What's the best free Anti-virus?

[techs]

I have been looking for a good free antivirus for Windows XP. I am looking for real time antivirus protection, scheduled scans and pop3 protection.
I only want antivirus protection, not a whole suite that includes a firewall or antispam filter, etc.
I used to use AVG but I was wondering if perhaps Antivir or Bitdefender was better.
Does anyone have any experience with these programs and can give a recommendation?
Thanks!

 

[mechBgon]

AOL Kaspersky is the best of the free-for-home-users antiviruses. Don't install the optional security toolbar they bundle with it (you'll see the checkbox during installation).

 

[Lemon law]

Don't forget avast---which usually noses out avg on most ratings---but lots of learned debate about AV's--on places like spyware warriors, castle cops, or wilders security But no
one product can even come close to having all the definitions---and the heuristics and false positives vary also---which is why doing some on line scans have some value also.
Fsecure, panda, mcafee, trend micro, and others offer them free.

 

[amdskip]

I've been using AOL Kaspersky with great success.

 

[Blazer]

AOL, i just hate that word.

 

[Slickone]

When I tried Kaspersky (trial?) last year it changed something on my files (maybe only text files?) so that any time I tried to move them, it gave me some sort of annoying message. Does it still do that?

 

[corkyg]

Kaspersky also gave me some problems - probably their association with AOL. I like AVG 7.5.430 - it works and is fast - doesn't slow boot time down. Anyway, it is only a second tier defense - first line is my ISP. So far, in three years, nothing has gotten through them.

 

[John]

This thread will probably end up just like the ones that ask for the Best anti-virus software since people reply with what they are currently using because they feel that it's the best.

Another Best Antivirus: With Results << Make note of the software ranked #1 & #2 with identical scores

Free Kaspersky Antivirus from AOL FTW! :wine:

 

[Lemon law]

As someone who regularly checks consensus opinions and tests of various anti-malware products---I can state that Kaspersky enjoys a very good reputation---partly because they update faster than everyone else in the business---which reduces the unpatched gap---the time between a virus first being detected in the wild and the time your computer receives a signature file telling it that its very bad malware to be rejected---but during that gap time--everyone is vulnerable.

But one also can't rely on just rejection rates--which will also be based on heuristics---because one way to achieve 100% is to reject everything---good or bad coming in. Other things to be looked at in a AV product is what does it actively check for or not check for?---does it do E-mail for example.---and some don't.

The other thing to remember in the fight against malware is that its a never ending battle-- one side is a set fighting to get it on your computer for fun and profit---and we are on the other side fighting to keep it off---and as our defenses get better their offensive strategies get better also---and yesterdays excellent tactics may not be today's best strategy because the bad guys are always at least a step ahead and getting more nasty---and I find---time after time---that the so called experts are always ready to try new products and strategies.---but they often have test bed sacrificial computers to try it on first.

But this thread will prompt me to take a closer look at bit-defender and Kaspersky.---I already changed my process control program a few weeks ago.---but I will say---following the common sense ideas in something like John's guide will go a very long way to making your computers much safer.---with a AV program being just one layer in what should be a multi-layered defense.

 

[mechBgon]

Speaking of arbitary rejection strategy, when I go hunting for live malware (and the rest of the time, too), I use a Limited account combined with a disallowed-by-defaut Software Restriction Policy. I could download nice fresh undetected Trojans and double-click them all day long, and nothing will happen because the SRP won't let me execute stuff from anywhere that I can save them to when I'm in my Limited account. Gotcha! :evil:

SRP is not available on WinXP Home Edition, so it's not for everyone. Even without it, a Limited account may be worth looking into. If anyone's interested in setting up a SRP and needs explicit instructions, PM me and I think I have a screencapture demo movie I can email to you.

 

[SeTeS]

I've been using AVG for years and am very pleased with it. No probs whatsoever. Of course, I'm also not the type of person who would click a "YOUR COMPUTER MAY BE INFECTED WITH THE Gullible.User VIRUS - CLICK HERE TO REPAIR IT" popup. :/

 

[TechHead87]

Originally posted by: SeTeS
I've been using AVG for years and am very pleased with it. No probs whatsoever. Of course, I'm also not the type of person who would click a "YOUR COMPUTER MAY BE INFECTED WITH THE Gullible.User VIRUS - CLICK HERE TO REPAIR IT" popup. :/

Fully agreed!

Remember, the best free anti-virus is THE USER. That means YOU. If you dont use your computer in a risky behavior (this means [and is not limited to] surfing porn sites, clicking pop-ups, opening strange links in unknown emails, NOT using a firewall 24/7, heavily using peer-to-peer software, downloading software which hasn't been researched and found as "safe", etc, etc), you shouldn't have to worry about getting a bunch of worms.

 

[bjp999]

I agree that AVG is good. When I switched from Norton about a year ago, I was annoyed at how much of the computer's horsepower Norton was using. I was looking for something that was quick. Living behind a firewall and staying away from fringe web sites, I have VERY rarely had an infected file. AVG fits the bill - no complaints.

 

[Schadenfroh]

See my sig

 

[John]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
See my sig

I see it, now what do I do with it.

 

[bjp999]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
See my sig

Very nice! Thanks!

 

[Pardus]

there is no real answer here, the best antivirus is one that works best for you. they all have different features, both good and bad. download a trial of any mentioned here, if you don't like it, try something else.

reviews and here

 

[Lemon law]

I somewhat agree with the idea that no anti virus is perfect---and that the answer will be--at any given time---will they cure what ails you at the given time?---or better yet catch the rascal before it installs. But other variables also intrude---while bit defender free may have a great detection rate---when its not active in the free version---and does not automatically scan emails as they download---its not worth considering in MHO.

But there are some fairly reliable rating of free and paid AV products---and most rate Avast free slightly above free AVG---but in terms of a paid subscription---most rate Kaspersly at the top---but my jury is still out on how readily one should ditch what they have for the free version of Kaspersky. But still one can use a variety of free on line scans to hedge their bets, and post a hijack this log of their system for added assurance.

And please regard an AV as only one of many layers of defenses everyone should have.

 

[QueBert]

the free Bit Defender doesn't do real time scanning, so I installed it and run it once in awhile to make sure Anti-Vir isn't missing anything. Since it doesn't do real time, it won't conflict with your real time, well I do disable Anti-Vir the times I run Bit Defender. And as a few have said you have Housecall and other free web based scanners you can use.

I use to be 100% Avast, but when I found Anti-Vir I really liked it, hasn't let me down in the year I've been running it.

 

[John]

Antivir has a really large and annoying popup/nag screen when it updates. If you want to disable it here's one way to do it.

1) Boot into safe mode
2) Log in as "Administrator"
3) Go to C:\Program Files\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avnotify.exe right click on it in explorer go to properties->security->Advanced-> edit then select the option to not let it execute for all users.

Reboot into regular windows and you are good to go.