Free Anti Virus software

AndyOgy

Hi everyone.

I had AVG for ages and it seemed to work quite well. During a recent update, the software seems to have become corrupted. I can neither un-install it or re-install it because something won't delete.

So what's another decent free anti virus package?

jeremyrundle

Having been into IT ever since CP/M and started the Launceston and Pontefract computer clubs I can say that I would never use free AV software.

It offers only the most basic protection.

With good AV software as little as £20 a year, Trend PC Cillin etc, why chance it.

Also install

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/f ... ption.html

One of the best available and still free. Check out the reviews on PC Pro.

jamesco

MSE - Microsoft Security Essentials - fast, free, effective, unobtrusive.

sketchley

jamesco wrote:

MSE - Microsoft Security Essentials - fast, free, effective, unobtrusive.

+1

spen666

jeremyrundle wrote:

.... the Launceston and Pontefract computer clubs.....

Quite a large area covered by this lot.

Some members must have a fair bit of travelling to the meetings
:oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :twisted:

AndyOgy

I only really use my computer for entertainment. Any important files are stored externally. If the worst came to it, I'd just re-install Windows and start again. Not really worth paying £20 for a better antivirus program.

Thanks for the link Jamesco. Looks like exactly the sort of thing that I'm after. It's installing as I write this.

Now I just need to get the remaining bits of AVG off my hard drive somehow.

davmaggs

It might be worth looking around for an AVG uninstaller. Sometimes vendors put out sepical uninstaller programs when they know that their tools are likely to be a pain to remove.

I've always installed AVG (free), but it is increasingly becoming a pest. I'm not convinced that anyone needs to pay a penny for AV software and to do so makes you a mug. Decent firewall and installing Spybot S&D has kept all my machines happy for years along with trying to avoid installing silly things. The AV software is useful for scanning the downloads.

Koomy

Try this for removal of AVG...
http://www.avg.com/us-en/download-tools

hatbeard

I use avast on my XP machine at home but it generally is only used for downloading the occassional large file and streaming media to my tv not heavy duty web browsing.

jamesco

Koomy wrote:

Try this for removal of AVG...
http://www.avg.com/us-en/download-tools

That's a great link - AV programs don't get on well with each other on the same machine!

No problem, Andy, this is a good bit of software and has given the willies to the other AV vendors.

Clever Pun

hatbeard wrote:

I use avast on my XP machine at home but it generally is only used for downloading the occassional large file and streaming media to my tv not heavy duty web browsing.

using avast on vista and it's significantly faster than avg was.

used it for 2 weeks with no obvious problems

CiB

After years of using any number of commercial paid for (by nice employers) and free AV 'solutions' that never did find anything untoward on my various PCs, I came to the conclusion that the Microsoft Security Essentials package would do fine for how we consume the internet, and it does.

I've always advised friends etc not to pay for PC protection when there has always been enough adequate AV stuff available for free, and to keep away from dodgy sites and sites that offer too much to be trustworthy, things like free ringtones, free MP3s etc. Stick to The Telegraph, the BBC, SC Stats and Bike Radar and you don't need AV. :idea:

AndyOgy

That link to the AVG remover worked a treat.

Thanks everyone for all the replies, links and advice. All my problems are now sorted. Well, all the problems relating to my antivirus software.

itboffin

You'd be surprised how many of those commercial AV packages are in fact the same engine under the hood, including the MS free one, which given who actually makes it, it is a bargain.

AVG peeps have a good product but lack the proper structure for updates and their QA team need to MTFU.

jeremyrundle

You forget that FREE AV does not offer protection on

Networks, Credit card shopping, data protection, webmail and clients

fossyant

Got Avast Free running on 2 PC's and a laptop at home - much less of a resource hog than AVG (used to really like AVG but it's become bloated).

Like anything, careful use of the web and opening of 'emails' is the best advice.

dodgy

Avast user here, easily up to the job. MSE is also well regarded.

You do not need to pay for good AV software.

jeremyrundle

dodgy wrote:

Avast user here, easily up to the job. MSE is also well regarded.

You do not need to pay for good AV software.

No, you don't need to pay for "AV" software, you need to pay for "GOOD" AV software.

dodgy

Wrong.

jeremyrundle

dodgy wrote:

Wrong.

That is your opinion, I used to teach IT, and installed more computers that I can remember from stand alone to full networks, you keep your free AV and I will keep my systems safe.

dodgy

Haha, right. You taught IT, where, a school, college, uni? And you started a couple of computer clubs and now you're HD Moore or something?

