How efficient are the free versions of anti-virus downloads and how long do they last for.?

Answer 1

I have been running AVG's free version for about 5 years and have not had one problem with either it or with viruses.

Avast is also as good as AVG or maybe even a little better. These freeware programs do not have an expiration date.

All of the following are free.



Virus Removal

AVG

http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-virus-free

Avast

http://www.avast.com/eng/free_virus_protectio.html


Sypware/Malware Removal

Adaware

http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

Spybot S&D

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022-10122137.html?part=dl-spybot&subj=dl&tag=but


Fire Wall

Zone Alarm

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/trial_zaFamily/trial_zaFamily.jsp?lid=home_freedownloads

Answer 2

I have used AVG Anti Virus, Zone Alarm Firewall, Spy-bot Search and Destroy and Ad Aware both spyware killers for years. They are all free for personal use and I have had no trouble with Viruses Trojans etc. AVG does not slow the system down as much as some other products and Zone Alarm allows a lot of personal configuration unlike the Windows Firewall. They can all be downloaded from the following link. http://www.computeractive.co.uk/... On the home page select downloads and then the appropriate category.I also use Windows Defender from the Microsoft site. It is safe to use two anti-spy products but never use more than one A/V as it can cause conflicts. You should run A/V and anti spy weekly. Hope this helps

Answer 3

No antivirus or antispyware protection is perfect but a good mixture of the two will help you clean your system and hopefully keep it clean.
I have listed a few antivirus, anti spyware applications that are available for download and are completely free: I will not get involved with the rights and wrongs of each package or its effectiveness or indeed the “This is best” or “This is crap” statements. Whatever you do, just make sure you have one of each type installed, updated and fully working:

Anti Virus
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
http://www.avira.com
http://www.free-av.com

Anti Spyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/
http://www.spybot.info/
http://www.spywareterminator.com

I use Avira (real time protection and quick at startup) & SuperAntiSpyware (exceptional at removing Trojans and Worms) - but you decide for yourself.

wdw

Answer 4

There are a few good ones, I have run Avast and like it very much
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,64535-page,1-c,security/description.html

I have also run AVG which seems to work pretty well,
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/28415/lng/us/tpl/v5

AOL offers a free security center that is supposed to be really good as well, I am not a big aol fan most of there stuff has been crap, but from what I have read this is supposed to be pretty good, so you can try it out as well
http://safety.aol.com/isc/index.adp?

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

batman: only 70% or even less. because its FREE. speaking of the FREE version you can't download updates from your free AV if it FREE. keep that in your mind

Answer 6

They are good & poor free AV's - A poor AV is AVG with a detection rate of only 82%, with a low detection not worth using.

Here are two good ones with far better detection rates:

http://www.free-av.com/

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html