Free avast internet security - is it enough?

LookingToTheFuture_2

I've been using free software from avast and malwarebytes as my only internet security for a while now, but is it really enough to protect my computer? I keep getting messages from avast asking me to upgrade to their paid-for software but as I've never had any problems with their free version I've never really felt the need.

But now I'm thinking of using online banking so I thought I should seek the advice of people more knowledgeable about this stuff!

Any advice?

macman

Avast has just been rated the top free AV program by Computer Shopper. It's a very good product. If you want a paid for AV program upgrade to Kaspersky (free with Barclays online banking).

bod1467

Free Avast is fine. Of course they want you to upgrade, so they get more money, but the free version will do enough. (I have used online banking for years without issue).

debitcardmayhem

One thought from me.....I would never ever use Rapport , but hey I am overly cautious. Avast is ok as are kaspersky,Norton,avast

esuhl

In my opinion the free version of Avast is fine unless you think that you are particularly at risk from an exploitation technique for which the paid-for version of Avast protects you.

On my Windows PCs I have Malwarebytes, Spybot, SpywareBlaster, Comodo Free Firewall and Avast (free version).

Avast has been playing up a bit recently -- it delays (and sometimes prevents) Windows startup programs from running, but so long as the performance doesn't go downhill further I'll keep using it.

I did a few tests on a few badly infected PCs recently and Avast detected and fixed the majority of the problems (with a final clearup using Malwarebytes and adwCleaner) -- neither Avira nor AVG were up to the job.

Ectophile

No anti-virus package is perfect. None of them will detect a newly released virus, as the virus writers will test their new viruses against all the common AV programs before releasing them.

So nothing is absolutely guaranteed to protect your computer. Provided you have an up-to-date anti-virus and a firewall turned on, you're doing reasonably well.

Nilrem

Ectophile wrote: »

No anti-virus package is perfect. None of them will detect a newly released virus, as the virus writers will test their new viruses against all the common AV programs before releasing them.

So nothing is absolutely guaranteed to protect your computer. Provided you have an up-to-date anti-virus and a firewall turned on, you're doing reasonably well.

And don't go opening dodgy emails, let alone attachments you were not specifically expecting!

I received an email from my nephew the other day with some .doc attachments (not too unusual, they never seem to have their printer working), but even so I never open the email/attachments until I've confirmed they sent it.



Avast, firewall (most modems these days are also routers which include a basic incoming firewall by default*, and Windows now ships with a firewall turned on by default), windows/programs up to date, and some common sense tend to be pretty good protection.



*A nice change from the old days when you hooked up your computer directly to a single user modem, which tended to leave you open unless you specifically installed a firewall (or a little later on, turned on the Windows firewall).
I remember being at a LAN party when one of the really big bugs spread by poor network security was new (Blaster?) - the number of people that got caught by it (despite the patch to stop it being released a few days before) was insane, from memory it practically bought the network down (and they were using telecom class core switches/routers), before the staff started blocking anyone infected and burned discs with the patches/cleaners and basically went round with a "you'll install this" approach. (I was not so much lucky as prepared - I'd made a habit of using a firewall for a while before, and patched!)

LookingToTheFuture_2

Thanks very much for all your replies. I'm going to stick with the free version of avast, but I'll check out my firewall settings too. Good advice about the email attachments, I've read a lot of stuff lately about people being hacked through an attachment so I'm usually careful with them.

One question, debitcardmayhem, you say you'd never use Rapport. Can I ask why, as my bank's online banking system says I have to download it.

Thanks.

closed

search this site for rapport

macman

LookingToTheFuture wrote: »

Thanks very much for all your replies. I'm going to stick with the free version of avast, but I'll check out my firewall settings too. Good advice about the email attachments, I've read a lot of stuff lately about people being hacked through an attachment so I'm usually careful with them.

One question, debitcardmayhem, you say you'd never use Rapport. Can I ask why, as my bank's online banking system says I have to download it.

Thanks.

No it doesn't. But (if it's Santander) it will certainly nag you to do so-but you don't have to.
Rapport is considered by many to itself be spyware, as it incorporates a keylogger.

debitcardmayhem

LookingToTheFuture wrote: »

Thanks very much for all your replies. I'm going to stick with the free version of avast, but I'll check out my firewall settings too. Good advice about the email attachments, I've read a lot of stuff lately about people being hacked through an attachment so I'm usually careful with them.

One question, debitcardmayhem, you say you'd never use Rapport. Can I ask why, as my bank's online banking system says I have to download it.

Thanks.

No they can't say you have to download that "silent C" rap , they might suggest it but if they say you have to download it then change Banks and tell them to get a life, alternately tell them you use Linux , there isn't a version for that last time I checked which is admittedly 5 years ago when I changed my own systems to be mainly Linux.