AntiVirus suggestions

kinetic (Steve) · #1 13-05-2009, 10:01 AM

Hi,

Now that AVG seem to not support 7.5 anymore can anyone
recommend a good freeware AVirus program?

I have a few XP PCs in the house, some on AVG 8.5 , some not.
The 8.5 runs a lot slower when browsing and the 7.5 machines
still got updates until Apr 30.

I've heard AVAST is just as good as AVG?

Thanks, in advance,

Steve

Howzat (Phil) · #2 13-05-2009, 10:08 AM

Bitdefender Free

andrew2008 · #3 13-05-2009, 10:21 AM

Avast IMHO is better than AVG. Have used it for about 18 months and about to re-register again.

Shaun · #4 13-05-2009, 10:36 AM

Avast is good

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #5 13-05-2009, 10:46 AM

Avast (free)....if only for their antivirus screen saver & no annoying pop-ups like AVG.

Avast antivirus can also scan your computer while in screen saver mode.....saved me a few times!

It's also easy to integrate Avast with firefox to automatically virus scan downloads using download statusbar.

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #6 13-05-2009, 11:21 AM

Not free - but very good value and the best AV on the market imho - kaspersky labs. I picked up a 3 licence, 2 year KAV Internet Security Suite, with a copy of the installation CD for AU $170 - very good value imho.

AVG was OK, but had too many issues for my liking - updates would always get screwed up and you had to uninstall/reinstall every few months.

I haven't used AVAST, so can't say too much about it in all honesty.

You could always switch to a better (i.e. more reliable and secure) system like GNU/Linux. I always find it amazing that people want a reliable and secure system, but insist on using Windows. That said, XP SP 3 and Vista are much better efforts from Microsoft in both regards.

Dave

outwestwa · #7 13-05-2009, 11:37 AM

Hi Steve
I know you said you wanted a free one but you don’t have much choice if your are prepared to pay for one then I would suggest NOD32 I have found this one out performs a lot of others on the market it has found virus that McAfee and Norton have not it is also not as resource hungry as some others are. I hope this help
Laurie

astronut (John) · #8 13-05-2009, 11:47 AM

Steve,
You already have one of the best overall systems out there, AVG 8.5.
Since I dumped Norton's and Zonealarm and installed AVG 8.5, my computer runs better and I haven't had any problems with viruses or hackers.
I've been running this software since Oct 08.
I would recommend it highly.

mick pinner · #9 13-05-2009, 12:33 PM

the AVG firwall gave me nothing but grief.

xstream (John) · #10 13-05-2009, 01:25 PM

I also highly recommend NOD32 since using it I've never had any problem what so ever.

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #11 13-05-2009, 01:29 PM

AVG 8.0 and up included things like "link scanner" that checks your hyper links before allowing you to see the page ...and lots more stuff with their resident shield. All this is good stuff...except it slowed all my computers to a crawl.

Avast free has similar scanners but I have found their software a lot less intrusive & resource hogging than Avast (or Norton's).

They both work well but I feel Avast is faster & simpler to use.

RB (Andrew) · #12 13-05-2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xstream

I also highly recommend NOD32 since using it I've never had any problem what so ever.

I agree.
Since changing to NOD32/ESET I've had no problems at all !!!

I couldn't wait to get rid of Norton's.

Highly recommend NOD32.

kinetic (Steve) · #13 13-05-2009, 02:46 PM

Thank you all for your suggestions.

Wasyoungonce: that's been my experience exactly with 8.0/8.5 AVG.

cheers,

Steve

acropolite (Phil) · #14 13-05-2009, 08:00 PM

We use Nod 32 at work, I have to agree with the others it's hard to beat, it treads very lightly on resources, Avast is what I use at home, also very good. As far as AVG goes I wouldn't use the current versions even if they were free, IMO they have become bloatware.

Davekyn (David) · #15 13-05-2009, 08:23 PM

AVAST...been installing it for years on many many peoples computers... don't forget to use a mallware program as well. IMHO...These days it's pointless cleaning your system with an anti virus without using a Mallware program as well...good luck either way.

Don't let the fact that you paid for it make you think its better...just register and keep updating...Leave the office workers to argue which one is better than the other...hehe

Glenhuon (Bill) · #16 13-05-2009, 10:49 PM

I've been using AVG since V.7, both the free and paid one, (now on 8.5) and have'nt noticed any problems with slowing of the system. It seems to be the most unintrusive of the lot. (Don't start me about Norton, darn thing IS a virus.

)
I've used the PCtools one Spyware Doctor (buy only), includes Anti Virus and it performed well but did seem to put a drag on the system at times.
Biggest problem I've found with most virus/spyware cleanups I've done is the user not keeping the program up to date. Rusty armour lessens the protection

Bill

Craig.a.c (Craig) · #17 14-05-2009, 03:08 AM

I have been using the free version of AVG on my laptop and haven't had a problem yet, seems to be doing the job.

On my PC I am using Norton 360, wish I didn't waste my money on it, it has cause me nothing but headaches since the day I installed it.

wasyoungonce (Brendan) · #18 14-05-2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kinetic

Thank you all for your suggestions.

Wasyoungonce: that's been my experience exactly with 8.0/8.5 AVG.

cheers,

Steve

More than likely it's because of the Link Scanner they introduced.

You can disable it if you want to stay with AVG...this will probably improve things:

http://free.avg.com/faq.num-1241#faq_1241

Davekyn (David) · #19 14-05-2009, 08:30 AM

YES...I should of warned you about Norton! Stay away from it...it's more for paitriats, it's just a name...a name you will come to despise if you ever use it. It's like taking along the kitchen sink on an ultralight hiking trip, creating more problems than it's worth! Stay away from Nortons!

Liz · #20 14-05-2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davekyn

AVAST...been installing it for years on many many peoples computers... don't forget to use a mallware program as well. IMHO...These days it's pointless cleaning your system with an anti virus without using a Mallware program as well...good luck either way.

Don't let the fact that you paid for it make you think its better...just register and keep updating...Leave the office workers to argue which one is better than the other...hehe

Hey David .... what is a good malware program? I do have SpyDoctor from PC Tools, but not sure if its Malware.