Which is the best Free Anti Virus software

Marty_J

Deleted_User wrote: »

The latter still has better detection rates from what I read so why settle for second best?

I went with MSE because the update server for the free version of Avira is terrible.

spud17

Marty_J wrote: »

I went with MSE because the update server for the free version of Avira is terrible.

I accept what you're saying, but I have 2 PCs here, plus I've asked others where I've installed Avira, none of us has had any problems.

spaceboy

You dont have problems if you dont visit dodgy sites or download dodgy stuff. I was running my old computer fine with no AV for months until I stupidly clicked on something in a facebook message when I was tired and not thinking.

BillScarab

busenbust wrote: »

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

If you use MSE it includes the functionality of Defender so there's no reason to run two pieces of anti-malware software.

Marty_J

spud17 wrote: »

I accept what you're saying, but I have 2 PCs here, plus I've asked others where I've installed Avira, none of us has had any problems.

Well I'm glad it's working out for you, but sadly, the same can't be said for myself. I recommended Avira to everyone I know, and quite a few of them experienced the same problem I did. I cleared malware off our neighbour's computer twice in the space of a few weeks, and both times, Avira's definitions were out of date.

spaceboy

I had a problem with Avira and malware too recently, swtched to MSE.

busenbust

BillScarab wrote: »

If you use MSE it includes the functionality of Defender so there's no reason to run two pieces of anti-malware software.

Agreed. But I personally choose to use Avast alongside Windows Defender :cool:

spud17

Marty_J wrote: »

Well I'm glad it's working out for you, but sadly, the same can't be said for myself. I recommended Avira to everyone I know, and quite a few of them experienced the same problem I did. I cleared malware off our neighbour's computer twice in the space of a few weeks, and both times, Avira's definitions were out of date.

Like I said, I accept your experiences, and it's been the same for others on here, but I just wanted to point out that it has not been the same for everyone.

You say you've found out of date definitions, is this in the USA?

Perhaps it's been worse in the land of the Free?

Marty_J

spud17 wrote: »

Like I said, I accept your experiences, and it's been the same for others on here, but I just wanted to point out that it has not been the same for everyone.

You say you've found out of date definitions, is this in the USA?

Perhaps it's been worse in the land of the Free?

Yes, it has been in the US. Avira is a German company, so perhaps I'm fighting some transatlantic traffic.

But I'm not knocking Avira, it's a great product and when it works, it works very well. Some people seem to be under the impression it's the be all and end all of AV apps though, and that's simply not true. In PC World's 2009 round-up of paid-for AV software for instance, Avira came in 7th place, behind G-Data, Norton, Kapersky, BitDefender, Panda, and F-Secure.

spud17

dogmaryxx wrote: »

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.

spaceboy wrote: »

You dont have problems if you dont visit dodgy sites or download dodgy stuff. I was running my old computer fine with no AV for months until I stupidly clicked on something in a facebook message when I was tired and not thinking.

The problem is defining a 'dodgy' site.

So Facebook could be said to be dodgy?

I'm guessing that like many others on here, I've gone 'off piste' trying to solve a problem, i.e.to an area of the internet, which is generally viewed as 'dodgy'.

I've never had a problem, but then I keep away from the real dodgy sites e.g. Facebook and Hotmail, or any other popular site. :rolleyes:

spaceboys post reinforces this, it was probably a one off, but if I was going to target a site with malware, it's obvious to go for the soft target, with probably less savvy users.

The same logic is the reason why I use Linux for general surfing, and the Mac users are so smug.;)