Free antivirus software recommendation

[Guest John]

I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP

SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or

Avast.

Could anyone assist with a recommendation please.

[Guest PD43]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

"John" <John@nospam.com> wrote:

>I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP

>SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or

>Avast.

>Could anyone assist with a recommendation please.

>

You will find people who have one or the other as favorites and people

who will tell you one or the other should be avoided.

 

It would be best for you to try them all and see which you like best.

[Guest solidsnake204]

RE: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

"John" wrote:

> I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP

> SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or

> Avast.

> Could anyone assist with a recommendation please.

>

 

I use AVG and thats great, not as good as a paid anti-virus but is very good

for a free anti-virus.

[Guest Big Al]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

John wrote:

> I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP

> SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or

> Avast.

> Could anyone assist with a recommendation please.

>

>

>

This question could start a war.

What car do you like? Its the same thing. They all move you from

point a to b but some do it better and some have better collision

protection (virus) etc. Some feel better. Some even look better, now

aint that a reason for picking one. And I'm talking about cars and av

software both. So yes, try them out. NOD32 is another one I hear

about. They all pretty much work, and along with being a good boy and

not sticking your nose it sites you shouldn't and don't open those

attachments, any suggestion you get is going to work.

 

I use Avast by the way. I used AVG7 for a while, and it stopped a few

attacks. I never got one! I'm sorta test driving Avast now to see how

it works. But its kinda hard to test unless you know of a place to get

a virus attack.

 

Good luck.

[Guest PD43]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

Big Al <BigAl@nowhere.com> wrote:

>I use Avast by the way. I used AVG7 for a while, and it stopped a few

>attacks. I never got one! I'm sorta test driving Avast now to see how

>it works. But its kinda hard to test unless you know of a place to get

>a virus attack.

 

I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it

updated (almost daily).

 

I'm happy with AVG 8.0.

[Guest Big Al]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

PD43 wrote:

> I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it

> updated (almost daily).

 

Avast or AVG7 did the restarts?

[Guest PD43]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

Big Al <BigAl@nowhere.com> wrote:

>> I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it

>> updated (almost daily).

>

>Avast or AVG7 did the restarts?

 

Avast. Kept it for about two weeks then went back to AVG7 or 7.5. Am

now using AVG 8.0 and am happy with it. Does WAY more than before,

including that it has a resident malware shield.

[Guest Big Al]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

PD43 wrote:

> Big Al <BigAl@nowhere.com> wrote:

>

>>> I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it

>>> updated (almost daily).

>> Avast or AVG7 did the restarts?

>

> Avast. Kept it for about two weeks then went back to AVG7 or 7.5. Am

> now using AVG 8.0 and am happy with it. Does WAY more than before,

> including that it has a resident malware shield.

 

See, now that's probably like these SP3 problems we read about. I

loaded AVG ver 8, as 7.5 kept telling me there was a new version and I

thought.....heck I like new stuff why not. I'd had 7.5 for years. I'm

a glutton for punishment. So I put it in. Boy did it find threats,

and I thought it slowed the PC down. Old programs that were good were

now threats. I even told my buddies about it and one other had the same

story. So we both dropped it and moved back to 7.5.

Now I'm on avast with no apparent reboots like you had. I get a little

popup and voice saying it has updated the definitions. I gotta look at

the settings and turn that off. It always pops up at the wrong spot in

my tv show. I miss why Mike wanted to kill Bob or something. :-)

 

So just like SP3, Mixed results. Odd how things do that. And I just

reloaded this machine May 1, so its clean and I've not had the time to

muck it up with junk yet.

 

Good hearing your history though, gives me some encouragement to maybe

try 8.0 again. I used 7.5 for years and have it on all 3 PC's, so its

not like I hate it. It catches stuff and does its thing. Oh well,

one more mystery of life to try and solve.

 

As George Burns said: Goodnight Gracie! I've been up all night and its

6am and the insomnia has finally worn off. This lounge chair is

starting to feel good.

[Guest Mark]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

Strange, I never had that problem with Avast.

 

Mark

 

"PD43" <pauld1943@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:ti7824984k8h00iqk167abroe04mis2fk2@4ax.com...

> Big Al <BigAl@nowhere.com> wrote:

>

>>> I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it

>>> updated (almost daily).

>>

>>Avast or AVG7 did the restarts?

>

> Avast. Kept it for about two weeks then went back to AVG7 or 7.5. Am

> now using AVG 8.0 and am happy with it. Does WAY more than before,

> including that it has a resident malware shield.

