virus protection

seantobin43

What the best free virus protection for windows vista

Thomas_S_Hunterson

Microsoft Security Essentials

seantobin43

i will give that a go

Verres

MS Security Essentials is ok as a rock bottom protection, but it is really not good enough in general. Use "Avast Antivirus": it's free for home use, small, unobtrusive and keeps itself up to date very regularly (more than once per day).

clivej

Free Antivirus top ten

http://savedelete.com/top-10-free-antivirus-software-of-year-2010.html

chin_grin

Also a poll running in Virus and Malware Removal forum.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056122397

MSE on top with 50 votes.

FSL

The best anti-virus by far is common sense. Anti-virus software is always behind, especially when the virus is exploiting a previously unknown weakness.

coylemj

FSL wrote: »

The best anti-virus by far is common sense.

Let me guess, you also believe in homoeopathic medicine?

Alanstrainor

coylemj wrote: »

Let me guess, you also believe in homoeopathic medicine?

Ah here, that's not exactly a fair comparison!

I've gone weeks without any kind of "protection" installed without issue. A good browser is half the battle.

But MS security essentials is the best free one out there imo. It's discrete, it's not resource intensive at all and it get's the job done.

batman2000

Alanstrainor wrote: »

A good browser is half the battle.

Along with most Windows OS machines have a Firewall. That helps also.

Overheal

Verres wrote: »

MS Security Essentials is ok as a rock bottom protection, but it is really not good enough in general. Use "Avast Antivirus": it's free for home use, small, unobtrusive and keeps itself up to date very regularly (more than once per day).

Avast offers no better protection than MSE. Also with MSE you don't need to give out your email address or ask for a renewal every year, which I found to be strange. It also integrates with the Windows Firewall among other things.

The best anti-virus by far is common sense. Anti-virus software is always behind, especially when the virus is exploiting a previously unknown weakness

Common sense fails where hackers put their attacks into everything from XXX porn to chicken pot pie recipe sites.

It's not very common sense to tell people they don't need any AV protection. The truth is you need both. A good third party web browser with an Ad-Blocker won't go amiss either.

Verres

Overheal wrote: »

Avast offers no better protection than MSE. Also with MSE you don't need to give out your email address or ask for a renewal every year, which I found to be strange.

Not really - they just want to get an idea of installed user base - and they ask you to register your free version. Also - it doesn't have to be a real email address, you can put "****@you.com" and it'll work - they don't do any validation on it.

Also - I'd be reticent to put all my eggs in one basket. If you're using an MS OS, then probably better to use a non-OS AV. If MS's previous in the "security" world is < stellar.

Diversify.

Overheal

I think you've got that wrong. You already "Register" because MSE is available to anyone with a Genuine License of Windows OS. Your Windows License is your MSE License.

Not knocking Avast, do what you like, but independent lab tests show one is really no better than the other, but with MSE having the added benefit of streamlining your windows experience.

FSL

Overheal wrote: »

Avast offers no better protection than MSE. Also with MSE you don't need to give out your email address or ask for a renewal every year, which I found to be strange. It also integrates with the Windows Firewall among other things.Common sense fails where hackers put their attacks into everything from XXX porn to chicken pot pie recipe sites.

It's not very common sense to tell people they don't need any AV protection. The truth is you need both. A good third party web browser with an Ad-Blocker won't go amiss either.

I wasn't suggesting that you shouldn't use a software anti-virus system. The simple application of common sense When browsing, when reviewing emails, when prompted to permit installation will prevent most viruses gaining a hold on your machine.

I have been using computers personally and professionally since before the advent of the internet. I have never had a virus or a trojan. I have had my fair share of dodgy emails but have never fallen for any.

I do use Comodo Internet security but it has never had to warn me in real time or ever found a virus on a scan.

Snowbat

MSE *was* a good product. Detection rates were well up there with the best of them last year.

This year it's been *very* poor:

http://www.virustotal.com/file-scan/report.html?id=a76559c60e8bc407148d684dc953f76676a5dd7a9b2a31c9eaad9d375d2ee3f1-1301015941
http://www.virustotal.com/file-scan/report.html?id=e2549e86815d5056a43b94fc871b24c6990ef2b9248dc1afb4c671998696f157-1300879276
http://www.virustotal.com/file-scan/report.html?id=d34fa792fbb94bb797e2e93ccd0f0672985324f45f355719df3cfdf457881c03-1302054482
http://www.virustotal.com/file-scan/report.html?id=6453dd65e5dcb8fbe7510980a457b6d27362d66742a3a6ff66621ff8a77ab84e-1301525120
http://www.virustotal.com/file-scan/report.html?id=88cfb774d47a1e1bfabdde69c5aac0725c44c8b2cc875dc7746b7da1978f294b-1301922841
http://www.virustotal.com/file-scan/report.html?id=3e0f0d437b6336db66d65c2d02f9d6adc4947536ac11dfdc5d5fc4b7e01a9e9a-1302028765

edit: I wonder if this is an issue with the 1.6702 version VirusTotal are using? Update dates are recent but MSE 2 came out last December

Wetbench4

I use avast for virus protection and commodo for the firewall on my laptop. They are light on system resources and i haven't had a virus in years.

