Free anti-virus software.. are they ok or a no no?

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Hopefully someone can advise....

I'm not trying to scrimp on something that is important but at this point in time my Kaspersky as run out and i can't re-new for a few weeks...

Are the free ones perfectly fine? if yes should i completely wipe Kaspersky from the laptop before installing and then just start all over again once i can get a proper software suite?

If the free ones are fine can you recommend.. I'm sure i used AVG along time ago..

Please help :thinking:

T:D
 
Avast is great
 
If running Windows, Microsoft Security Essentials seems to work very well, it's picked up everything nasty that's been tried. It's good enough that a friend who builds systems has started installing it as his his first choice when he sells a system with OS installed.
 
MSE is supposed to be good. Avast! here on all my PCs.
 
Dave1 said:
If running Windows, Microsoft Security Essentials seems to work very well, it's picked up everything nasty that's been tried. It's good enough that a friend who builds systems has started installing it as his his first choice when he sells a system with OS installed.
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It is not even recommended by Microsoft any more.

In an interview, the company admits it has turned its AV app into a "baseline program," and that the app will "always be on the bottom" of the AV software rankings, where it has languished in the last two years after a few years on top.
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https://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=134511
 
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Terrywoodenpic said:
It is not even recommended by Microsoft any more.
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No idea, all I know it that it works.

Years ago I questioned how a free add on could be as efficient as a paid for and supported product and the demonstration was quite eye opening, a system came in with Norton (I think, it was definitely a paid for program though), he disabled it, installed MSE and ran a scan and within minutes it started throwing up warnings of malware and Trojans, all undetected by the paid for program.

I got hit by a virus around the same time while using Avast, after cleaning it out I installed MSE and haven't a problem since (it's picked up a few attempts). I still run Malwarebytes, spybot and the online Kaspersky scan every so often as a back up check, and all has been well.
 
MSE on everything i own, used to use AVG but it was a resources hog, forget Norton, its the AOL of AV products
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
It is not even recommended by Microsoft any more.



https://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=134511
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Quick check shows Microsoft themselves say different.

Microsoft Security Essentials is built for individuals and small businesses, but it’s based on the same technology that Microsoft uses to protect giant businesses (security products like Microsoft Forefront, the Malicious Software Removal Tool, and Windows Defender). We have a whole team watching for new threats and coming up with ways to squash them.

We’re proud to have received great recognition for the protection we offer: the VB100 award from Virus Bulletin Ltd., Checkmark Certification from West Coast Labs, and certification from the ICSA Labs.
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http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-product-information#tabs1=overview
 
I use MSE, SpyBot, Malwarebytes and SpywareBlaster all free if you run the last three on manual scan.

Not had any probs. so far.
 
Thank you all, at least it means i know i'm ok with a free one and not panicking like i had been this last week or so with nothing... i shall look into both i think


Kelly... thank you for moving it, a much better response here:D:thumbs:
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
The link I gave is one source....
https://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=134511
However their statement it is all over the net and even in Computer Active this week.
It is true that they have not got round to saying anything on their site yet.

http://www.howtogeek.com/173291/goo...w-recommends-you-use-a-third-party-antivirus/

The above link goes into more detail
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interesting..

i only spec'd in a forefront install 24 months ago and they were flying :thinking:
 
I've been using Avast - free version - for years and I've never had any issues. Just make sure it's set to update automatically. There's no need to uninstall Kaspersky if you might want to continue using it with a new subscription, but disable it for the time being. Running two anti-virus programmes at the same time can cause conflicts and problems. That includes MSE. It's built into the OS and some people forget to disable itwhen they install something else.
 
I'm using AVG and Avast on my various devices. I still find AVG works quite well, but Avast is the best free one at the moment.
 
I installed Avast on my laptop to test against a customer bug report. It's annoying. It talks to you (why do I want someone announcing that the database has been updated? I don't care, just do it when needed), pops up rubbish on the screen when it's updating and is generally intrusive.

