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Best Free AV for WinXP laptop

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  • 06-04-2014 8:52pm
    #1
    phog
    Registered Users Posts: 23,750 ✭✭✭✭


    My laptop is old at this stage but I would like to manage away with until next year if I can and then upgrade/

    It uses Windows XP and I currently use MS Essentials as my AV but both are out of support in the next few days.

    What are my best free/cheap options?


Comments

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    #2
    PropJoe10
    Registered Users Posts: 5,251 ✭✭✭PropJoe10


    Avast is the best free antivirus I've used, AVG also good. Just make sure you go into settings in Avast once you've installed it and put it into silent/gaming mode. Otherwise the Avast popups will drive you mental! Good product though.


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    #3
    SamAK
    Registered Users Posts: 1,094 ✭✭✭SamAK


    AVG works fine for me.

    I also periodically scan with Malwarebytes - https://www.malwarebytes.org/

    and clean out browser cache/history/recycle bin with CCleaner - https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

    I''ve used this combination for years on many different systems and it's never failed.

    CCleaner isn't AV. Like the name suggests it cleans, and does make quite a difference on slower machines. After two weeks of laptop use I usually delete about 1GB of crap like website cookies, temporary internet files and browser history. I highly recommend running it at least once. Also has a program uninstall feature and a list of start-up programs so you can choose what runs when you turn the computer on. May help drastically improve boot times! It also securely deletes stuff from recycle bin, and you can set it to do multiple runs for a thorough deep clean!

    Malwarebytes regularly detects and deletes things that AVG doesn't detect, and vice versa. So I'm quite content using them both in rotation!


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    #4
    phog
    Registered Users Posts: 23,750 ✭✭✭✭phog


    Thanks for your replies.

    Another question - should I just disable ( switch off MSE) or delete the programme?


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    #5
    PropJoe10
    Registered Users Posts: 5,251 ✭✭✭PropJoe10


    Yeah, never use two antivirus programs on the same machine. So I would remove MSE if you are using Avast. Use Avast along with Malwarebytes malware scanner and you're set. XP still wont be secure, but thats another conversation!


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    #6
    aabarnes1
    Registered Users Posts: 295 ✭✭aabarnes1


    I did use MSE in combination with Malwarebytes but found that MSE did not remove or find all threats.
    I now use AVG, TFC(file cleaner), C Cleaner, Malwarebytes and Adaware, periodically and i have had no issues since using this combination.


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