Which AV for Vista ?

icestar2 · 12-11-2010, 16:34

Hay,

I've currently fixing up 3 laptops that my cousins have filled with crap i.e Virus, trojans, spyware etc etc. I want to install a Anti-virus program for them all but they don't have the money at the moment to buy a premium one so can anyone tell me whats the best free AV for Vista atm ?

I currenlty use norton (I know what some people think of it but I like it and it does the job for me very well) so have not had need to look into it before. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

andrewlutonuk · 12-11-2010, 16:36

I use AVG free with my Vista Home Premium. AVG Free version 2011

Never had any problems with it

I scan every weekend with AVG free, Malware bytes and Spybot. As of yet i have picked up no nasties

andrewlutonuk

dave6x · 12-11-2010, 17:18

I'm happily using the free version of Avast 5 on my desktop PC which is running Vista Business and on my laptop which is running XP Pro, plus I use the free version of SuperAntiSpyware on both machines.

Both seem to be running satisfactorily although Avast seems to slow start-up, but OK once up and running.

I gave up on AVG when I had some annoying conflicts on a machine running Windows 2000 Pro a few years ago, and I gave up on SpyBot following a nasty run in with a false positive that damaged the OS necessitating a re-install. Googling and going into forums I found these were known issues on both AVG and SpyBot!!!

Taf · 12-11-2010, 17:23

Avira all the way

12-11-2010, 17:39

Avasts newest version did well in a recent test WHICH did. Avira is great but the last time I tried the free version I got sick of the nag screens

damien c · 12-11-2010, 17:45

I just use the Microsfot Security Essential's and have had no problem's with it since I started using it.

Won't to the bloatware that is avg anymore as it is to hungry and also every little keygen is picked up as a trojan and deleted straight away, even if they are clean as a whistle.

12-11-2010, 17:53

I switched from MSE because in the same tests mentioned in WHICH magazine Avira was top iirc and Avast was second MSE was second from bottom

Rockabilly Spike · 12-11-2010, 19:24

http://www.av-comparatives.org/image...ynamic2010.pdf

worth looking at this too

Hom3r · 12-11-2010, 21:11

AVs are like underwear.

Some like thongs, g-strings, boxers, passion killers & some go commando

I have avast, on my 3 laptops & Netbook

SnoopZ · 12-11-2010, 21:55

My vote goes for Avast.

Matty_ · 12-11-2010, 21:59

Avira for detection, with a couple of back up scanners (mbam + SAS). Trouble is AV software is a 20 year old technology which just doesn`t cut it any more...

Malware writers have access to VirusTotal, Jotti, etc.

Maybe put a behaviour blocker like Threatfire on them http://www.threatfire.com/

**Hugh** · 12-11-2010, 22:13

Comodo Firewall, Avast Anti-Virus, and Spybot S&D on Vista Ultimate (I use Comodo 4 which has firewall and A/V on the family laptops, which run on XP and Win7).

ZrByte · 12-11-2010, 22:21

I use avast, found it to be the most lightweight which is good if you are a gamer or if resources are at a premium. Also seems to give the fewest false positives/negatives out of all the AV I have used.

icestar2 · 12-11-2010, 23:06

Thanks for all the reply's everyone. Still trying to clean them up. Been working on them most of the day. I always tell people "Dont install anything if you dont know what it is" but as usual they never listen and carry on filling their systems with crap.

**Hugh** · 12-11-2010, 23:16

I share your pain - last weekend I had to bring my lad's PC back from Uni, and make multiple passes with Spybot, Comodo, and MalWareBytes to remove a trojan he had got on his PC (which of course had corrupted most of the apps such as iTunes, Office, etc etc, so they had to be re-installed).

He has now been educated in the magic of "right click and scan"....