Is there a reasonably usefull FREE antivirus software?

Question

Is there a reasonably usefull FREE antivirus software?
Out that has appropriate update releases as new threats emerge?

Answer 1

I see the AVG fanboys and cheerleaders are out in full force again here on Yahoo Answers!

AVG by Grisoft is definitely NOT "The Best". Unfortunately one of the things it is not the best at, is doing what is is supposed to do, detecting viruses!

In short, AVG is crap!

In test,
http://www.virus.gr/english/fullxml/default.asp?id=82&mnu=82
after test,
http://www.av-comparatives.org/
after test,
http://antivirus.about.com/od/antivirussoftwarereviews/gr/avgfree.htm
after test ,
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=891307&postcount=1,
after test,
http://www.pcworld.com/article/124475-1/article.html,
after test,
http://techsupportalert.com/issues/al_current.htm#Section_0
etc. etc. etc, ad nauseam. AVG has proven itself to be a mediocre performer at best. Absolutely crappy at worst. Missing almost 20%, when trying to detect known malware, in some tests. Not to mention almost non-existent heuristic detection and infrequent "once-a day" updates.

AVG = Average, at best!

There are much better free alternatives, such as Avast, Active Virus Shield, and Avria Anti-Vir.

I like best the AOL Active Virus Shield. Don't let the name AOL fool you. Active Virus Shield is made by Kaspersky which is one of top-rated anti-virus vendors in the world.

In recent tests, the most popular free anti-virus, AVG, was only able to detect about 82% of a very large sample of viruses. On the other hand, Active Virus Shield was able to detect better than 99% in the same test.
http://www.virus.gr/english/fullxml/default.asp?id=82&mnu=82

Active Virus Shield has excellent virus detection rates and is extremely light on using your computer resources. (6mb)

And it updates 15 to 20 times a day with new virus definitions, 7 days a week.

Free to anyone, AOL member or not from:
http://www.activevirusshield.com/antivirus/freeav/index.adp?

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Most people say AVG and Avast and I think their right but they neglected COMODO antivirus. It is a very good antivirus that is well maintained and free to use. A really good suggestion would be to try to use them all together, unless there is an error or it slows you down too much. But I recommend them all.

Answer 4

Grisoft AVG and Avast are the most common. You should add Lavasoft Ad-aware and Safer-computing.org's Spybot S&D. But the best solution is to just stop using the operating system that gets viruses all the time. There has never been a real, successful virus on Linux or FreeBSD. Try one of the many "live Linux" CDs that let you run it right off the CD without installing anything or touching your Microsoft setup. I like Knoppix.net. Ubuntu.com is the most popular. There is a large list at Distrowatch.com. Burn the CD and reboot. Experience safe, reliable computing. Then reboot again and your MSFT is just the way you left it. Save your delicate MSFT setup for when you have to run Turbotax.

Answer 5

I can tell you right now that I was using AVG 'free'..and they were not protecting me! I then ran a free pc scan that I am offering to you right now....when I ran this scan it found over 80 hackers on my pc that AVG did not pick up! Not only now am I protected from hackers, but I have the same protection as Homeland Security, NASA, DOW Jones.....Fortune 500 Companies....just for starters. This is Spyware, Adware, VIrus, Firewall, Patch management.....TOTALLY hassle free....FREE tech support...and $25,000 Identity theft insurance....all for less than 50 cents a day......
run the free scan and GET protected....

www.nomorehackers.net

Answer 6

most virus are spread through IE. IE is not a safe browser. you should use a more secure browser to protect your PC from virus.

i recommand you to use firefox with Google toolbar. firefox can block any any popup and disable any virus and adware, spyware on webpage, so, firefox is much safer than IE browser. as you know, most of virus spread throught internet and webpage.

besides, firefox is much smaller than IE, so it run faster than IE.

download firefox for free, Just have a try:

http://www.freeandbest.net/firefox/

Good Luck, Best Wishes!!!

Answer 7

I recommend active virus shield. It is by far the best free antivirus program you will ever use.

Answer 8

AVG
http://free.grisoft.com

Answer 9

Avast

Answer 10

AVG Antivirus 7.5 Free Edition
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5
or
Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
---------------------------------------------------------
For full time spyware protection install:
Install Windows Defender (full time spyware protection)
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
---------------------------------------------------------
Install the following five programs and run weekly or at least monthly. You need all five. They are not a substitute for full time spyware and virus protection. They will greatly improve your protection.


Ad-Aware SE Personal (update + full scan)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php

Spybot Search & Destroy (update + immunize + scan)
Do not enable Tea Timer and SDHelper
After installation: update + scan + immunize
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

SpywareBlaster: Update then open and click “enable all protection”.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

SUPERAntiSpyware free version: (update + scan)
http://www.superantispyware.com/

CCleaner: Do not install toolbar and recycle bin options
Removes tracking cookies, unneeded files, history
In options.
Set to run when computer starts.
Place cookies you want to keep in save list
http://www.ccleaner.com/