Suggestion for free anti virus for desktop

theGrinch

I have been using Avast for a number of years now seemingly without problem.

My current version is refusing to update and I thought maybe now is an opportune time to reconsider the options as its been 4 or 5 years since I last looked at them.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

I run zonealarm firewall also.

railbuff

try ebay and pay for a total security package rather than just a AV and free at that. even a paid AVG IS £4.99 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHEAP-AVG-INTERNET-SECURITY-ANTIVIRUS-FIREWALL-DO-NOT-TRACK-1-YEAR-1PC-HARDWARE-/251148151009?pt=UK_Computing_Software_Software_SR&hash=item3a7998a8e1

-TangleFoot-

I suggest you remove ZA, install MSE and read these.

railbuff wrote: »

try ebay and pay

I'd rather put my trust in a placebo.

closed

I suggest you just remove zonealarm (and turn on with windows firewall), as that can stop things updating, and will slow your machine down

if avast still fails to update, just reinstall it.

if it still fails, scan with malwarebytes and post a hijackthis log

-TangleFoot-

closed wrote: »

if avast still fails to update, just reinstall it.

Doesn't the free version of avast! need to be re-registered every 14 months?

closed

yes, just a matter of right clicking on the avast icon, and re-registering for another year, warnings it's about to expire should come up beforehand.

misiek404

I'm using Microsoft's own and never had any virus problems. Free, light and with regular updates
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows/security-essentials-download

Daz2009

I've gone from Zonealarm and Avast to just running Microsoft Security Essentials and noticed an improvement in the speed of pages loading.

I do use Avast on my mobile tho.

There's plenty of choice out there for the OP,just re-register or re-install Avast if you want to stick with it

DCFC79

-TangleFoot- wrote: »

Doesn't the free version of avast! need to be re-registered every 14 months?

Yes, might even be 12. Its easy to do.

Lum

ZoneAlarm is worthless these days. Windows Firewall, which was introduced with XP SP2, does a better job with much less impact on your system. Basically unless you're running Windows ME or earlier you should not be using ZoneAlarm any more.

Get rid of that, see if Avast starts working for you. Avast is a pretty good free AV so no real reason to change it

If you must change it, go with MSE or Avira and not AVG. AVG is terrible these days, even in paid form.

happysmithy

I use microsoft security essentials . Great free product from microsoft. http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/security/pc-security/mse.aspx