Best free anti-virus software

An Fear Aniar

My 60 day trial of Norton will come to an end soon so I was wondering if there were any really good free replacments out there I can download.

It's for a Sony Vaoi laptop - just for home use, not business.


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keen

AVG Free edition is good,
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/downloads-products/us/frt/0?prd=aff

Boots09

Avast is also a good free anti-virus.

dulpit

Another vote for Avast! (linky)

Although AVG is as good really (from what i've seen at least...) Just make sure you get rid of Norton fully, you'll definitely notice a speed increase on your computer...

irlrobins

Moved from comp/tech

An Fear Aniar

Thanks everybody, I'll give Avast a lash then!



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domania

Yet again another for Avast. Have a look at this comparision site for Antivirus products.

http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse/report16.pdf

Avast is less intrusive than AVG. I've uninstalled AVG from a few systems and replaced with Avast and people that have it are much happier with the performance.

Gadgetman496

You should download the Norton Removal tool too. It will remove it properly. I f you only uninstall it via Add Remove programs or even its own installer it won't be fully removed.

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cjmcork

I'd just uploaded AVG onto my laptop before checking this site! bummer - I had mcafee on the new laptop but had connectivity issues - Eircom told me to remove it cos it was stopping me from connecting to the wireless........does this sound right? I'm going to take that other software now and download it

Gadgetman496

domania wrote: »

Yet again another for Avast. Have a look at this comparision site for Antivirus products.

http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse/report16.pdf

Avast is less intrusive than AVG. I've uninstalled AVG from a few systems and replaced with Avast and people that have it are much happier with the performance.

Looking at the bar chart on that link domania, It shows AViRA way out in front. AVIRA do have a free Antivirus don't they? so why AVAST? is it because of the less demands on the system aspect? have you kind of settled on the middle ground?

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domania

I thought that too until I read the full report.

Because of Avira's huge amount of false negatives it scores poorly overall. According to this crowd, false negatives can be as much of a problem as a real virus so it only got a standard rating over all. They are saying it is easier to score highly if you flag almost everything as a virus. So until the clean that up there is no point in installing it.

Gadgetman496

I've been using the bought version of AVG Internet Security v7.5 for over a year now & found it very good.

I asked Grisoft a question about AVG v8 yesterday & in the reply email they gave me a link to the full version of v8 along with a new key for the remainder of my licence term (7 months)

I installed it last night & at first glance I have to say it looks quite good too.

They are definitely ceasing support for v7.5 at the end of 2008 but there was no mention good or bad in relation to the free version of AVG.

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plonk

Avast ftw

greatgoal

outpost security suite is also excellent..light on resources also.

Gavin "shels"

Avira I feel slowed my computer down.

TiGeR KiNgS

Gavin shels wrote: »

Avira I feel slowed my computer down.

yep i agree with you gavin, im running Avira at the moment and it is quite intrusive. It doesnt seem to have the background scan capibility that Avast/AVG have. The background scan is slower but so what if you don't really notice it.
BTW Both other free anti virus have the choice of both normal (faster) and slower background scanner.
I have to also add that it doesnt mean Avira is in anyway a bad anti-virus program. Best way is to test out each program over a few weeks/months see what you like and don't like