Free Anti Virus Software

paul11974 · 25-04-2005, 21:14

HI one of my relatives have just purchased a new computer and have not got any anti virus software. I have suggested norton to them but they are on a bit of a tight budget so the ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£40 seems steep to them ( silly i know ) i have done a few searches on free anti virus software and have found this one http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php does anyone on here use this or have used it in the past or have any other suggestions for them ?

swoop101 · 25-04-2005, 21:16

Yes, I use this and have always found it very good.
Others have different views, but I have never been let down by it.

Mal · 25-04-2005, 21:17

Try avast home. That's free and it has been good for me upto now.

Just don't get Norton, whatever you do!

paul11974 · 25-04-2005, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

Try avast home. That's free and it has been good for me upto now.

Just don't get Norton, whatever you do!

why not norton ?

aspdd watsrr · 25-04-2005, 21:20

AVAST http://www.avast.com/eng/down_home.html also do a free version. A few companies like www.freedom.net panda and bitdefender do good online scanners too. Always use more than one or how can you tell you have never been let down?

swoop101 · 25-04-2005, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul11974

why not norton ?

Do you want a list of answers to that one?

Basically, IMO, it interferes with your whole system and buggers up lots of other apps that you might use.
I have also found that it uses too much system resources.

paul11974 · 25-04-2005, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by swoop101

Do you want a list of answers to that one?

Basically, IMO, it interferes with your whole system and buggers up lots of other apps that you might use.
I have also found that it uses too much system resources.

i have used norton internet security since day one but may now consider myself turning to a free version

nffc · 25-04-2005, 21:26

Avast here too.

Mal · 25-04-2005, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul11974

why not norton ?

Because it's evil.

I've had to re-install windows twice because of it. While using Norton Internet Security 2004, several viruses found, even though fully updated.

I know the uninstall/reinstall procedure for NAV 2002/NPF 2002 and NIS 2004 intimately, as I've seen it done on around 30 occasions.

That's not including the resource hogging and the system restores.

I'm amazed that I stuck with so long. I now use avast and I've just bought the full Kerio Personal Firewall.

(There was a free Kerio firewall, but some of the features that I want are only on the bought version).

For some people it's microsoft. For me it's Norton/Symantec.

MJB · 25-04-2005, 23:06

I used Norton for years and often got silly little errors plus major ones too. Since switched to Panda (I know it's not a freebie) and it's been 100% perfect for me.

I've heard lots of people condemn Norton, saying it tries to find problems you don't have, and I think that may be true.

zoombini · 25-04-2005, 23:47

AVG all the way..

Although it looks like the life expectancy of the free version may not be too good.

**Paul** · 25-04-2005, 23:51

Norton = Evil. end of.

Chrysalis · 26-04-2005, 03:31

I will probably switch to a free one soon, these are usually far less bloated and do just what you need them to do instead of been full of useless features.

26-04-2005, 08:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul11974

why not norton ?

Because many people have had problems with it. I ended up having to reinstall the OS one time after Norton well and truly messed up the computer.

Never again.

For anti-virus I use http://www.free-av.com/ which has proven effective.

humphreys barmy · 26-04-2005, 11:18

Does anyone know anything about the Downloader-ZM virus ?

I use Macafees to keep the computer protected, and believe me it's fully protected, but during updates, it goes off line momentarily. It seems that during that time Downloader made an appearance.

Macafees found it, dealt with it, and then I reran the scan. It found nothing there. Turned off the machine, and thought, I'll have another look. Macafees popped off with the fact it had found it again, and dealt with it again.

Tried again the next morning just to be sure, and nothing came up. A bit of relief there. But am I safe rto think things have been put right ?
Sorry if this sounds stupid, but I don't know.

If I put a free virus scanner on as well, so that something is protecting the machine whilst the updates are being done, will the twp products interfere with each other ?
Does any one know ?