Anti Virus / Spyware software

R

robinb

Suspended / Banned
Messages
221
Name
Robin
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi

Friend of mine has a pc and needs to get some AV/Spyware software.

Needs to be free as he is tight.:eek:

For windows XP.


Not sure what is available these days as I use a Mac.:cool:

Can PC users advise on good choice please.

thanks
 
i use avast free virus scanner, ABP in firefox. Spy Bot Search & Distroy, windows defender & Ad-aware free.

I seem to be safe (so far!) lol.
 
Avast, Malwarebytes get my vote.

AVG is pants and uses up memory.
 
If you want free go with Avast, AVG is horrible. If you don't mind spending a bit of money, try BitDefender.
 
Bizarrely the relatively new MSE (linked above) seems to be the new daddy now. I use it and it's great. Very unobtrusive and has good detection rates from the reviews I saw a while back.
 
If you become a fan of McAfee on Facebook they are currently offering a 6 month free subscription to their security software.
 
AVG when rated in the magazines does not have a great detection rate.

Personally I recommend Antivir for a free A/V

Plus Spybot Search & Destry and Malwarebytes.
 
Can't comment on free AV as I use the AV that Virgin offer with their broadband deals.
As for everything else, I use Spybot S&D & Malwarebytes. Keeps me clean!
 
As above, Microsoft Security Essentials is meant to be the best at the moment

I use it and it works a treat

Oh, I also work in IT
 
noneforit said:
Microsoft Security Essentials is meant to be the best at the moment

I use it and it works a treat
Click to expand...

The only thing with it is that you have to update it manually.
 
ajoshi said:
The only thing with it is that you have to update it manually.
Click to expand...

No you don't, it updates itself automatically.

AVG was the daddy of free AV for years but has now become far to bloated to be of any use. Microsoft Security Essentials is now my tool of choice for people wanting free stuff it works, doesn't hog resources and doesn't have a million pointless extras built in.

u8myufo said:
Have you ever read the user policy agreement :lol:
Click to expand...

I'll be honest I've never read it, care to pick out the interesting bits for us?
 
a1ex2001 said:
No you don't, it updates itself automatically
Click to expand...

Really must have changed then as I was sure when I installed I had to update manually :thinking:.
 
Another vote for Microsoft here, faultless so far. Also Winpatrol. I only use those two.:eek:
 
Ditched AVG & Zonealarm and gone Microsoft. Never thought I'd say this about Microsoft products but seems to be working fine & no resource issues either.
 
I know nothing about reviews of security software but here is my experience.

I don't visit dodgy sites but the PC is online about 2hrs every weekday and way more than that at weekends. I bank online and buy loads of stuff, use lots of forums and I play online games.

My PC uses XP (fully up to date) and I have used AVG, Zonealarm, Asquared and SpyBot Search and Destroy for the last 6 plus years. I always keep these updated. AVG and Zonealarm run all the time and make no impact on resources (its unusual if they take more than 3% of the cpu usage) the others I run about once a week and do a full AVG scan most weeks.

In the those years the PC has never had a virus or any other nasty.

They work for me, but there are lots of other. However, there is no need to spend anything on security.

Dave
 
avast antivirus, zonealarm ,spybot search and destroy,super anti spyware free edition
 
Avira for me, nice and light weight, uses little memory and does not spam me all the time...
 
PsiFox said:
If you become a fan of McAfee on Facebook they are currently offering a 6 month free subscription to their security software.
Click to expand...

Forget McAfee, we had a trojan get past it on our PC at work and McAfee wouldn't remove it. After much searching, I managed to find a program (not free) that did the job. We have now cancelled our subscription and received a refund!
 
Comodo firewall, AVG antivirus, winpatrol.

Only time I had a problem with AVG was when I didn't upgrade to the latest version so totally my own fault, not noticed it taking up extra resource so far.
 
sorry but firewalls such as zonealarm are a waste of system resources. they dont do anything that windows firewall and your router cannot.

as for AV i use avast. but i have put MSE on a few machines and it seems pretty good to the point where i need to write a proposal for it to replace our current AV solution at work covering 250 odd machines.
 
MSE here too. That and careful browsing mean I have not had any trouble in years!
 
After years of using avg, I have now switched to avira as I felt avg was getting a little bloated. I only use XP (under OSX/Parallels) for just one app and very limited browsing. In the dark days, before I switched 99% of my computer and net activity to a mac, I used BitDefender which I can highly recommend.

Do not forget the most important anti-virus/anti-phishing component of all. The soft squishy collection of brain cells in control of the computer.
 
I'm probably being really stupid but does MSE run on XP or is it only for the Windows 7 system?
 
XP/Vista/7 - just make sure you download the correct version.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top