I know I can turn that stuff off, but I shouldn't have to.
 
i'll give you the stupid american voice. but i cant say ive ever had any pop ups (i do enable silent mode by default however).

takes approx 30 seconds to make it quiet, not exactly a hardship.
 
DO not in any circumstance install AVG or Panda.

They will slow your system down and they are both absolute pigs to remove completely when you go back to Kaspersky.
 
onomatopoeia said:
I installed Avast on my laptop to test against a customer bug report. It's annoying. It talks to you (why do I want someone announcing that the database has been updated? I don't care, just do it when needed), pops up rubbish on the screen when it's updating and is generally intrusive.

I know I can turn that stuff off, but I shouldn't have to.
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As far as I can tell, it's the best free anti-virus and ads are what you get for free. I can put up with the ads and 30 seconds to turn off the sounds...
 
I have used AVG for ages and never found the problems others report. A few months ago I could not get AVG to up date so changed to Avast and this works fine too. Also use Zone Alarm and Asquared, Malwarebytes and SpyBot S&D from time to time.

I stopped using paid for security years ago and all the very few problems (as in about 3) I have had, have been self inflicted.

Dave
 
I used to use Avast, but I've now installed Bitdefender Free:

http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/solutions/free.html

Supposed to offer the best protection (funny how they all claim that!) and no configuration to bother with, which may or may not be an advantage depending on how much you like to fiddle.
 
antihero said:
MSE for me, never had an issue :)

Stay away from Mcafee...from the great man himself (beware NSFW);

http://youtu.be/bKgf5PaBzyg
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:lol::lol:

Tringa said:
I have used AVG for ages and never found the problems others report. A few months ago I could not get AVG to up date so changed to Avast and this works fine too. Also use Zone Alarm and Asquared, Malwarebytes and SpyBot S&D from time to time.

I stopped using paid for security years ago and all the very few problems (as in about 3) I have had, have been self inflicted.

Dave
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Oh wow i had forgotten all about zoneAlarm, i used to have that installed years ago, i may have to look it up..

I now have Avast, spybot and malawarebytes installed fingers crossed!

f1charlie said:
I used to use Avast, but I've now installed Bitdefender Free:

http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/solutions/free.html

Supposed to offer the best protection (funny how they all claim that!) and no configuration to bother with, which may or may not be an advantage depending on how much you like to fiddle.
Click to expand...


My biggest problem is i fiddle too often and then end up with non working computers!..:eek::lol::lol:
 
neil_g said:
i always found it caused more issues than it solved. with breaking some legitimate sites/services.

windows 7 has a good built in firewall and combined with the one built into your router should do all you ever need.
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I have Vista:gag:

I have windows firewall on at the moment, i'm assuming that will be enough?
 
Oh gosh mixed wires... yes i did install Avast, plus also spybot and malwarebytes


I was just Questioning with those above, that the windows firewall is enough or should i have a different Firewall as well
 
Cg_Girl said:
I was just Questioning with those above, that the windows firewall is enough or should i have a different Firewall as well
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Should be fine with the Vista one - especially if you are behind another device (i.e. router) which acts as your internet firewall.
 
Another vote for MSE, I used to use AVG but it started to annoy needing reboots for updates every now and then. I setup a test PC last week to test the cryptolocker virus, and had to disable MSE real time protection to get the PC infected - it completely blocked the infection when turned on.
I do computer/IT support for a living and see plenty of PCs with paid for products infected. At the end of the day it's about sensible browsing and only opening known attachments in emails.
 
boolean said:
I setup a test PC last week to test the cryptolocker virus, and had to disable MSE real time protection to get the PC infected - it completely blocked the infection when turned on.
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Interesting. Did you try any other free anti-virus? (avast for example? ;))
 
arad85 said:
Interesting. Did you try any other free anti-virus? (avast for example? ;))
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As neil_g says they now all detect it. Although I did get one business hit this week, a PC got infected and managed to encrypt all the 30,000+ office/pdf files on the shared drive on the server. The PC had Sophos, looks like something had knocked that out a few days before the infection hit.
Recovered the server from the previous evenings backup, most of the files on the PC I got back using shadowexplorer.
 
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