best free antivirus

i know you computer people love to talk about this shit, so lets get the latest HF techies opinions on the best free anti-virus programs out there....and im just wondering how they are free, is that really something people do in their spare time for shits and giggles?

 

Mine constantly asks if I want to upgrade to a version that's better/more extended but not free anymore No clue if it's the best though but it seems to be working well!

 

Avast is pretty good - again optional upgrades.

 

sophos is good.

 

I have tried most of the free ones out there and my final opinion is that Microsoft's Security Essentials is by far the best free one available to Windows users.
In the past 3 years that I've been using it it has trapped every threat, has always stayed updated, has NEVER asked for $$$ for a "full version" and probably the best feature of all,...
it plays perfectly with the OS. :2thumbsup:
No overhead issues, no pregnant pauses when pulling e-mail or accessing drives, it disables any external device; USB, DVD, whatever, if a threat is found until it is cleaned and still manages to trap any threat without my noticing, and I notice the slightest deviation in performance on my macheen.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-download

If/when a threat is found, after the initial clean-up I also run MalwareBytes. It is very good at finding fragments of files and registry entries that are often left behind by most all AV programs.
Malware is another program with a "free" version and a "pay" version, but the free does just about everything except real-time 24/7 protection.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/downloads/

 

you can get condoms @ your local health dept..

 

I've used both Avast and AVG and they both seemed to work well. I generally don't keep one running constantly because I have an old computer and it just slows it down. I download and run a virus scan every few months, but never actually find anything. The best protection is just to be smart about what you're downloading.

 

linux.
oh you mean for windows?
the best free is avira

 

What's your opinion on (free) Avast, NoxiousGas? Comes it anywhere near the second place?

 

not sure why i got a thumbs down, avira is the best, its what hackers use who dont want to pay or crack kaspersky use. ive seen them run detection tests. avira beats EVERYONE else, free version mind you, second only to kaspersky

 

I use avast currently. Have also used Kapersky, Adaware, BitDefender, and Panda. Never heard of avira before.

Edit: Looked around at reviews and Avira seems pretty good, perhaps even better than Avast. Thanks Jared for letting me know about it And no clue why someone would thumbs down you... Your post was good.

 

my best guess is the Linux comment not the software recommendation. people get all defensive when you poke fun at their favorite programs.

glad to finally get some replies, thanks to all for their comments.

my norton just ran out and it did the job but im low on funds and i dont give a shit about this cheap computer anyway so the free route was an easy choice. a guy i worked with was a big tech guy and he runs avg. so far i dont like the way it runs...no problems but there is something about it that bothers me. i will look into some of the other recommendations. thanks everyone.

 

( windows is not genuine )
(get genuine now?)

pops up on ma screen all the time.
does that make me less of a target for malware/virus,s
cause i don,t i have any anymore? and this old PC never got anything that i know of?

 

by your own signiture i will have to assume you were at least drunk during this reply. please explain what this genuine you speak of is..oh and as much as i hate banks are you saying nobody ever lost money using bitcoins?

 

Uhhh, that means you are running a bootleg copy of Windows and/or the Product Key that was used has been blacklisted.

How long has that been happening and what version of Windows are you using?

 

i use AVG but maybe i'll check out avira or avast

 

I have a friend who has a theory about these programs. He says most of these viruses are created by the software companies so you have to buy their programs and once you have those programs....they are exactly whats eventually opens your computer up to viruses (so you have to upgrade). He supposedly knew someone with no protection at all on a computer for a number of years and that person had no problem at all until he installed some virus protection. After that, it was an issue. I have no idea if that is true or not.

I use a chromebook and don't worry about things like that. It's lightning fast and almost impossible to attack.

 

sometimes there are viruses that pose as antivirus software. it's a nasty little trick, but you should only fall for that once at most.

 

2 Years Of AVG Free Here, Catches All The Nasties

And Has Regular Updates...



Cheers Glen.

PS:- I'm Running Windows XP...:wheelchair:

 

i have been saying that for years...exept for the upgrading part...that may be because i never trusted free antivirus companies before.you know because nobody does anything for free. but enough people tell you that something works and eventually it sinks in.