Free anti virus recommendations?

closed

It doesn't matter how expert you are, if you don't use AV, you can get infected at any time, and once infected may never know about it

Sicksorry

Thats true, I can't argue with that. It's very risky game and I would advise you keep away from Internet Explorer if your running an older version.

DCFC79

closed wrote: »

It doesn't matter how expert you are, if you don't use AV, you can get infected at any time, and once infected may never know about it

ive tried telling a friend of mine to use an AV but hes not interested in it, hes more bothered about the speed of his machine starting up etc and doesnt want anything slowing it down once started up.

OP why not try the stickey near the top of the page titled what security do you use.

Maysie

I use kaspersky for free. Its an offer if you bank online with barclays. It runs discreetly in the background and does not slow anything down. Just ask them if you are with them.

OneBrightStar

If you do internet banking with HSBC, McAfee is freely available to download and it's quite good.

hilda1

Using AVG full internet security at the moment. Licensed until 2018.

Used Avast previously but had probs with an upgrade so went over to AVG instead. Also got GHOST backups of my PCs.

Above didn't cost me anything ! I wonder how I did that !!:D:D:D;):D:D

FOX_HOUND

I use windows firewall, Avast free and malwarebytes for an occasional scan.

"Dodgy sites". That can be anything. The malware is not only on the porno sites. My av recently detected a trojan on an estate agents site. Experts on here looked at it and confirmed that it was the real deal, not a false positive. They can be anywhere. Free movie sites and free online games sites seem to have a few.

Elmo1985

ive downloaded AVG = Fabulous - thanks again

MoneySavingUser

I use MSE: http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/security_essentials/default.aspx

RussJK

Sicksorry wrote: »

Avoid downloading freeware tools and do not visit "Dodgy" websites

There's no such thing as avoiding dodgy sites anymore.

As another poster pointed out, even normally legitimate sites can be 'dodgy' if they are silently hacked to link to malware. I've seen plenty of examples of this happening on websites for local businesses.

Also I wouldn't say to avoid downloading 'freeware tools' - just to use caution and common sense when doing so. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is a freeware tool, and even you suggest to use it. Nearly every piece of software I use is freeware.

If in doubt:
1/ Stick to well known freeware tools
2/ Run it in a Sandbox (e.g. Sandboxie)
3/ Send it to virustotal.com or Jotti's
4/ Use an online tester, e.g. Anubis http://anubis.iseclab.org/