Simple free anti virus (+anti malware)

SandLake

I am semi techie and an elderly friend has asked for help with her sluggish laptop, it is a Toshiba Satellite which seems quite good.

Can anyone help me decide which anti-virus software to use? For my self I am paying for AVG although I have no issues with using free products apart from not (on behalf of my friend) wanting any pop-ups. I believe AVG Free pops up offering additional services which I would ignore but if you are not confident it is all too easy to get something extra which you don't need and costs money.

Any recommendations?

bsod

avast (free) for both, https://blog.avast.com/tag/silent-mode/ . antivirus is unlikely to be a cure, re-installing windows will be a better avenue to follow.

SandLake

It has a built-in factory restore option - which does install McAfee but I don't think that is a great option.

Thanks I'll give Avast a go

JJ_Egan

Kaspersky free if she banks with Barclays online .

SandLake

Suspicious of online banking so that would be a no - but thanks

abibee

Bitdefender free is install and forget, very minimal. And since it's Bitdefender you know you're getting one of the best antivirus.

http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/solutions/free.html

That or the above Avast.

In case you do need to, Mcafee removal tool below.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/McAfee-Consumer-Product-Removal-Tool.shtml

SandLake

Thanks, I have the MCPR tool

Better_Days

If your friend doesn't already use a cleaner, something like CCleaner may make the lappy run a bit more smoothly
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/ccleaner_slim.html

Major Geeks is a safe download location

RumRat

I'll second Bitdefender. For someone with limited knowledge it's perfect. Automatic background scans that you never notice, same with updates. No pop-ups disturbing you.....I moved from Avast and haven't regretted it.

fenlander_uk

Bitdefender pops up once per session just to let you know it's there. For real invisibility you could try Panda. I installed this on my W7 laptop after Bitdefender refused to install and I haven't seen it since - though I know it's running because its icon is on the taskbar.

I've been through Avast!, AVG and Avira and found them all to be annoying, constantly trying to wrong foot you into selecting a paid upgrade or some other service you don't want.

I do use the MVS Hosts file and consider that this is the single most effective security step you can implement.

bsod

silencing avast popups completely takes 4 clicks of a mouse, 5 seconds effort. Some people like notification, some don't.