Best free antivirus software

[literally exaggerated]

Whats the best free antivirus software available for download?

[Forefinger]

I've been told that the AVG is really good. You can find it on www.downloads.com


I have a lifetime account with Symantec (due to stealing it from the Army..shhhh) so I still use that AV and Firewall.

[Drew Van T.]

AVG is good, but it kept crashing on at least one of my computers. Even after reinstalling, it was behaving weirdly.

So I mostly switched to Avast. Just as good, free, and it also does scheduled startup scans (scanning all your files before Windows has booted) which I think is very important (if a virus gets ever into your System Restore files, you will agree with me).

Note, however, that both AVG and Avast have lower detection rates. Norton Antivirus is expensive, it is bloatware, it eats up too much ram and system resources, it often comes packaged with crap you don't need, it can be nigh impossible to properly uninstall on some computers...but it does find more viruses.

[Wyclefdoug]

I agree with AVG. I've used it for a few years now, no problemos.

[Forefinger]

I've also read about Avast, and that it's good. I was shopping around for something free a couple of years ago before I got my hookup. Those seemed to be the two that popped up on all the top rated lists and stuff.

[JTLauder]

I'm using AVG without any problems.

Though I agree Norton does seem to be more aggressive in sniffing out everything, but as mentioned, it's a terrible resource hog and it integrates itself with the system so much, that it can mess with some of your programs.
Plus, you have to pay for annual subscriptions to download virus definitions.

[Mike Smith]

AVG always seems to do well. Also, if you're not using a firewall, ZoneAlarm may be a good option for you to use with the antivirus program.

[Drew Van T.]

AVG always seems to do well. Also, if you're not using a firewall, ZoneAlarm may be a good option for you to use with the antivirus program.

Zonealarm has many downsides, though. It does not play well with quite a few programs (P2P, etc.) If you need a software firewall, I recommend Kerio.

But the fact is that most modems (except perhaps the really cheap ones) have good built-in firewalls nowadays, and you are 99% safe from hackers simply by relying on that.

[Grazzt]

Using Avast also supports the pirate faction on YABS. Just something you should know before choosing.

[Drew Van T.]

ARRR, matey.

The best virus policy, certainly if you have left behind Norton, is using more than one scanner, I think. NOT using two real-time scanners (scanning in the background, all the time) because that will only create problems. But to complement your real-time scanner by, every so often, doing 1) a scan with some of the online scanners, like on Norton's website for instance, that operate from within your browser, or 2) a scan with another free program like ClamWin (which does not have a real-time scanner, so no issues there). That way you can be certain of covering wide ground.

The same principle applies to Trojans and Adware: one scanner is not enough. Spybot is a good one; a more advanced program such as Ewido is even better. The one will always find something that the other has overlooked.

[Gaz]

OK, question: I've downloaded and installed Avast because I didn't want to pay to renew Norton. Should I try and remove Norton via the Control Panel? (You can't permanently disable the RT scanner...)

[Drew Van T.]

OK, question: I've downloaded and installed Avast because I didn't want to pay to renew Norton. Should I try and remove Norton via the Control Panel? (You can't permanently disable the RT scanner...)

In your place, I would have removed Norton before installing Avast, but that's okay.

Start with the Control Panel, yeah. The question is: do you have any other Symantec products on there? Even if you don't, however, you definitely have the "Symantec shared programs" software (or whatever it is called again) and that is a potential source of trouble.

One time, in order to remove every last trace of Norton, I had to start mucking with the registry and everything. That was a few years ago, however.

BTW: you can disable the RT scanner by terminating the process (in the Ctrl-Alt-Delete window)

[Gaz]

In your place, I would have removed Norton before installing Avast, but that's okay.

Start with the Control Panel, yeah. The question is: do you have any other Symantec products on there? Even if you don't, however, you definitely have the "Symantec shared programs" software (or whatever it is called again) and that is a potential source of trouble.

One time, in order to remove every last trace of Norton, I had to start mucking with the registry and everything. That was a few years ago, however.

BTW: you can disable the RT scanner by terminating the process (in the Ctrl-Alt-Delete window)
Probably, but I'd rather not have to do that every time.

And I'm dumb, so I really don't want to touch the registry at all.

I've got the Norton Package (antivirus, firewall, antispyware and antispam, I'm fine with using the Windows firewall, I only use web-based emails, and I've got 2 other spyware scanners...) and the Symantec live update thing too...

