Free WinXP Anti-Virus Program Recommendations

[Golgatha]

I'd like something free I can install on a WinXP VM. Since Security Essentials is going off support in April for XP, I'd like to know what is currently the best free alternative.

 

[nemesismk2]

Do you need just the AV or Firewall or Both?

 

[MustISO]

I would suggest Avast or Avira. I use Avast on any system that doesn't have paid AV.

 

[JackMDS]

IMHO the best combination is:

Replace the native Firewall with this - Kerio 2.15 (scroll a little down on this page) http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/page7.html

And Avira - http://www.avira.com/en/avira-free-antivirus

 

[bruceb]

I use Avast Free and it works fine. Avira is also good, but about 2 years ago the program had a memory leak problem. I think that has been resolved, but I have not tried that program again. Both of these rate fairly well for free and low system resource antivirus.

 

[PliotronX]

I would suggest Avast or Avira. I use Avast on any system that doesn't have paid AV.

Good choices, although last I knew Avast is chatty about upgrading to paid versions and required re-registering (free key via e-mail) annually which is annoying. Also the Avira free version downloads the entire program size in order to update instead of just the definition package and their servers were pretty slow in Germany. Comodo Internet Security is another of my favorite freebies.

 

[Mem]

Good choices, although last I knew Avast is chatty about upgrading to paid versions and required re-registering (free key via e-mail) annually which is annoying. Also the Avira free version downloads the entire program size in order to update instead of just the definition package and their servers were pretty slow in Germany. Comodo Internet Security is another of my favorite freebies.

Avast 2014 free is a good free AV,you can customise a lot of settings,Panda Cloud is also lightweight, pretty good as well.

 

[Golgatha]

Do you need just the AV or Firewall or Both?

Just AV, I have a hardware firewall.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

FYI they are extending it

http://arstechnica.com/information-...tials-for-windows-xp-gets-a-15-month-reprieve

 

[Golgatha]

FYI they are extending it

http://arstechnica.com/information-...tials-for-windows-xp-gets-a-15-month-reprieve

Yeah, saw that today. Guess I'll worry about it in 15 months.

 

[ViRGE]

FYI they are extending it

http://arstechnica.com/information-...tials-for-windows-xp-gets-a-15-month-reprieve

But not patches for the OS itself. Which makes very little sense. It's still DOA as of April 8th, so I'm not sure what purpose extending support for MSE provides.

 

[nemesismk2]

But not patches for the OS itself. Which makes very little sense. It's still DOA as of April 8th, so I'm not sure what purpose extending support for MSE provides.

Microsoft have been very odd recently

 

[bill5]

I've used AVG and Avast, happy with both

 

[nemesismk2]

I've used AVG and Avast, happy with both

I am using AVG but will soon be using Kaspersky 2014 Internet Security for Windows XP. Yes i still have a few Windows XP Computers which i have not updated to ubuntu 12.04 yet.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

My guess is this -

Maybe if in the case you absolutely have to keep XP or cannot upgrade, at least you will have up to date virus defs? It is a bit more security I guess?
Maybe they will release a statement about it.

But not patches for the OS itself. Which makes very little sense. It's still DOA as of April 8th, so I'm not sure what purpose extending support for MSE provides.

 

[nemesismk2]

My guess is this -

Maybe if in the case you absolutely have to keep XP or cannot upgrade, at least you will have up to date virus defs? It is a bit more security I guess?
Maybe they will release a statement about it.

I hope Microsoft release more info about it too.

 

[XiandreX]

I have used both Avira and Avast and found personally that Avast seems to be slightly nicer. However don't rely on just the AV. I assume you have SpyBot search and destroy and malwarebytes?

 

[escrow4]

XP is a physically decrepit and insecure OS from the guts of the kernel up. Patching antimalware on it is pointless when its foundations are so laughably insecure.

 

[John Connor]

If your running a good anti-virus and firewall and have common sense browsing I don't see why an unpatched OS is a bad thing. I NEVER patched my XP and never got a virus.

I've been using Windows 7 without patches and SP1 for a while now and no malware. I use Bitdefender free, Comodo Firewall, scan with Hitman Pro, TDSSKiller, Malwarebytes, Hijackthis, Sophos Virus Removal Tool, adwcleaner and rkill. Oh! I run Spybot search and destroy. I run Firefox with the add-on Noscrip along with a host of other crap. No malware!

 

[nemesismk2]

I have decided to return one of my pcs back to a windows xp professional computer so i will be using Kaspersky Internet Security 2014 and Firefox.

 

[PliotronX]

I have decided to return one of my pcs back to a windows xp professional computer so i will be using Kaspersky Internet Security 2014 and Firefox.

 

[nemesismk2]

I have a brand new copy of windows xp professional with sp3 so will probably use this at some point. I have retired all of my ubuntu pcs because i was just not using them.