Which is the best free (and most effective) anti-virus software for PC.?

Question

I immediatelly need an anti-virus software for my PC. Could you suggest a free but most effective anti-virus software?

I'd be thankful if you could answer the following queries as well:

1. Can we have two or more anti-virus softwares on the same PC?

2. In the above case, whether they both will be killing the virus?

3. I access internet on my PC. Whether the anti-virus automatically remains operational to identify and kill the virus after the installation. Or shall we have to order it to do so?

Answer 1

Ok... AVG Free in my opinion is the best/most affective free anti-virus software for PC. Others might say Avast is, but it is a lot less user friendly.

If you can afford it, I highly recommend NOD32 by Eset. It's not the easiest to use, but it is the most effective AV I have ever used.

You can have two or more anti-virus software on the same PC, but it isn't recommended because it could slow down your computer significantly. Also one might cancel the other out or they could fight each other; both of which aren't fun to deal with.

They might both catch the same virus, but usually when it gets to the killing part they end up fighting the other Anti-Virus software.

AVG should automatically remain operational and automatically update and detect viruses after installing.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

AVG or AVAST are both good. I don't think either one you can schedule a scan like once a week, maybe someone else knows. Also I am not sure if these programs automatically download the latest virus definitions, or you got to do it yourself. Yes you can have more than one anti virus program on your computer at the same time. However they might slow the computer down, or if they don't like each other mess it up. Question 3: Run a full scan after installing the anti virus program to make sure your computer is clean.

Answer 4

All of these are ones that I personally use and all are free.Only use these one at a time. Dont run all 3 at the same time.

AVG Removes I-Worm/Stration · BackDoor.Generic3.GBB and .GBC · Worm/Generic.FX · Exploit.WMF
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5

Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.
http://www.safer-networking.org/

http://superantispyware.com/
SUPERAntiSpyware is the most thorough scanner on the market. Our Multi-Dimensional Scanning and Process Interrogation Technology will detect spyware that other products miss! SUPERAntiSpyware will remove ALL the Spyware, NOT just the easy ones!
Easily remove over 100,000 pests such as SmitFraud, Vundo, WinFixer, SpyAxe, SpyFalcon, WinAntiVirus, AntiVermins and thousands more!
Make sure after you download any of these, that you update them.

Answer 5

I use AVG Free from Grifsoft

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5

1) Yes. You can have more than 1 anti-virus software on the same PC. The problem is, some software would prevent others from working
2) If the virus updates are current they should both notify you if you get infected.
3) Most anti-virus software auto-update and perform regular scans without your intervention

Answer 6

The best free anti-virus is undoubtedly AVG.

1.A big NO, anti-viruses are usually not compatible with one another, and together they will give you more trouble than any virus.
It will also reduce their efficiency and slow down your computer.

2.As the first answer is 'no', I needn't answer this.

3.If you keep it's real time protection shield(or resident shield) active, then it will prevent installation of virus onto your computer. However, it is still recommended that you scan your system once every 1-2 weeks.

Here is the link to get AVG free 7.5.4:
http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10596553.html?tag=lst-0-1

Answer 7

Grisoft do a free anti-virus for personal use

EXCELLENT software and will be on guard while you surf all the time. Do not run two at a time, it causes all sorts of problems.

AVG (Grisofts offering) is preferred by many to the likes of Norton et al - link here :- http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

Answer 8

Avast Home Edition is the best free Anti-Virus you can use. AVG Free edition is also available but it will expire end of January.

Answer 9

Here you have some options. I recomend Avast:
http://askcomputerexpert.ws43.com/download/
As for your questions:
1. NO!!! (they will have a conflict and none will work properly)
2. NO....
3. You can schedule an automatic scan or you can scan your computer manually every once in a while. It's up to you!

Answer 10

1. No, (causes conflict)
2.See 1
3.yes.
There's a good list of free virus removal tools here, also has some good info on how to avoid stuff like this.http://www.basicspywaretips.com/getridofspyware.html