What's The Best Free Anti-Virus?

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My free AVG 8.5 anti-virus is due for renewal. Have heard that the new 9 version is a nightmare, slowing computers and being difficult to install, etc, etc.

Have heard that free Avast 4.8 is worth a go.

What do others recommend that

A) Does a good job
B) Doesn't slow my desktop down
C) Is free
D) Is easy to use/not over complicated
 
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I'm still with 8.5, have heard some people find key on web to get full version free, but that's naughty. ;)
 
I've been using Avira Premium Security Suite ever since AVG upgraded to Version 8 and I found that slowed my computer down.

It's not free, but I've not had to buy it yet because I keep getting free promotional licences - totally legally!

I tried quite a few others but didn't particularly like them - Avast, Nod32, to name but a couple.
 
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There isn't such a thing as BEST FREE ANTIVIRUS because everyone who uses any AV and likes it or is 'comfortable' with it will say it is the best.

All AVs are only as good as the latest virus definitions that they hold and so can only look for viruses that they know about.

My choice of security software at the moment includes Comodo Internet Security which, in tests has proven to be the best (most effective in tests) free firewall and a very good antivirus.

Takes a couple of days for it to get to know all your habits, it keeps asking what is OK to allow, but after it is settled in it does it's job in the background and is only noticed on its schedule scan and when trying to download and install some new software which it is not sure of.

Lots of people swear thatr Avast is the best free AV but I had it on one PC for over a month and could never get to like it.

Have a read of this thread and choose one for yourself.
If you don't like it, try another, apart from a little of your time it does not cost anything.

dave
 
i agree with the above

"free" is only good enough to a certain point

for a long time i was on avg and then my pc had a prob which avg couldnt clear

after reading around i took a look at Avast! and after a month free trial it was pretty bang on now got a two year licence.

pretty good all round program - doesnt slow my system down at all.
 
I think that free anti virus argument changed when Microsoft released Microsoft Essentials. I was listening to a security podcast the other day and the opinion is that it is the one to go for now. They have massive resources and inside knowledge, and wouldn't enter the game unless they had a strong product. I think most people will stick with what they already use, it's a bit like the changing banks argument. I was using a mix of AVG and more recently Avast but I have swapped my PC's to Essentials now.
 
I used AVG free for years but had issues with a later version so switched to Avast and have had no problems since
 
I have also used AVG Free for years. The guy who sets my computer up says AVG used to be a nice little virus program but now they are adding too many features and making it too complicated so he put on Microsoft Security Essentials which has been fine.
 
In my opinon AVG is the best free antivirus application - those reporting system performance issues have generally downloaded the full package that incorporates their attempt at anti-spyware too - unfortunately their attempts at expanding the AVG suite aren't as good as their antiviral app.

Download AVG 9, ensure that you install ONLY the Antivirus application (the free element) and not the trial of the entire AVG suite.

Those reporting AVG as slowing down their system generally have an old system, or have configured it incorrectly.
 
Problem is a lot of the purchased anti-viruses aren't all that great either. Norton for example keeps most things out but slows your computer down so much in the process you get a whole new problem.

I work for a computer company and we actually successfully use the free version of clamwin...
 
Problem is a lot of the purchased anti-viruses aren't all that great either. Norton for example keeps most things out but slows your computer down so much in the process you get a whole new problem.

I work for a computer company and we actually successfully use the free version of clamwin...

Agreed, purchased antivirus is without doubt worse, Norton and Symantec products have always been awful.

ClamWin is ok but I don't believe that it incorporates on-access scanning for Windows clients? At least it didn't a year ago, things may have changed since then. This is an essential aspect of any antivirus.
 
Agreed, purchased antivirus is without doubt worse
bit of an overstatement there

Not an overstatement at all...it generally is! Commercial antivirus is generally bloatware, packed with non-essential utilities. If you invest in 'Antivirus', that is generally all you want/need.

McAfee is another painfully bad piece of software, ridiculously large install footprint, badly managed DATs (one recent deployment accidently quarantined the critical system file 'svchost'!!
 
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