You'll no doubt have to google HD

jamesco

jeremyrundle wrote:

You forget that FREE AV does not offer protection on

Networks, Credit card shopping, data protection, webmail and clients

Networks - do you mean protection from computers on the local network? Enable the Windows Firewall. Your router should include a hardware firewall for protection from the internet.

Credit card shopping - what, keyloggers? Don't install dodgy software.

Data protection - if you mean encryption, then some versions of Windows have it, and there's always TruCrypt. If you mean backup, then that's something else (Windows also has Windows Backup, surprise!)

Webmail - not a whole lot can go wrong here, the mail is on the web, after all. If there's any browser-based trickery going on then the AV is there to pick that up.

Clients - what's this?

Run AV (MSE, AVG etc. are fine), enable the firewall, don't use an account with administrator privileges, use common sense about installing applications from trusted sources only, run regular external backups of important files, run Windows Update. That's it, all of it's free, no need for paid AV. Scaremongering for paid AV just helps the fake AV scammers...

TuckerUK

I'm just you're ordinary smuck, started off on Basic and CP/M, build all my PCs and many family and friends ones too.

I have decided on a mutli app. defence:

SpywareBlaster
Spybot Search & Destroy
AdAware
Microsoft Security Esentails and Firewall
AVG (although just about to try Comodo on the one PC that had problems with Outlook and AVG)
All PCs also hardware firewalled.

All free.

Never had a security related issue on any PC despite browsing some fairly risky Eastern European/Asian tech sites.

jeremyrundle

You use what you want I will use what I want jamesco.

I have not at any point said free is no good at all in fact loo here

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/software ... ition-2011

http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews108133.html

and here

http://www.pcantivirusreviews.com/antiv ... rison.html

I am simply saying I want complete protection, and my installed systems use

http://us.trendmicro.com/us/products/en ... index.html

and my friends and I all use this

http://us.trendmicro.com/us/products/pe ... -security/

What you use is up to you as is what we use.

dodgy

Nice comparative testing here from the independent guys at av-comparatives.
http://www.av-comparatives.org/images/s ... ug2010.pdf

av-test.org is another independent testing lab.

Perhaps choose using their data, no axe to grind

jamesco

jeremyrundle wrote:

I have not at any point said free is no good

jeremyrundle wrote:

No, you don't need to pay for "AV" software, you need to pay for "GOOD" AV software.

Dude, I'm entirely relaxed about what you use, none of my business, but recommending paid AV (and it's every year that it has to be paid for) when the free alternatives are just as good or better is misguided, IMHO. $40/year is worth saving - beer money! - and even better with free AV you don't get "oh my god your subscription has expired and your PC is unprotected - update now or you'll lose everything!!!!" messages every 12 months...

AndyOgy

It's all good. I appreciate that the ones you have to pay for probably are better than the free ones.

I just don't have anything worth paying to protect on my laptop. 99% of my browsing probably takes me to only 15-20 trusted sites. All my photos are backed up elsewhere and my e-mail is done through Google. So, virus or not, I'll always be able to access that.

If I am unlucky enough to get a virus, one that isn't dealt with by my newly installed MSE, then wiping the drive and re-installing Windows won't be the end of the world. I'd just rather not, so free protection is fine by me.

I really didn't mean to start an argument, and I appreciate all the input and advice that has been forthcoming.

Thanks again, one and all.

hatbeard

AndyOgy wrote:

I really didn't mean to start an argument

I think it's more of a heated but reasonable exchange of opinion than an argument at the moment.

if you wanted to start a real argument you would have to say something like

Ditch that windows junk and get yourself a real OS like OS X or Linux and you wouldn't need any antivirus software.

[evil laugh]mwahahahahahaha[/evil laugh]

edhornby

hatbeard wrote:

Ditch that windows junk and get yourself a real OS like OS X or Linux and you wouldn't need any antivirus software.

yeah but linux is just a free version of OSX so it can't be as good... ;-)

OP - for removing any windows software, the best bet is to take a copy of the registry, then use a 3rd party uninstaller to get rid of AV tools (and also firewalls) as they get really hooked into the OS

the current windows ones are pretty good for the majority of home users, if you are gonig to splash the hard earned on a paid for AV solution then you need to do your homework first, look at tomshardware and cnet before purchasing as they do tests on virus identification

benno68

I use Avast - no issues.

jairaj

another vote for the Microsoft one.

Also a few banks and ISPs offer free licenses for well known anti-virus software brand names.

Worth checking your bank and ISPs' websites for more info .... ?