Best free anti-virus?

[Sardonicus]

lbc said:

Avast here also.

And another here for Avast for years after converting from AVG after it got bloated

[Who me ?]

As I said earlier -Avast my Hearties, but try Rogue Killer- it finds things Malware anti root and other anti root finders don't see.

[SVS]

tr7v8 said:

Been running Avast for quite a few years after AVG lost the plot.

In what way did AVG lose the plot?

[manic47]

Bloatware - it's become like Norton...

[confucuis]

Sorry for reviving this thread but just downloaded Avast due to the recommendations on this thread, one thing though, it says at the top of the status window that I haven't registered and I have 30 days remaining, till what? Is it going to run out after 30 days?

[technodup]

My anti virus consists of:-

not downloading dodgy porn
not opening dodgy emails or attachments
staying off dodgy websites
and not reading DM virus scare stories designed to panic old folk

And it's been serving me well for 10yrs+.

Spunking money on AV or having it slow down my machine for no discernible benefit is something I'll leave to my parents.

[WinstonWolf]

technodup said:

My anti virus consists of:-

not downloading dodgy porn
not opening dodgy emails or attachments
staying off dodgy websites
and not reading DM virus scare stories designed to panic old folk

And it's been serving me well for 10yrs+.

Spunking money on AV or having it slow down my machine for no discernible benefit is something I'll leave to my parents.

Give it time, chances are if you run a scan you're already infested with something you don't know about.

[Zad]

Plenty of malware is inserted via ostensibly genuine media, served up by conscientious and established sites. For example, a few years ago some of the adverts on PH contained malware. It was (from my hazy memory) a payload contained in an embedded advert, supplied by a provider who had been unknowingly compromised. PH were on the ball and nuked it pretty quickly, but I have seen other sites similarly hijacked via adverts.

And then there's stuff like USB sticks. Fine if you never use them on other computers, and if they can be guaranteed clean from the start, but even a major brand name is no proof. Remember the days of Sony shipping so-called DRM software on their audio CDs?

[technodup]

WinstonWolf said:

Give it time, chances are if you run a scan you're already infested with something you don't know about.

10 years so far... 5 year old laptop running perfectly

I back important stuff up to USB and the cloud regularly (probably not regularly enough right enough), anything else I lose would be doing me a favour.

My parents have had every Norton and Kapersky under the sun and have gone through PCs at a rate of knots. Always laggy, buggy and getting fixed for one thing or another. I'm happy to stay away from dodginess and take what comes.

[mike9009]

technodup said:

My parents have had every Norton and Kapersky under the sun and have gone through PCs at a rate of knots. Always laggy, buggy and getting fixed for one thing or another. I'm happy to stay away from dodginess and take what comes.

Who is looking at all the porn? Mum or Dad or both?

[P-Jay]

Avast is good, but it can cause older / slower machines to run slowly for the first 5-10 mins until the lady spouts up with "Avast has been updated".

MS security essentials is completely invisible at all times, but supposedly doesn't catch everything, so if you're a heavy torrent / porn user, might be worth goig for Avast.

Personally I use ESET.

[technodup]

mike9009 said:

Who is looking at all the porn? Mum or Dad or both?

I have a 33 year old brother who still lives there.

[grumbledoak]

technodup said:

have a 33 year old brother who still lives there.

[jbudgie]

confucuis said:

Sorry for reviving this thread but just downloaded Avast due to the recommendations on this thread, one thing though, it says at the top of the status window that I haven't registered and I have 30 days remaining, till what? Is it going to run out after 30 days?

Have you got the 'free' version?

[cuneus]

jbudgie said:

confucuis said:

Sorry for reviving this thread but just downloaded Avast due to the recommendations on this thread, one thing though, it says at the top of the status window that I haven't registered and I have 30 days remaining, till what? Is it going to run out after 30 days?

Have you got the 'free' version?

He probably has - you have to register the free version

[Martin4x4]

MS Security Essentials and Malwarebytes.

I suggest everybody also install flashblock and only allow flash to run on known safe sites like BBC youtube, a key attack avenue today is malicious payloads in flash ads.

The problem with Avast is that it downloads from cnets download.com which will likely include their malicious software, even Oracle have joined that game fostering Jeeves/Ask unwanted crap onto machines when installing java if you are not very careful.

Edited by Martin4x4 on Saturday 18th October 22:14