which FREE anti spyware & virus software is currently best?

OnePound

hi

i have both ad-aware and avast free versions installed, am just wondering which is the best one to use for a full system scan or whether there are any new players around which are better?

thanks

closed

avast for resident and malwarebytes for manual scans. adaware isn't necessary and you don't really need to do full system scans with resident av software.

SailorSam

I've had SuperAntivirus and Malwarebytes for quite a while and been pleased with it but after having a browser problem (Firefox) i couldn't get SuperAnti to work so last week started with AvastiAntivirus, then maybe once a week i'll use CCleaner.

DUTR

SailorSam wrote: »

I've had SuperAntivirus and Malwarebytes for quite a while and been pleased with it but after having a browser problem (Firefox) i couldn't get SuperAnti to work so last week started with AvastiAntivirus, then maybe once a week i'll use CCleaner.

It looks like avast is starting to charge, the free edition does not do very much, I just purchased some AV software for my friend's laptop.

SailorSam

DUTR wrote: »

It looks like avast is starting to charge, the free edition does not do very much, I just purchased some AV software for my friend's laptop.

I've got 30days, well 25 so i'll look for another free one.
I'll read this with interest to see which way to go.

jayme1

DUTR wrote: »

It looks like avast is starting to charge, the free edition does not do very much, I just purchased some AV software for my friend's laptop.

charge for what?

closed

the free version of avast does what any av is supposed to, protect against viruses, and it lasts a year, then you reregister for another free year.

if you've only got a 30 day trial, you've installed the wrong one

jayme1

closed wrote: »

the free version of avast does what any av is supposed to, protect against viruses, and it last year, then you reregister for another free year.

exactly, the average (and above average) person does not need any more features.

spud17

Can't find the original article but Adaware users might like to read,

http://malwaretips.com/Thread-Lavasoft-s-new-scam-artist-owners

DUTR

jayme1 wrote: »

charge for what?

charge for the extra what I'm sure used to come as standard

jayme1

DUTR wrote: »

charge for the extra what I'm sure used to come as standard

nope that is exactly how it has always been, and you don't need any of that extra stuff

firewall - windows has one built in
spam protection - all email providers have their own spam protection (that's why you normally disable spam filtering in programs like Live Mail and Thunderbird)
the 'safezone' - isn't that what HTTPS is for?

remember avast has a vested interest to make you think you need to pay for extra, that's why they give the free version one 'tick' and the other versions more than one 'tick'
all other internet security providers do the exact same, no-one needs anything more than the basic 'antivirus', but they market it to think you need the fuller 'internet security' or the even more waste of money 'pure' or '360'