they compare to you other antiviruses?

I use AVG Free,IO Malware Fighter, C Cleaner and have no complaints.AVG keeps nagging to upgrade but since it is free I guess it has a right to that.
My biggest line of defense though is not to leave anything personal on the computer. Before I switch off, everything is cleared from my computer, cookies, cache, everything.Also check Document and Setting, especially 'Local Settings', for some reason non of the cleaner programs seem to find them in there. They tell you that you need cookies to give you a better experience online, load of BS, I have allowed cookies to stay in the past and there is no difference without them. What they do do is to retain your personal details so you don't have to keep re-entering them. I'll re-enter them, small price to pay for security. I know in an ideal world you should be able to leave anything on your computer but it is not an ideal world. Even Cloud has been hacked. If you must keep your personal details handy, put them on a USB flash drive and only insert it when needed, all other times remove it.

I was hit with a virus onApr. 30th (Hacked)it was taken out over a 2 day period @ a cost of $430.00 by Global Mind It.I think they put the Virus in and took it out and it never existed in the 1st place.I changed my bank info(which they had,I stopped payment)and have been getting nasty phone calls,live chat etc.threatening with attorney,messing up my computer etc.I think(according to Canada Anti Fraud )that I,m safe now as these people have been under in vestigation for quite some time.Is there anything else I should do??

I have been using PC Matic for a few years and it keeps my wife's Laptop, my Lap Top and my Computer in top shape. Our problem is the DSL with ATT. We live in the country and are a couple of miles from the main connection so we have the slowest speed which cost around $40.00 a month. With PC Matic you can install it on 5 computers at $50.00 a year. To me that is a good deal!

Thank you usfull information.

I've used Checkpoint's Zone Alarm Internet Security suite for many years. It was recommended to me by the IT chief at my late wife's office - she was a senior database engineer at a financial software house. OK, mine is the paid version, but a basic, but competent free anti-virus and firewall are available, and would seem to be as good as most others out there. Paid or free, it's as comprehensive as most and more than many, yet always seems to be ignored by almost every anti-malware survey and test.

Am I missing something?

Usual disclaimer applies, by the way...