doI really need to buy a program that protects my computer against viruses? I?

Question

I bought Norton Internet security, but my friend told me that i didn't have to buy it because i can scan my programs from Internet for free. I alrady paid and it is goo for a year. i don't know if i can cancel it.

Answer 1

I use the free = Avast = 4 Home Edition - Free antivirus software - free virus protection for home PC: - full-featured antivirus package designed for home usage.(FREE) = http://www.avast.com and really like it as it has always kept me safe from virus, worms, trojans, etc.,


http://virusscan.jotti.org
http://www.virustotal.com/en/indexf.html
http://housecall.trendmicro.com
http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan
http://tinyurl.com/u8k3 = ActiveX Spyware Scanning
http://www.spywareinfo.com/xscan.php
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
http://security.symantec.com
http://tinyurl.com/u8mu = avast! Virus Cleaner
http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan
McAfee AVERT Stinger- = http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger
Panda Online Virus Scan = http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan
Note: Don't use this one if you have onboard Avast a/v.
http://www.pcpitstop.com
http://www.metasploit.com
http://www.auditmypc.com/free-spyware-removal.asp
http://www.baybooker.com/virusscan.html = List of Free online virus scans
Also, Virustotal offers a free service for scanning suspicious files using several antivirus engines. = http://www.virustotal.com/en/indexx.html

Note = Run them in safe mode if possible(click on link if "how to" steps needed) = http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406 , then after running them and fixing any problem, disable system restore = http://vil.nai.com/vil/SystemHelpDocs/DisableSysRestore.aspx , reboot, and then re-enable system restore.

An important thing to keep in mind, regardless of which anti-virus, anti-malware, anti-spyware and firewall you use is to keep it UPDATED, just as it is important to make sure you have all windows critical and security updates + =
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Hello

You definately need a program that protects your computer from harmful adware, spyware, and viruses, but you are right in thinking you do not have to pay for it. The virus definitions are released on the internet from various servers from free daily if not weekly, and there are plenty of free / open source programs that use them to protect your computer.

Here are the programs that I use on my computer:

-AD Aware
-Spybot Search and Destroy
-and I have a copy of Symantec that came with my computer that does viruses, but there are many free programs that do it for you.

Download.com offers freeware and shareware that does all of this. Adaware is free, as is spybot, and there are plenty of free antivirus programs out there.

Here is the download.com security center: http://www.download.com/Security-Spyware/2001-2023_4-0.html?tag=dir

Here is another website that has plenty of freeware you are looking for: http://www.nonags.com/

Finally, TuCows has freeware and shareware on it as well: http://tucows.com/

As far as what you paid for, if you bought it from the website, you can probably cancel it by emailing Norton/Symantec. if you bought it from a store you may have trouble returning it if it is opened, but sometimes you can get a store credit out of them considering the circumstances...

Good luck!

Answer 4

You've already wasted money on Norton, and I doubt seriously if you can get any portion of it back. My experience with Norton years ago was not good, to say the least. Years of experience with computer programs has taught me several things: You MUST have a good antivirus program, one that updates automatically and one that protects the whole computer, including your email. If you have Windows XP, you have a built-in firewall as good as anyone else's.

You MUST have good anti-spyware installed, and keep it updated and use it regularly. Today's internet is full of spyware, adware and trojans, things antivirus either can find or can't get rid of because they aren't viruses.

Every program I use to protect my computer is free. My antivirus updates daily, and I keep SpyBot and Ad-Aware updated daily or twice weekly, or as often as updates are provided. I use Microsoft's Live OneCare Cleanup Scan to keep my registry free of junk that collects there, and I keep my hard disk defragged so that the RAM has an easier time finding things. As I said, everything I use is free.

SpyBot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware
http://www.download.com/

Disk Defrag
http://www.auslogics.com/disk-defrag/index.php

AVG 7.5
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5

Avast 4-Home antivirus
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

Live OneCare Cleanup Scan
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/center/cleanup.htm

Answer 5

you can really download free anti-virus but with limited options. It is also better to buy because other options are in it. You need protection for your computer especially if you frequently go for different sites. You can't never tell if you will be attack by viruses, so protection is better than none.

Answer 6

Take a look at the site below for free security protection.

Answer 7

A test was done recently at http://www.virus.gr/english/fullxml/default.asp?id=82&mnu=82. They tested 58 anti-virus app,both free and paid. Here is where the free ones scored in virus detection rates.

2. Active Virus Shield version 6.0.0.299 - 99.62%
http://www.activevirusshield.com/antivirus/freeav/index.adp?

7. BitDefender freeware version 8.0.202 - 95.57% (on demand only, No real time protection)
http://www.bitdefender.com/PRODUCT-14-en--BitDefender-8-Free-Edition.html

11. AntiVir Classic version 7.01.01.02 - 94.26%
http://www.free-av.com/

17. Avast freeware version 4.7.871 - 87.46%
http://avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

24. AVG freeware version 7.1.405 - 82.82%
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/1

40. ClamWin version 0.88.4 - 51.23% (on demand only, No real time protection)
http://www.clamwin.com/

46. Comodo version 1.0.0.4 - 41.02%
http://antivirus.comodo.com/

Answer 8

It depends on how computer literate you are. If you're not, then a good antivirus software product is a must.

Even if you are a major computer whiz, it does NOT hurt to have one. Don't rely on websites that offer FREE virus scans.

Consider this: When it comes to protecting your PC investment and priceless data, who are you going to trust? Will you trust yourself in buying a good quality antivirus product?

Or will you trust a website that offers a free service?

Answer 9

yes u will always need a anti virus program on the pc.
but there is also lots of free anti virus programs out there the main popular one.
is http://free.grisoft.com called AVG

Answer 10

No! There are freeware anti-virus programs that work as well as the overpriced anti-virus programs available on the market.