Free antivirus software article

bod1467

Doc_N wrote: »

I think you do. Click the appropriate button.

I already had.

bod1467

abibee wrote: »

a Chinese AV

For some reason that comment doesn't inspire confidence.

abibee

bod1467 wrote: »

For some reason that comment doesn't inspire confidence.

Well they said that a few years ago about Kaspersky, and it being Russian.

A good programme is a good programme wherever it's made, and Qihoo is tested by the AV comparative companies and it's legit. Just we're not used to Chinese software in the West.

buglawton

I was reinstalling XP and wanted to install Microsoft Security Essentials, it turns out to have been discontinued for XP.
So been browsing this thread for ideas on what alternative to install.
What are other people doing in the same situation? Needs to be reasonable lightweight due to moderately old hardware.

(Please place all comments about why people should not still be using XP in a different thread. My answer in advance is, the old hardware is still good but not powerful enough or compatible for Win7/8 which in any case are ridiculously expensive for a backup computer).

Kernel_Sanders

buglawton wrote: »

I was reinstalling XP and wanted to install Microsoft Security Essentials, it turns out to have been discontinued for XP.
So been browsing this thread for ideas on what alternative to install.
What are other people doing in the same situation?

I downloaded Avast for free from here. It's 84 MB BTW.

NiftyDigits

buglawton wrote: »

I was reinstalling XP and wanted to install Microsoft Security Essentials, it turns out to have been discontinued for XP.
So been browsing this thread for ideas on what alternative to install.
What are other people doing in the same situation? Needs to be reasonable lightweight due to moderately old hardware.

(Please place all comments about why people should not still be using XP in a different thread. My answer in advance is, the old hardware is still good but not powerful enough or compatible for Win7/8 which in any case are ridiculously expensive for a backup computer).

It is still being offered via their website and is still being updated until next year at least.

Web Page here

Does the PC have a brand name and model number?

buglawton

Indeed, yet a couple of days ago when I tried to download SE from MS on an XP machine I got a page saying it was discontinued for XP.

MS seems to be contradicting itself, here:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/end-support-help
it says:
"Microsoft has also stopped providing Microsoft Security Essentials for download on Windows XP. (If you already have Microsoft Security Essentials installed, you will continue to receive antimalware signature updates for a limited time..."

Anyway, I have installed Avast! in the meantime.

closed

avast is better anyway

buglawton

One tip I read: On XP machines, to improve security create a non-admin Windows user account for everyday tasks as risks are lower using such an account.

Jivesinger

buglawton wrote: »

One tip I read: On XP machines, to improve security create a non-admin Windows user account for everyday tasks as risks are lower using such an account.

I think this is true on more recent versions of Windows as well. It's one more barrier to put in the way of the bad guys.