Best free anti-virus software, help me choose

[usregimechange]

After getting a nasty bug I saved my files and wipped out my hardrive. Apparently my last anti-visus software didn't do so well. What do you recommend?

PS: I don't like to spend money on such things. :hi:

[tXr]

1. Here are several good free antivirus programs:

Avast

Avira AntiVir

AVG

Panda Cloud Antivirus

I have used all of these programs with excellent results and never have had a computer become infected while using any of them.

[usregimechange]

3. which would you use on your pc if you had to choose one?

[tXr]

9. I would use Avast.

Of the ones I linked to I liked Avast best. It isn't a memory hog and updates frequently.

[Lionel Mandrake]

14. Avira can be very annoying.

When I first installed Avira on my WinTel machine, a window would frequently pop up to "remind" me that I could upgrade for a nominal fee. It took me a while to get rid of those "reminders".

[Archae]

2. AVG (linked above) has the fewest bugs.

[usregimechange]

4. That's what I used last time, always have used it but considering something else

[orion007]

5. Avast,... using it for 2 yrs. on my PC, no problems n/t

[PfcHammer]

6. avast!

plus malwarebytes, and install the hosts file from http://hostsfile.mine.nu /. I use ComboFix for infections.

[usregimechange]

7. Think I will try avast this time

[BlueJazz]

8. Microsoft Security Essentials. Anti-Virus, Anti-malware, Antispyware and it's free.

http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

[Babel_17]

20. Agreed (nt)

[onestepforward]

21. +1 n/t

[pokerfan]

10. You need more than just anti-virus if you're running Windows

You also need a good anti-malware program. (You also need a good firewall but that's another topic.)

Malwarebytes is good: http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html

One of my Windows using friends got infected with Antivirus Live and Malwarebytes was the only thing that removed it.

[JBoy]

11. Avast. and Malwarebytes.

[jmowreader]

12. Best free antivirus? Ubuntu.

If you want to stay safe from the fifteen million Windows viruses, the easiest way is to just not run Windows.

[TreasonousBastard]

17. But then you've got the biggest virus of all...

because half the shit you used to do on the computer you can't do any more. You can, however, play around with the operating system for hours a day, typing obscure commands and searching for drivers.

Except for a couple of programmers, every Linux geek I know uses a Windows box when real work has to be done.

(BTW, when I installed Kubuntu on a spare machine last year, I uninstalled it after discovering it that not only didn't it allow the higher screen resolutions I got in Windows, but it was the only OS in the universe that doesn't like AbiWord.)

[MicaelS]

19. Right....

When a Linux distro has a GUI as good as Windows, I'll change. Until then any Linux is for tweakers.

[Wapsie B]

13. I know it's only free for the month trial but I'm starting to understand why Kaspersky has a loyal

following. Just did a scan and there is NO malware on my machine. Even with AVG and Avira I had the malware, but not with Kaspersky.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

15. I've been using AVG.

I have a friend who sells computers and offers onsite "help desk" maintenance. He routinely restores crap-infested computers, and installs AVG as well as Advanced SystemCare (available in free and paid versions).

I'm pretty tech savvy...I used to use ZoneAlarm Security Suite, but in the Great Recession of 2009, let my subscription expire, uninstalled it, relied on the firewall in my router (which passes EVERY firewall "stress test") and relied on free AVG and Advanced SystemCare for virus / spyware control.

[NoFace]

16. Malware Bytes for me...nt

[dysfunctional press]

18. avast! is the way to go.

no fuss, no muss.

[Blue_In_AK]

22. AVG has worked well for me. n/t