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Which is the best Free Anti Virus software

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24

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  • PROLIANT
    PROLIANT Posts: 6,396 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Avast, simple, efficient and I have never had a virus...
    Since when has the world of computer software design been about what people want? This is a simple question of evolution. The day is quickly coming when every knee will bow down to a silicon fist, and you will all beg your binary gods for mercy.
  • cargo
    cargo Posts: 462 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Been using Avira for past 12 months,been ok no problems.
  • BillScarab
    BillScarab Posts: 6,027 Forumite
    AVG is nowere near as good as it used to be. Avast and Avira are OK. I've used all three in the past but have now moved over to Microsoft Security Essentials and so far I've been very happy with it.
    It's my problem, it's my problem
    If I feel the need to hide
    And it's my problem if I have no friends
    And feel I want to die


  • System
    System Posts: 178,347 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I reckon it's a case of what "feels" right instinctivly for you. Having used and paid for Norton for years, a few weeks ago I took the plunge and elected to use AVG free. If it's OK, then I'll keep it, if not I will try something else ie Avira.

    As for "what's best", again it's a personal choice thing (imo).
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • aliEnRIK
    aliEnRIK Posts: 17,741 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    The main 3 are AVG, AVIRA and AVAST
    2 other very new ones are MICROSOFT SECURITY ESSENTIALS and PANDA CLOUD

    AVG ~ definitely slows computers down and doesnt have the best detection rates
    AVIRA ~ very light on resources and tends to have the best detection but no email scanning
    AVAST~ slower to run than avira but has email scanning and slightly lower detection rates

    The other 2 seem to get good ratings from what ive seen so far but until I see concrete tests I cant really recommend either

    Personally I use AVIRA (Ive tried all the 1st 3 and definitely prefer it to the others)
    :idea:
  • dogmaryxx
    dogmaryxx Posts: 2,446 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Best one is common sense

    Stay away from illegal/questionable sites.

    This is one of the main causes why a computer gets infected. Visiting cracksites/warezsites - and other questionable/illegal sites is ALWAYS a risk. Even a single click on the site can be responsible for installing a huge amount of malware. Don't think: "I have a good Antivirus and Firewall installed, they will protect me" - because that's not true... and even before you know it, your Antivirus and Firewall may already be disabled because malware already found its way on your system
  • GunJack
    GunJack Posts: 11,840 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    what you can't argue with are detection rates, and avira and avast are the top of the pile of free av. AVG used to be good, but has fallen away in recent years. Paid-for versions - little-known G-Data seem to be ruling the roost, followed by kaspersky.
    ......Gettin' There, Wherever There is......

    I have a dodgy "i" key, so ignore spelling errors due to "i" issues, ...I blame Apple :D
  • busenbust
    busenbust Posts: 4,782 Forumite
    binnie wrote: »
    Hello, I am on a new laptop and have got one months free McAfee anti virus software. After that month is up, there is a charge for it to carry on.

    Does anybody know of a free anti virus programme which is free forever and if so, could you send me a link please.

    All the best to everybody for 2010 :beer:
    Another recommendation for Avast from me too (been using it since 2004); and to compliment - and for anti-malware protection - I would install Windows Defender:cool:

    Happy new year to you too :wink:
  • spaceboy
    spaceboy Posts: 1,928 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    GeoffX wrote: »
    I used AVG for years. I decided last year to change when I realised it wasn't doing its job properly. In group tests Avira usually comes out on top, so I switched to that. I'd also recommend the Comodo Firewall.

    I wouldnt if you use Vista or 7, the Windows firewall is fine.
  • aliEnRIK wrote: »
    The main 3 are AVG, AVIRA and AVAST
    2 other very new ones are MICROSOFT SECURITY ESSENTIALS and PANDA CLOUD

    AVG ~ definitely slows computers down and doesnt have the best detection rates
    AVIRA ~ very light on resources and tends to have the best detection but no email scanning
    AVAST~ slower to run than avira but has email scanning and slightly lower detection rates

    The other 2 seem to get good ratings from what ive seen so far but until I see concrete tests I cant really recommend either

    Personally I use AVIRA (Ive tried all the 1st 3 and definitely prefer it to the others)
    Spot on. Microsoft Security Essentials is getting a lot of good press. So I'd say either this or Avira. The latter still has better detection rates from what I read so why settle for second best?
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