James G

On Windows I use MSE and Malwarebytes. The Windows firewall is fine on its own.

wampyrus77

new AVG 2011 its free from www.filehippo.com

but dont use mcAfee because its number 13 in the charts of the best antivirus 2011 and it most common antivirus there is today so most likely going be hacked 1st.

Rojiblancos

Avast! Easy to use and free... If only they'd get rid of the 'virus database has been updated' voiceover that appears almost everyday

D'Agger

I think the key is actually running/scheduling scans - alot of people put on antivirus and think their PC is bulletproof from the moment installation finishes onwards.

Keep on top of the PC's with regard to healthcare checks/updates and you should be fine.

Personally I use Avast & Malwarebytes with CCleaner to clean up the PC a bit and I've rarely had problems tbh

freestyla

Another vote for AVG Free 2011.

I never bought and never will buy anti-virus software. Free ones do the same job just less flashy style and lighter on operating system.

wampyrus77

batman2000 wrote: »

Along with most Windows OS machines have a Firewall. That helps also.

if the Firewall is turned on because most time I notice when a computer or notebook or netbook one main questions during main setup once its brand new at the of introduction setup your Firewall to turn it on and setup rest of your security center because buy default when you buy computer or notebook or netbook your Firewall isn't switch on. So check your Firewall is switch on and your Antivirus wont work properly until you've switch on Antivirus from the security center.

Mr. Presentable

Wetbench4 wrote: »

I use avast for virus protection and commodo for the firewall on my laptop. They are light on system resources and i haven't had a virus detection in years.

Amended your post :pac:

I was an advocate of Avast, no viruses, all good, until I ran another checker (Panda). I just think there is no "complete" solution.

Currently using MSE, but with added trepidation......

Mr. Presentable

Rojiblancos wrote: »

Avast! Easy to use and free... If only they'd get rid of the 'virus database has been updated' voiceover that appears almost everyday

Go into the settings and turn off voice confirmation

BostonB

Many of the more aggressive AV's seem to get false positives. Also what one finds, another often doesn't. Some of the free ones have annoying ads. AVG got very bloated lately and heavy on a older PC. I've switched to MSE. Its lighter on an old machine.

wampyrus77

Antivirus (or anti-virus) is software that searches your hard drive and devices on your computer or computer device like laptop/netbook or smartphones like iphones or other mobile phone with wifi capability generally called smartphones for removing any known or potential viruses. Some Antivirus may also remove spyware, worm, Trojan Horses, rootkit and botnet but more likely designed remove viruses. Your Antivirus wont work properly until you've switch on Antivirus from the security center. The market for this kind of program has expanded because of Internet growth and the increasing use of the Internet by businesses concerned about protecting their computer assets. The top 5 antiviruses are Bitdefender, Norton, Kaspersky, Nod32 and AVG and but I don’t recommend McAfee because since every computer retailer offer a free subscription for McAfee and most people around known this, since most common antivirus going most 1 like by hack by the hackers.

Suffering Jbox

Hi, My McAffee is due to expire and Id like to move to Microsoft Security Essentials. Do I have to remove McAfee first? And if so, do I need to be offline? ANd do I need to install MSE when I'm off line?
thanks for any help.

biko

Remove Mcafee, download this tool
http://majorgeeks.com/McAfee_Consumer_Product_Removal_Tool_d5420.html
Reboot
Install MSSE

You don't need to be offline for any of this afaik.

Overheal

A McCafe is a ****ty coffee.

McAfee is a ****ty security program.

Somehow both manage to slow you down.

fionny

Having been around the houses with different AV programs from paid to free I have to say that MSE is the best I have used... in the past i used Norton (in the ignorant days), NOD32, bittorrent, avg free, avast and now MSE.... out of the lot the 2 I was happiest was nod32 and MSE both always cause viruses when present, both always had a light footprint memory wise and both only annoyed you when there was a problem not when Google Chrome is trying to access the internets... omg no way!

wampyrus77

would say avg since the pro version is number 5 in the top ten charts of best antivirus

but never get mcafee is number 13 in ten charts and most computer retails sell their computers now days with a free subscription mcafee for 1 year but every1 know this buy now making mcafee most common antivirus in the world and since its most common antivirus in the world its more common likely go being hacked by hackers