Security question.

[avinalarf]

I am running Mcaffe at the moment but I believe that slows a computer down.
I have read of Avast a free security download, will it give the same security as Mcaffe ?
I am also curious about how companies that give free downloads make their money ?

[Paul Drawmer]

When I used windows, I used MS Security Essentials (it's free from Microsoft) and ASFAIK still reckoned to be pretty good.

[grumbledoak]

avinalarf said:

I am also curious about how companies that give free downloads make their money ?

Normally they charge for commercial use; the home use is sort-of advertising.

MSE/Defender is as good as any of the free ones. I get the impressions MS got tired of taking the flak for viruses (and Adobe's general lack of competence) and decided to provide their own for free.

[avinalarf]

Thanks lads,much appreciated.

[sgrimshaw]

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/379993/best-free-a...

[Road2Ruin]

sgrimshaw said:

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/379993/best-free-a...

That review is over a year old! Software changes quicker than that. I have used most free virus software they are all much of a muchness.

[jbudgie]

I have been using Avast for two years, does the job fine.

[Who me ?]

I'm on the second update to Avast and have had it for a few years. I run both xp & 7 and it works with both. Another vote for Avast .

[abbotsmike]

Been running MSE across 6 PC's for years and it's given me no bother and kept the PC's safe

[lestag]

For free:
Avast is an irritating, intrusive bit of software, but it must work, it seems to be more interested in telling you how good it is. perhaps that is the price of free software. Just never got on with it
MSSE is less annoying

[Randomthoughts]

ash73 said:

...because it never finds anything

Microsoft advises to use a third-party antivirus instead here

Is the update where they say "that's not what we're saying" invisible to you?

[abbotsmike]

ash73 said:

...because it never finds anything

Microsoft advises to use a third-party antivirus instead here

I stand by what I said, it's kept several of my PC's safe for quite a few years now.

Equally, I don't visit untrustworthy websites, don't click on links in emails from nigerians with £50 million to give me, don't install software that I don't know the source of, install slightly suspicious software into a VM first and don't install any of the tag-along adware that comes with other programs.