New 'Protect Your PC For Free: No-cost Anti-Virus and Other Software' discussion

amos71

Yeah I have to agree this freeware software is great!

MPwannasavemoney

I too have used AVG 7.5 and previous versions for many years now. I upgraded to AVG 8 and ok the results weren't as disastrous as ken.fearn but as soon as I ran my first scan it managed to:

1) Find a macro virus in a file that has been there since 2005 - then said it was moved to the virus vault but when I looked it wasn't there. I can't restore this file from backups as I don't have a floppy drive to read the floppy (yes the file was that old!)

2) Detect spyware in something (spyware detection is new in 8.0) and moved the file to the virus vault. This I was able to restore and I added a PUP (potentially unsafe program) exception for this to stop the scanner trying to fix this again. Only then on the next scan it ignored by PUP exception rule and said it moved it to the vault, except when I went to the vault to restore it - it wasn't there!

The only safe way I can run 8 is to disable 'auto healing' in the options - I can't keep fiddling with settings to preserve files or going to backups to restore files on a daily basis.

In fact if you look at the forums in http://freeforum.avg.com for AVG 8 a lot of issues are being discussed (you can't report them to AVG as it being a free product they do not 'support' it). I'm sure other products have issues which can be found on various forums - my advise is do not use a new version until it is stable and check out the forums to see which product has fewer issues before picking your anti-virus software.

lv1109

BillScarab wrote: »

Why no mention of Zone Alarm, it's an excellent free firewall. I've been using it for years on XP and Vista.

Superantispyware is another good anti spyware tool.

I found the free version of ZoneAlarm on a website earlier today but my computer said that it's not compatible with Windows Vista. Is there a way round this?

Thanks

superscaper

lv1109 wrote: »

I found the free version of ZoneAlarm on a website earlier today but my computer said that it's not compatible with Windows Vista. Is there a way round this?

Thanks

Did you download the right version? It's compatible with Vista: http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp

espresso

lv1109 wrote: »

I found the free version of ZoneAlarm on a website earlier today.............

Why did you go looking all over the net when you were given the correct link in post #8?

GunJack

I noticed a slight inaccuracy in the article - the free version of the excellent spyware doctor is available as a stand-alone download from the even more excellent majorgeeks.com. Great site, great program.

n65uk

Don't use Hitman Pro. It breaks the TOS of all the programs it uses.

IMO, for a free AV: AVG or Antivir.

Firewall: Online Armor Free or Comodo.

Anti-spam: Use ThunderBird as your email client, it's own learning-mode spam filter will do the job fine.

AntiSpyware: SuperAntiSpyware. Other names like Spybot & Ad-aware are losing reputation, detection rates falling, quality of software failing.

Having basic knowledge of HIPS programs will also work wonders. Also virtualization software will cut out the need for much security software. Layered defences are more secure obviously.

SandboxIE does a wonderful job. Online Armor or Comodo's D+ do wonderful jobs on the HIPS front. Both have integrated firewalls too. Again, you will need basic knoweldge and common sense before it becomes useful to you. (i.e dont hit Yes to everything).

dave13_2

ken.fearn wrote: »

I've used the free AVG 7.5 for a year or so and been very happy with it, with both XP and Vista. I've just tried to upgrade to the free AVG 8.0 on my Vista machine with disastrous results. On completion of uninstalling 7.5 and installing 8.0, Internet Explorer would no longer load. I had to go back to restore point before the 'upgrade' to get the system working again. I reloaded 7.5 to get back my free virus protection. I've had a quick look around the web and haven't found any other similar feedback. If you are going to try AVG 8.0 make sure you have a system restore point to reload.

I put AVG on my wifes PC running, XP Home, a few years ago and have updated it as the new versions have become available without any problems. That was untill AVG 8.0. As soon as I had installed it the PC began to take ages to load web pages and took longer to do most other things. On checking the running processes in Task Manager I found it was using over 50% of available resources and it wasn't even scanning! Eventually I had no option but to remove it and replaced it with AVAST 4, which I use on my own PC, everything is now running as it should. Don't know why AVG has become so resource hungry, shades of Norton a few years ago...... :eek:

chimp_choker

chunter wrote: »

Good article.

I know the vast majority are going to go to the excellent AVG, but it's worth keeping your options open
Maybe, someday, the owners of the excellent AVG may want private customers to pay for it.

I'd hate to think there were no other free providers left to fill that space.

I have the paid for AVG Internet Security and I'm not that fussed on it. I bought the 2 yr subscription and the version 7 was truly abismal. the latest version 8 is better but still blocks msn, icq and doesn't update or scan automatically. My sub is up in november and I'm thinking of changing unless others think that would be a poor move.

espresso

chimp_choker wrote: »

I have the paid for AVG Internet Security and I'm not that fussed on it. I bought the 2 yr subscription and the version 7 was truly abismal. the latest version 8 is better but still blocks msn, icq and doesn't update or scan automatically. My sub is up in november and I'm thinking of changing unless others think that would be a poor move.

Your AVG is obviously not installed/set-up correctly. The only real difference with the paid for version is that you have support, so why haven't you used this to sort out your problems?