A good freebie antivirus software?

[vtonymarino]

Hi, what is considered a good (hopefully freeware) antivirus application?
My OS is Windows XP and Win 7

I don't go to dodgy websites, but once in a while, my Outlook does tend to download a phishy email, which I innocently click and then realize what I did.

I am currently using "AVG Antivirus" and "Spybot Search & Destroy"

So I was hoping any of you guys might be able to help me out.

Ciao

[emeraldgirl08]

I use Avast free edition. It works in real time, automatically works with outlook, and is free! I have not had a virus attack in...sheesh I can't remember the last time! It's been while and I don't visit dodgy sites but an occasional search or browse will open up such a page. The program will alert you when you enter a website that is not friendly with a pop up banner and sound. The red banner will have a message indicating why the AV program blocked the site. There is a voice (female...wish I could link a custom soundbite) letting you know that the virus database has been updated or when you come across a virus. You can turn off sounds, block popups while using fullscreen applications (ie gaming). Overall I find the program suitable for me and after a couple of years of trouble-free usage I'm sticking with it

[RealBlackStuff]

I'd also recommend the free Avast: http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-Ant ... 19223.html
Better than AVG.

[blink]

Another thumbs up for avast free, I did have AVG & never had any issues with it to be honest but prefer Avast now as it seems at least as good if not better & has a slightly lighter footprint.

As for anti spyware i have tried many & unlike anti virus you can have more than one installed at the same time. I use malwarebytes (the free version doesnt update automatically so you have to do it manually say every week?) seems very good & probably a bit quicker than S&D Also keep a version of search & destroy to double check now & again.
If you use firefox? i also am trying a plugin (bit defender quick scan) which will give you a very quick scan simply by clicking an icon on your browser. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/161837/ Seems ok. I think its useful to have 2 or maybe 3 options.
Hope this helps

[Ogg]

Hi, what is considered a good (hopefully freeware) antivirus application?
My OS is Windows XP and Win 7

I'd recommend MS's Security Essentials. It's free. It updates automatically.

[Dyzmen]

Hello.
Try this is free, automatic updates, does not load a system.
http://www.avira.com/en/avira-free-antivirus

[poshgeordie]

Any Linux OS - doesn't need antivirus

[GACrabill]

See the Test Results comparison charts in these reports :

Retrospective/Proactive Test - November 2010
http://www.av-comparatives.org/images/s ... ov2010.pdf

On-Demand Comparative - August 2010
http://www.av-comparatives.org/images/s ... ug2010.pdf

Based on these results, I prefer Avira over Avast, AVG, or MSE.

[Norway Pad]

After AVG started advertising for their full version in a more aggressive way, the footprint seemed to get bigger for every update, and I got a couple of infections while using it, I switched to MSE. I tried Avast! on one computer, but ditched that because of the bad user interface and the fact that it expires once a year. (Interface later changed, I believe) But I now use MSE on all my Windows computers, and recommend that. One two computers MSE found potential infections and malicious files straight after installation that AVG never found.

I also believe that since MSE is made by the same people who made the OS, they better know how to utilize system resources and integrate it better with the OS to give as small a footprint as possible.

Edit: Reduced number of words to get to the same conclusion.

[billp117]

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

[Mike Blake]

As for anti spyware i have tried many & unlike anti virus you can
have more than one installed at the same time. I use malwarebytes (the free
version doesnt update automatically so you have to do it manually say every week?)
seems very good & probably a bit quicker than S&D Also keep a version of search & destroy
to double check now & again.

Good point; I do the same thing but with MWB and ThreatFire. I don't hate Search & Destroy, I used it faithfully for almost a decade. But no matter how much I have upgraded my hardware with new PCs and laptops over the years, it has always run as slow as a dog. Contrary to my expectations.

[kaede]

avast is good. even the free version. spybot only use it to scan if you have spyware infection.

[ThinkRob]

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

This is my recommendation. It's not as bloated and buggy as AVG, it's better at detecting things than Avast, and it's not as annoying as Avira.

[Mike Blake]

I mentioned the spyware seekers I use earlier, but not my antivirus. Some time ago I had to use the restore disks on my T42, which gave me several months free use of Norton AV 2004. Well, it was free and the virus defs did update until the trial expired. Once that was done I removed all Norton/Symantec stuff from my HD and am now using Microsoft's Essentials. It's not bad at all.

My only caveat, to those who are annoyed by such things, as I can be. As part of the installation, it turned Automatic Updates back on and downloaded like thirty I had marked as "don't tell me about them again." Annoying because I turned it off and go check for updates both here and via SU manually.

[kge420]

Microsoft Security Essentials, Malicious Software Removal Tool,and keep your machine up to date. One other word of advice is that we are our first line of defense. Be smart when browsing, downloading and accepting files from strangers. Don't forget to back up important files and folders.

[Microspeed]

Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes. Sound advise from kge420.

[BGoins12]

I use Comodo AntiVirus/Firewall and Malwarebytes. I also clean my registry weekly with CCleaner from Piriform.

[sktn77a]

I migrated from symantec to MSE also on all my computers. And MalwareBytes for those really stubborn, nasty cases!

[lukee]

I use last version of Microsoft Security Essentials. I can feel slightly more performance comparing with Avast Home Edition.

[phoenix34]

I just want to join in an affirm that nothing runs better on my t43 than security essentials.
The recent 2.0 update only made it that much better.

[micl9]

I had been using AVG and Zone Alarm on all my computers. But based on all the strong endorsements for MSE I am giving it a try. So far so good.

Hate to thread jack but... (it is kind of a natural next question)
What about a free fire wall? Do any of you guys use one?

[Temetka]

I use Comodo AntiVirus/Firewall and Malwarebytes. I also clean my registry weekly with CCleaner from Piriform.

While there is nothing wrong (usually) with using a 3rd party firewall program, I have to ask why? The built in Windows firewall works just fine and the NAT features of your router and it's built in firewall should be more than sufficient. The windows firewall is actually pretty decent and does a good job of protecting most consumer machines with its default setting.

[papollonia]

Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes. Sound advise from kge420.

Yes that is what i use, if fact my son download something!! Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!
Computer got hit with some kind of virus, i played around with for a day or two.
Then I rebooted it and Security Essentials cleaned it up!!

The only thing with MS Security Essentials, you need a legal copy of the operating system
Of course we all run legal copies...

[blink]

Just as a further side note to this discussion, i recently purchased 2 severely virus/spyware hit machines, topic here http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=93715 & it has taken me a combination of different software to almost sort them. avast is still finding something on one while mse is reporting as clean. I have been a big fan of anti malwarebyes but have to say that trusty old S&D found a number of things both it & super antispyware missed & i am also currently testing other free solutions for a rootkit infection. For general stuff im sure most do the job satisfactory but with really infected examples (i found more than 100 virus/trojans etc across 2 machines) further testing & clean up may be needed.
Hope this helps.