What's a good free AV?

[residentj]

That doesn't mess around with your pc too much and doesn't use too much resources.

[Rish_zn]

Hi, and welcome to the forums, there are numerous posts which is a good free antivirus. Just use the search feature. I personally prefer AVG antivirus, there are others which are good as well, like avira and avast, try them and see which one suits you best.

[WiK1d]

Avira AntiVir is quite awesome

[DAE_JA_VOO]

Avira AntiVir is quite awesome

+1

[Screeper]

Avira AntiVir is quite awesome

+1

I agree but lately their update servers have been REALLY slow.

[Stuart]

I'll put in a plug for Avast if you're looking for free.

[hamin_aus]

I'll put in a plug for Avast if you're looking for free.

Ditto that.

[Stuart]

I'll put in a plug for Avast if you're looking for free.

Ditto that.

I change my mind.

[RiaX]

Avira Antivir ... its teh imbaness AV
Avast not so much cause its got pwned by my university lan viruses and there viruses on those networks are like things you pick up in a brothel same with AVG

[ryanrich]

Avira is good but has annoying advertising and updates are slow. I've been using Avast! for quite a few months now and am quite happy with it.

[WoolyBadBaba]

Er, guys, how is NOD32?
I know it's not free, but I got tired of Norton slowing my system down. Would rather pay for something worth it.

[Frozenfireside]

NOD32 is really really good and yes, Norton is teh suck.

[chowzen]

i use nod32, i can tell you that it is awesome in my op..but, at the end of the day, you get what you pay for, so these free av are just that.but never trust old norton, those guys prob create the viruses when their sales go down a notch

[Screeper]

Nod32

[Frozenfireside]

but never trust old norton, those guys prob create the viruses when their sales go down a notch

It really wouldn't surprise me if that was true.
My biggest problem with Norton is how ineffective it is. I just sit there shouting at it when it can't even mend an old,basic trojan

[chowzen]

no doubt..norton does suck, but you can still buy it for a ridiculous price...ive seen some for over 700..wtf..that is a mega rip-off!!! i got nod32 1 year for like 235 i think..and the updates are fast and up to date, if you do get something that nod cant fix, it sends it off the hq where they send you a patch or fix within 4 hours..that is service...and norton makes your pc crawl and quiver..i vote ban norton!!

[lancelot]

Go and have a look here!

AVcompare

[chowzen]

thats interesting..although, are all those findings on the free-ware version or the full(paid-for)version..i believe that there is a difference.

[lancelot]

There is indeed a difference, however it gives you a good idea of which of them is reasonable. The main difference is in the default settings. I use Avast at home and Norton AV at the office, not the full Norton, only AV.

[chowzen]

hmmm..interesting, but then wouldnt it be true to say that the free versions are less better than the full paid-for versions..and then if that is true, then you must look at the prices...i got nod32, 240 bucks, i can get norton, 800 bucks, i can get bitdefender, 500 bucks....i have no prob with avg, used it for a long time, but it didnt catch enough of the virusses, used bit defender, but it wasnt compatible with my lenovo laptop..something about tthe security chip and bitdefender trying to scan it all the time just didnt mix...o well

[hamin_aus]

AVG update cripples some Windows XP systems

On Tuesday an update for AVG 8 suggested that a Windows system file is a Trojan horse, and users who delete the file form the system could leave their Windows XP systems endlessly rebooting or unable to reboot at all. The problem only affects users of AVG 8 products running the Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish language versions of Windows XP. AVG immediately sent out a corrected update to its customers, including those using the free editions of AVG.

A representative for AVG said, "AVG is actively working to remedy the problem some users are experiencing related to the most recent update to commercial and free versions of AVG 7.5 and AVG 8.0 in some languages. A number of users who installed the update mistakenly received a warning that the Windows system file user32.dll product version 5.1.2600.3099 was infected with a Trojan virus and were prompted to delete a file essential to the operation of Windows XP."

In response, the Czech antivirus company has posted details and a fix tool on its site.

For users unable to use their Windows XP machines, AVG says they "should contact their AVG reseller or ask a friend to download the information and fix tool for them."

AVG has suffered some embarrassing glitches of late. Last month, an AVG update declared some ZoneAlarm firewall files to be part of a Trojan horse. In July AVG had to reconfigure its Linkscanner tool after various Web sites complained about the increased traffic as a result of the tool's proactive scanning for malware.

[chowzen]

yataa!!that a blow to avg...interesting.....

[rustypup]

that a blow to avg...interesting.....

avg has always been sub-standard... how is this a "blow"?

[Stuart]

that a blow to avg...interesting.....

avg has always been sub-standard... how is this a "blow"?

Are you comparing my butter knife to AVG? How dare you!

[rustypup]

Are you comparing my butter knife to AVG?

given that your butterknife is more infectious than the average plague rat... it's a pretty good comparison