McAfee VirusScan - Renewal or other?

Huggins

Hi, As you've probably guessed from the title, my Virusscan is up for renewal at cost £25 for the year.

My question: should I renew or am I suitably protected for free by the following Microsoft AV, Search and Destroy, Ewido etc.

Or should I spend the money on better AV programme.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Regards Huggins

Gibblestick

Really easy answer.
Don't pay for anti-virus at home
use
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5

Browntoa

yep...avg free which is my choice

or avast

trickster

Yes, thats what i use. Add Zonealarm for a free Firewall too.

Huggins

oK thanks people... i use McAfee as my firewall at present. Should I change any setting or remove any files/progs for the McAfee AV software before I install one of the free AV's above.

Basicly anything i need to consider before installing the free AV? as i don't want to disrupt my computer because it's running well at the moment - touch wood!

regards and thx for the swift responses

shopbot

Another vote for AVG free.
I also use ZoneAlarm, Spybot, AdAware, Ewido, Spyware Blaster and Windows Defender. I periodically also use an online scanner. Not had any problems with the above set up.

nickmack

Huggins wrote:

oK thanks people... i use McAfee as my firewall at present. Should I change any setting or remove any files/progs for the McAfee AV software before I install one of the free AV's above.

If you're going to ditch McAfee and replace it with something like AVG and ZoneAlarm, you should completely uninstall McAfee from the Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel.

Before you do this however, in order to minimise your exposure, download the install files for AVG and ZA so you can run them without having to get from the Internet with no AV and Firewall.

Browntoa

another reason to ditch it !!

http://www.gameshout.com/news/032006/article3409.htm

McAfee Inc., a major maker of anti-virus software has admitted that its update for a number of virus-scanning products caused havoc Friday in corporate and consumer systems using the virus protection products when a virus definition file triggered the quarantine or deletion function for several executable files, including Microsoft's Excel.

Huggins

so ... i can't use AVG with my McAfee firewall? I would have to switch to ZoneAlarm. Right?

Browntoa

no, if you do not renew then you will need to remove Mcafee completely and go to the alternatives you mentioned

if you have a home network then you will need to use Sygate or Kerio instead of Zonealarm

Huggins

Ok Thanks Very Much All