How do Antivirus progs compare lately?

abibee

I've been looking at the free AV alternatives, and I've come across a new Microsoft one that's free ( http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/ ). And apparently Avast! have revamped their free version too.

How do these compare, with Avira now?

coolagarry

Computer Shopper magazine gave top marks to Microsoft Security Essentials but said that it did not cover emails so you would need something else to cover that if your ip didn't already do so

fiddiwebb

Very much a personal choice, if you like shiny coloured dials, bells & whistles then Avast is the one you want.

For an AV that runs quitely in the background and doesn't hog your system resources and has a slightly better detection rate than Avast or Microsoft then go for Avira.

totalsolutions

Read the latest PcPro mag in WH Smiths or online at https://www.pcpro.co.uk I think.

Altahost

Always amazes me the concern computer users have for virus protection. Recent studdies show just over 3% of infections are actually Virus orientated. Any virus protection offering low front end resource is going to be okay to a point. Fiddiwebb makes the most sense here. Low front end usage, no shiny bits...excellent. 70% +of your computer resource during scan for just 3% of a global problem

Spyware, Malware, Adaware is the bigger issue. The best value for money I have found is probably Spybot Search and Destroy. It's free. It's not a guarantee but it is so much better than simple virus protection.

Marty_J

Altahost wrote: »

Spyware, Malware, Adaware is the bigger issue. The best value for money I have found is probably Spybot Search and Destroy. It's free. It's not a guarantee but it is so much better than simple virus protection.

Spybot's immunise feature is very useful, though in addition you may want to check out Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware.

busenbust

Very much a personal choice, if you like shiny coloured dials, bells & whistles then Avast is the one you want.

I've always thought anything but (it has a minimal interface) - but Avast is what I use and what I'd always recommend .

boliston

I've got clamwin on my windows partition and it has the benefit of being both free and open source. I think the last time I paid for a piece of software must have been back in 2001 when I actually paid for a windows XP disc.