[Drew Van T.]

I've got the Norton Package (antivirus, firewall, antispyware and antispam, I'm fine with using the Windows firewall, I only use web-based emails, and I've got 2 other spyware scanners...) and the Symantec live update thing too...

By all means, try using their own uninstallers first, every one you can find (if they are not in the Control Panel, they are in the various Norton folders inside the Program Files folder). In theory, that should do the trick.

The stuff that is left behind is not necessarily an issue (but in some cases it can be). There are various, perfectly safe Registry Cleanup tools that may clean it up: Registry Mechanic, CrapCleaner, etc.

[Alex]

I had a ton of problems with avg when i used to use it, but i beleive it may have been due to the computer i put it on.
To play it save, i've been using avast ever since, and have had no problems.

[Gaz]

Looks like it uninstalled fine. Windows isn't pitching a fit about being unsecure, so everything seems a-ok... :)

[MKTerra]

The only downside I noticed when trying Avast (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html) is you have to register after 60 days to continue using it.

I used Antivir (http://www.free-av.com/) for a while, but it's become somewhat less attractive to me recently. Uses more RAM than AVG (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1), and sometimes takes forever to connect to their update servers.

[Drew Van T.]

The only downside I noticed when trying Avast (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html) is you have to register after 60 days to continue using it.

Yes, but it's a formality. You are not obligated to receive their newsletter or anything.

[Gaz]

I just did it right away. Get it over and done with.

[MKTerra]

Yes, but it's a formality. You are not obligated to receive their newsletter or anything.But unlike some registrations, they ask for real-life crap (http://www.avast.com/i_kat_207.php?lang=) like address and phone number, which I don't feel like giving out. I suppose I could lie, depending on how closely they check or follow up on these things, but it's easier for me just to use alternatives.

[Spike-X]

I've been using AVG for a few years now with no problems (apart from their buggy-as-hell initial release of 7.0, but it's fixed now).

I wouldn't recommend relying on the Windows Firewall. It only prevents unauthorised incoming traffic. ZoneAlarm checks traffic going both ways, which is handy if you get some kind of trojan that wants to access the Internet to send out your personal details to God knows where.

[Gaz]

But unlike some registrations, they ask for real-life crap (http://www.avast.com/i_kat_207.php?lang=) like address and phone number, which I don't feel like giving out. I suppose I could lie, depending on how closely they check or follow up on these things, but it's easier for me just to use alternatives.
Actually, I left out the phone and they still sent me the activation email... I think only the email addy is needed.

[Drew Van T.]

I wouldn't recommend relying on the Windows Firewall. It only prevents unauthorised incoming traffic. ZoneAlarm checks traffic going both ways, which is handy if you get some kind of trojan that wants to access the Internet to send out your personal details to God knows where.

True - that is why I found Zonealarm useful, for a while. But that was back when Trojan/Adware scanners were less advanced and more difficult to work with. Nowadays, you just need a Trojan/Adware scanner, making this part of Zonealarm redundant.

Besides: Zonealarm detecting an outgoing connection does not tell you anything beyond that. First you need to research whether it is a legitimate connection, because there are plenty of those. And if you eventually conclude that it is not legitimate, you can indeed block the connection with ZA, but that doesn't remove the malicious software. To do that, you still need to resort to a good Trojan/Adware scanner.

So why not take a shortcut, eliminating redundant byways, and rely on a specialized scanner in the first place?

And yeah, Windows' own firewall is pretty pathetic. Avoid using it.

[Spike-X]

True - that is why I found Zonealarm useful, for a while. But that was back when Trojan/Adware scanners were less advanced and more difficult to work with. Nowadays, you just need a Trojan/Adware scanner, making this part of Zonealarm redundant.

Besides: Zonealarm detecting an outgoing connection does not tell you anything beyond that. First you need to research whether it is a legitimate connection, because there are plenty of those. And if you eventually conclude that it is not legitimate, you can indeed block the connection with ZA, but that doesn't remove the malicious software. To do that, you still need to resort to a good Trojan/Adware scanner.

So why not take a shortcut, eliminating redundant byways, and rely on a specialized scanner in the first place?

I'll have to check this out. Thanks!

[Spike-X]

Here's an interesting article about why using the most popular anti-virus software might not be a good idea -

http://www.zdnet.com.au/blogs/securifythis/soa/Why_popular_antivirus_apps_do_not_work_/0,39033341,39264249,00.htm