[Guest PD43]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

Big Al <BigAl@nowhere.com> wrote:

>Now I'm on avast with no apparent reboots like you had. I get a little

>popup and voice saying it has updated the definitions. I gotta look at

>the settings and turn that off. It always pops up at the wrong spot in

>my tv show. I miss why Mike wanted to kill Bob or something. :-)

 

I might be remembering the popups, but I'm sure I had reboots.

 

So far AVG 8.0 is great here. I'll keep Avast in the back of my mind

if I have a need for change.

[Guest FredW]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

On Fri, 9 May 2008 15:19:52 +0800, "John" <John@nospam.com> wrote:

>I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP

>SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or

>Avast.

>Could anyone assist with a recommendation please.

 

Avira Antivir:

http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse/summary2007.pdf

 

can be found here:

http://www.free-av.com/antivirus/allinonen.html

http://www.majorgeeks.com/AntiVir_Personal_Edition_8_d955.html

 

--

Fred W. (NL)

[Guest Gerry]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

PD43

 

Is your AVG 8.0 free or paid for? I am believing you cannot get a free

version of AVG 8.0 or a free version of AVG 7.5 for that matter now. The

AVG 7.5 Free is still supported but if you can still get it the download

link is very well hidden. I am still using AVG 7.5 Free but the nagging

pop up for updating to AVG 8 appears on every boot.

 

 

