Top free antivirus

[mushroomx]

After reading the sticky thread, it seems that antivir is the best free antivirus, i just wanted more opinions because it also seems to be the least popular of the 3 (avast + avg). Do you guys think it is the best and what free firewall would you recommend?

 

[Schadenfroh]

(Note: the bulk is mostly just copy / pasted from other threads)

Kaspersky Internet Security (3 user license) is currently FREE after MiR (one rebate is a "competitive upgrade" rebate)

• Install the free trial while you wait, all you have to do is enter the license key in when it arrives to activate your subscription, no reinstall
• one of the highest (if not the highest) detection rates in the industry, see the tests for yourself.
• hourly updates
• Bundled firewall (which works quite well)
• minimal ram use
• Supports XP & Vista 64-bit editions (32 as well)
• Internet Security is modular, install only features that you want
• Some users experience a slowdown when browsing on certain systems, read more about it and solutions here, I highly suggest that you install the trial to see if you are in the minority who experience this problem
• KASPERSKY INTERNET SECURITY 7.0 (3 USER) | FREE after MiR

Alternatively, there is AntiVir Personal Edition Classic.....


AntiVir Free Edition

• ~10mb memory use with real-time protection enabled,
• A high detection rate (comparable to Kaspersky)
• AntiVir Personal Classic is free to home users (Antivir, according to detection rate tests, has a much higher detection rate than any of the other free (to home users) antivirus products, surpassing CLAM, AVG Free Edition, and aVast)
• AntiVirus Detection Rate Test Thread
• Instructions on how to disable AntiVir's Popup

While AntiVir has excellent real-time protection, it does lack pop3 scanning. If anything tries to execute, the real-time protection will "probably" catch it (assuming the realtime protection is running & configured properly & the main program can detect it).

A limited user account and a properly updated system (check for various program updates with Secunia) can go a long way in preventing exploits from hitting you.

You can have the full protection of AntiVir Personal Premium Edition (including the pop3 email scanning) of one of the best antivirus products in the industry for less than $30.

 

[lxskllr]

I use Antivir and Windows firewall.

 

[PowerRanger]

I've switched to Comodo firewall recently. Used to use ZoneAlarm.

 

[mechBgon]

Whatever you use, scour its Settings/Configuration panels for optional features that you might want to enable. In the case of Kaspersky, enabling the heuristics on all the detection modules would be a good idea IMHO. In the case of AntiVir, I'd set the heuristics to maximum at the risk of more false positives, since their heuristics appear to be one of their strongest suits.

Also look for optional types of detections (spyware, adware, dialers, riskware, potentially-unwanted programs, bread mold, poisonous mushrooms, and nasty girls you shouldn't go out with) and enable them.

 

[kreactor]

avg + nod32

hitman pro 2 (malware)

 

[lusher]

I <b> Highly recommend </b> adding either Threatfire or Comodo Anti-malware to AVG free.

If you are using AntiVir free add Comodo Anti-malware.

 

[uhaulball]

Shaden, or anyone who may be able to help

i tried to disable the popup for the AntiVir, and the website was down. so i searched it and read the cache on google.

these were the directions and i followed every step

1. Boot into Safe Mode (tap F8 repeatedly after you restart the computer)
2. Log in using the Administrator account
3. Go to C:\Program Files\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avnotify.exe
4. Right-click avnotify.exe-> properties-> security-> advanced
5. Under the Permissions folder you will see all of the users. Start with the first user?.
6. Edit-> Traverse Folder / Execute File-> deny-> ok
7. Now perform step 6 for all of the other users-> apply-> yes/ok-> close all open windows
8. Reboot the computer into Normal Mode (start-> shutdown-> restart)

yet, when i restarted, the popup was still there. once again im positive i followed all steps and applied and pressed ok.

Any help to remove the popup?

 

[Schadenfroh]

Which OS?

 

[uhaulball]

Im using windows xp home service pack 2

 

[Schadenfroh]

Sorry man, I do not know how to disable it on XP home. If it was PRO, I would be able help you. Forum member John wrote those instructions in the first place, perhaps PM him?

 

[cubby1223]

I've always been very satisfied with AVG's balance of performance, usability, and good security. Load up on both their free anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Or the combined anti-malware package isn't that expensive to buy.