Avira - Best free antivirus ? Not sure

hubb

I have downloaded and used Aviria for a few weeks after Avast was causing longstanding problems with Chrome and random blue screen shut downs. Since I have used Avira there have been no problems at all but I am not sure Avira is effective, the free version anyway. I have just been informed that it has detected a "framer" virus that can access your login details and I can get protection if I pay the £29.99 yearly subscription. So I don't really know if it protecting me from this virus or not. Just did a scan with Mailware Bytes and it didn't flag anything up.

imho

Where did you download Avira as it sounds like you got a fake copy. I use 360 total security and i find that good. I had Avast for years and same thing happened to me it was causing problems.

dipsomaniac

antivirus is for wimps imho. haven't used it for years and not had any problems. just need to make sure pc up to date with patches and don't click any dodgy links or give third parties information which may cause you problems in the future

GunJack

hubb wrote: »

I have downloaded and used Aviria for a few weeks after Avast was causing longstanding problems with Chrome and random blue screen shut downs. Since I have used Avira there have been no problems at all but I am not sure Avira is effective, the free version anyway. I have just been informed that it has detected a "framer" virus that can access your login details and I can get protection if I pay the £29.99 yearly subscription. So I don't really know if it protecting me from this virus or not. Just did a scan with Mailware Bytes and it didn't flag anything up.

avira is very effective - the engine & definitions are the same as the paid-for version. I'm with imho on this - sounds like you've downloaded a fake copy (a real one wouldn't ask you to pay to remove stuff).

bod1467

I've recently switched from Avast to BitDefender, as a test. Liking it so far - the only "alert" you get is after logon when it starts up and tells you your current protection status.

peter_the_piper

I sometimes get, with Avast, a box in the corner which says They have found that Framer has been downloaded umpteen times and you can be protected for £XYZ, I wonder if this is what the OP has seen ans misread.

hubb

It's def the real Avira otherwise it wouldn't install. It gives the option to up[grade as all AV programs do. I was just wondering if paying for the upgrades is worth it for more serious threats.

fenlander_uk

bod1467 wrote: »

I've recently switched from Avast to BitDefender, as a test. Liking it so far - the only "alert" you get is after logon when it starts up and tells you your current protection status.

I've recently removed BitDefender from 2 machines as it had a habit of switching itself off without warning you. Seems it was waiting for some sort of login or account confirmation.
I long ago dumped all the AV* packages because of their constant nag screens. I'm now using Panda antivirus on 4 machines, ranging from Vista to 8.1 and it's proving very discrete and low-impact.
Hadn't heard of 360 total security but it also looks interesting. Is it a nag?

hans_2

fenlander_uk wrote: »

I
Hadn't heard of 360 total security but it also looks interesting.

If you do try it be sure to enable the Bitdefender scanner..Qihoo did when they submitted for testing to indepenent labs.

kwikbreaks

I got hacked off with the constant Avast nagging to upgrade and am now running just with Windows Defender and a MalwareBytes scan every so often. To a degree I agree with dipsomaniac but haven't turned off Defender and probably won't.

bsod

new week, new antivirus thread