 

~~~~

 

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

PD43 wrote:

> Big Al <BigAl@nowhere.com> wrote:

>

>> Now I'm on avast with no apparent reboots like you had. I get a

>> little popup and voice saying it has updated the definitions. I

>> gotta look at the settings and turn that off. It always pops up at

>> the wrong spot in my tv show. I miss why Mike wanted to kill Bob or

>> something. :-)

>

> I might be remembering the popups, but I'm sure I had reboots.

>

> So far AVG 8.0 is great here. I'll keep Avast in the back of my mind

> if I have a need for change.

[Guest Bob I]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

They are free to use, I think the correct question to ask folks would be

"Is there any reason you would NOT use one of these?"

 

John wrote:

> I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP

> SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or

> Avast.

> Could anyone assist with a recommendation please.

>

>

>

[Guest Daave]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:%23Yd96ycsIHA.3632@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> I am believing you cannot get a free version of AVG 8.0 or a free

> version of AVG 7.5 for that matter now.

 

There is a free version of 8.0 (I'm using it, but I don't like the false

positives):

 

http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe

[Guest PD43]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

"Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote:

>

>Is your AVG 8.0 free or paid for? I am believing you cannot get a free

>version of AVG 8.0 or a free version of AVG 7.5 for that matter now. The

>AVG 7.5 Free is still supported but if you can still get it the download

>link is very well hidden. I am still using AVG 7.5 Free but the nagging

>pop up for updating to AVG 8 appears on every boot.

 

It's free. I clicked the pop up and found it. You can find it if you

try hard enough.

 

Try this link:

 

http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe

[Guest PD43]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

"Daave" <dcwashNOSPAM@myrealboxXYZ.invalid> wrote:

>> I am believing you cannot get a free version of AVG 8.0 or a free

>> version of AVG 7.5 for that matter now.

>

>There is a free version of 8.0 (I'm using it, but I don't like the false

>positives):

>

>http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe

 

My system is/was virus free so I didn't run a scan and don't plan to

in the near future.

[Guest Saucer Man]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

I tried AVG and Antivir. Now I am using Avast and never looked backed.

Avast never asks me to restart UNLESS it is a full program update.

 

 

"PD43" <pauld1943@comcast.net> wrote in message

news:ti7824984k8h00iqk167abroe04mis2fk2@4ax.com...

> Big Al <BigAl@nowhere.com> wrote:

>

>>> I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it

>>> updated (almost daily).

>>

>>Avast or AVG7 did the restarts?

>

> Avast. Kept it for about two weeks then went back to AVG7 or 7.5. Am

> now using AVG 8.0 and am happy with it. Does WAY more than before,

> including that it has a resident malware shield.

>

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

John wrote:

> I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP

> SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or

> Avast.

> Could anyone assist with a recommendation please.

>

>

>

 

 

At this point, it's almost purely a matter of personal preference. Try

them all (one at a time, of course!) to see which _you_ like best.

 

I've used both AVG (on WinXP) and AVAST! (on Vista, mostly because it

was available first), and was perfectly satisfied with each of them.

Some people have said that AVAST!'s interface isn't "user-friendly"

enough for them, but I had no trouble using it. Haven't tried the Avira

product.

 

For a recent comparison of anti-virus products:

 

Retrospective / ProActive Test

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

Help us help you:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

 

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

 

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

 

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has

killed a great many philosophers.

~ Denis Diderot

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

PD43 wrote:

> Big Al <BigAl@nowhere.com> wrote:

>

>> I use Avast by the way. I used AVG7 for a while, and it stopped a few

>> attacks. I never got one! I'm sorta test driving Avast now to see how

>> it works. But its kinda hard to test unless you know of a place to get

>> a virus attack.

>

> I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it

> updated (almost daily).

>

 

That is not typical behavior for AVAST!. Normally, the restarts are

required only when the program itself gets an update, not for the

frequent (yes, almost daily) virus definition updates. There may have

been something wrong with your particular installation, as I've not even

heard anyone else mention this phenomenon.

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

Help us help you:

http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

 

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary

safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

 

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

 

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has

killed a great many philosophers.

~ Denis Diderot

[Guest Gerry]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

Thanks Daave. They do hide these things away.

 

--

Regards.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daave wrote:

> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote in message

> news:%23Yd96ycsIHA.3632@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>

>> I am believing you cannot get a free version of AVG 8.0 or a free

>> version of AVG 7.5 for that matter now.

>

> There is a free version of 8.0 (I'm using it, but I don't like the

> false positives):

>

> http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe

[Guest Gerry]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

PD43

 

Thanks for the link. It was well hidden.

 

--

Regards.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

PD43 wrote:

> "Gerry" <gerry@nospam.com> wrote:

>

>>

>> Is your AVG 8.0 free or paid for? I am believing you cannot get a

>> free version of AVG 8.0 or a free version of AVG 7.5 for that matter

>> now. The AVG 7.5 Free is still supported but if you can still get it

>> the download link is very well hidden. I am still using AVG 7.5 Free

>> but the nagging pop up for updating to AVG 8 appears on every boot.

>

> It's free. I clicked the pop up and found it. You can find it if you

> try hard enough.

>

> Try this link:

>

> http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe

[Guest PD43]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

Bruce Chambers <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote:

> At this point, it's almost purely a matter of personal preference. Try

>them all (one at a time, of course!) to see which _you_ like best.

 

I said that in the first reply to the OP ;-)

[Guest Gerry]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

Saucer Man

 

Avast stops System Restore from working if you need to go back to an

earlier restore point. The Self Defense function does not work in safe

mode. There is also a programme setting whereby this function can be

disabled.

 

--

 

 

 

Hope this helps.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Saucer Man wrote:

> I tried AVG and Antivir. Now I am using Avast and never looked

> backed. Avast never asks me to restart UNLESS it is a full program

> update.

>

> "PD43" <pauld1943@comcast.net> wrote in message

> news:ti7824984k8h00iqk167abroe04mis2fk2@4ax.com...

>> Big Al <BigAl@nowhere.com> wrote:

>>

>>>> I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when

>>>> it updated (almost daily).

>>>

>>> Avast or AVG7 did the restarts?

>>

>> Avast. Kept it for about two weeks then went back to AVG7 or 7.5. Am

>> now using AVG 8.0 and am happy with it. Does WAY more than

>> before, including that it has a resident malware shield.

[Guest PD43]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

Bruce Chambers <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote:

>> updated (almost daily).

>>

>

> That is not typical behavior for AVAST!. Normally, the restarts are

>required only when the program itself gets an update, not for the

>frequent (yes, almost daily) virus definition updates. There may have

>been something wrong with your particular installation, as I've not even

>heard anyone else mention this phenomenon.

 

I gather that. It's a moot point right now because AVG 8.0 is a very

nice collection of protections and is running smoothly on my Vista

machine right now.

 

I might try Avast on my XP notebook.

[Guest Gerry]

Re: Free antivirus software recommendation

 

Bruce

 

One problem with Avast.

 

Avast stops System Restore from working if you need to go back to an

earlier restore point. The Self Defense function does not work in safe

mode. There is also a programme setting whereby this function can be

disabled. I have read Avast are working on this.

 

 

--

Regards.

 

Gerry

~~~~

FCA

Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Bruce Chambers wrote:

> John wrote:

>> I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my

>> Windows XP SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG,

>> Avira Antivir or Avast.

>> Could anyone assist with a recommendation please.

>>

>>

>>

>

>

> At this point, it's almost purely a matter of personal preference. Try

> them all (one at a time, of course!) to see which _you_ like best.

>

> I've used both AVG (on WinXP) and AVAST! (on Vista, mostly because it

> was available first), and was perfectly satisfied with each of them.

> Some people have said that AVAST!'s interface isn't "user-friendly"

> enough for them, but I had no trouble using it. Haven't tried the

> Avira product.

>

> For a recent comparison of anti-virus products:

>

> Retrospective / ProActive Test

> http://www.av-comparatives.org/