best free anti virus,

sEnAtE · Post by **sEnAtE** » 07 Jun 2004, 20:57

howzit,i wanna know whats the best free anti virus,i got dled mcaffee but it dont run in the background,it only search for virus when i want to,i think my firewall is pretty good,sygate one,thx

the_nominator · Post by **the_nominator** » 07 Jun 2004, 21:09

The new PCFormat had a hugmoungous article on viruses and stuff
And there are tons of programs on the cover disk

sEnAtE · Post by **sEnAtE** » 07 Jun 2004, 21:24

shot man,but i dont buy the pc format,toooo expensive and little reviews,

the_nominator · Post by **the_nominator** » 07 Jun 2004, 21:41

Well get it this time has 20 security programs

Dom · Post by **Dom** » 07 Jun 2004, 22:58

Hey senate

The best free AV as far as I'm concerned is Avast. I used that before I got NOD32, and it was pretty good at catching viruses, plus unlike that 'lite' McAffee you have, Avast has a full real-time scanner plus email protection too. Best of all, it takes up far fewer resources than McAffee (so your PC should run better.)

It's free for personal use, and so isn't a 'trial-version' thing like many AV companies offer. It updates itself automatically, and did I mention that it's the best free AV out there?

sEnAtE · Post by **sEnAtE** » 08 Jun 2004, 20:17

shot dom,il get myself avast then,

Graham1 · Post by **Graham1** » 08 Jun 2004, 22:14

Try AVG 6.0. I've used it for about a year. Its reliable and effective with regular virus pattern file updates.

Post by **wit_skapie** » 09 Jun 2004, 07:34

I recently did some research on this, i'd definitely say go for AVG or Avast!, here another thread with this on:

http://www.pcformat.co.za/modules.php?n ... a6344e26b7

And you can also "skin" avast! if you're into that sort of thing...

Post by **wit_skapie** » 09 Jun 2004, 07:35

Here's a link that Thrall posted:

http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/archives/products.xml

It compares av products.

Post by **Y0da** » 09 Jun 2004, 08:03

sEnAtE wrote:shot man,but i dont buy the pc format,toooo expensive and little reviews,

Cheapskate.

jee · Post by **jee** » 09 Jun 2004, 08:12

Just a little on the free AVG... like with all the free products that have a full product... its NOT totally secure.. Been using AVG free for a long time, had some problems, ran BitDefender and was aghast at what it picked up.... *sigh*

Post by **wit_skapie** » 09 Jun 2004, 08:28

jee wrote:Just a little on the free AVG... like with all the free products that have a full product... its NOT totally secure.. Been using AVG free for a long time, had some problems, ran BitDefender and was aghast at what it picked up.... *sigh*

hehe.... it's from all the dodgy sites that you surf

lancelot · Post by **lancelot** » 09 Jun 2004, 08:44

sEnAtE wrote:
shot man,but i dont buy the pc format,toooo expensive and little reviews,

Cheapscate.

That's "Cheapskate" but I agree!

Dazzler · Post by **Dazzler** » 09 Jun 2004, 08:49

shot man,but i dont buy the pc format,toooo expensive and little reviews,

I can see why you want a free anti-virus.

By the way, how did you pay for your PC? Or did you "get" a "free" Pentium 166 MMX?

Do you live in a subway? If so, how do you power your "pc"?

"Airquotes" "ARE" "uselesee"

Spabel · Post by **Spabel** » 09 Jun 2004, 11:56

how is everyone in such a foul mood lately?

everyone is flaming / dissing / got something to say 'bout everyone elses opinion.

grow up guys.

SquattingDog · Post by **SquattingDog** » 09 Jun 2004, 12:02

Spabel wrote:how is everyone in such a foul mood lately?

everyone is flaming / dissing / got something to say 'bout everyone elses opinion.

grow up guys.

GO EAT CHEESE

kailinin · Post by **kailinin** » 09 Jun 2004, 12:04

but the cheese went mouldy.

Post by **Y0da** » 09 Jun 2004, 12:13

Spabel wrote:how is everyone in such a foul mood lately?

everyone is flaming / dissing / got something to say 'bout everyone elses opinion.

grow up guys.

Don't be so sensitive Spabel. Relax, it's all in good humour.

Post by **wit_skapie** » 09 Jun 2004, 13:29

Hey Y0da you've passed 1000 posts!

Congrats

RuadRauFlessa · Post by **RuadRauFlessa** » 09 Jun 2004, 13:33

wit_skapie wrote:Hey Y0da you've passed 1000 posts!

Congrats

Congrats pal hope you beet me soon

Dr_Jung · Post by **Dr_Jung** » 09 Jun 2004, 16:15

Spabel, it is known as Existential Fear, but as the others say I don't think anybody was flaming, it was just a joke about the cheapskate who does not buy PCFormat!

bb_matt · Post by **bb_matt** » 09 Jun 2004, 18:17

PC Format is about the same price as a big block of smelly CHEESE !

Therefore, if you can eat Cheese and worship it (without worrying about false Idols or other reality pop game shows), then it stands to reason you can also buy PC Format !

jee · Post by **jee** » 09 Jun 2004, 20:35

wit_skapie wrote:
jee wrote:Just a little on the free AVG... like with all the free products that have a full product... its NOT totally secure.. Been using AVG free for a long time, had some problems, ran BitDefender and was aghast at what it picked up.... *sigh*
hehe.... it's from all the dodgy sites that you surf

Don't joke.... I go all sorts of places in search for all kinds of things that my patrons are looking for... and sometimes my logs terrify even me... you are very innocently and seriously searching for something, and the next minute your browser is taken over... I was taken into a porn site this morning while searching for a quote on being honest

now hows that ....

Dom · Post by **Dom** » 09 Jun 2004, 23:09

You should really give Avast! a try jee... as I said, it is (from my experience) probably the best free AV out there. I had AVG for a while back in the day, and I wasn't very happy with it. With AVG's update system, you have to schedule when you want it to search for updates. If your PC isn't online at the scheduled time or whatever, then it obviously won't go and look (it should at least try again, at the next oppurtunity, automatically). Avast! automatically goes and looks, whenever it detects that you're connected to the net.

Another problem I had with AVG is that anywhere up to a week could pass without a new update being released. With Avast! there's never more than 3-4 days between updates.

xistenz · Post by **xistenz** » 01 Jun 2005, 18:15

You should really give Avast! a try jee... as I said, it is (from my experience) probably the best free AV out there. I had AVG for a while back in the day, and I wasn't very happy with it. With AVG's update system, you have to schedule when you want it to search for updates. If your PC isn't online at the scheduled time or whatever, then it obviously won't go and look (it should at least try again, at the next oppurtunity, automatically). Avast! automatically goes and looks, whenever it detects that you're connected to the net.

Another problem I had with AVG is that anywhere up to a week could pass without a new update being released. With Avast! there's never more than 3-4 days between updates.

... and avast! always scores higher on av comparison tests (http://www.av-comparatives.org) compared to AVG.

... and avast! blocks network worms (sasser, blaster etc) from infecting your computer as well!