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View Full Version : I need a good, free antivirus

Morrigoon
08-21-2009, 10:50 AM
Someone told me the name of one, but naturally I've forgotten it.
mousepod
08-21-2009, 10:59 AM
Not free, but NOD32 is affordable and fantastic.
Snowflake
08-21-2009, 11:06 AM
AVG?
Gemini Cricket
08-21-2009, 11:06 AM
BTD told me about AVG Free. I've used it. It's good.
Morrigoon
08-21-2009, 11:18 AM
AVG, that's the one someone suggested, thanks!
BarTopDancer
08-21-2009, 12:32 PM
AVG Free is the way to go.

They changed their install screens though, so make sure you are careful and select the free one and not the "free trial" one.
Morrigoon
08-21-2009, 12:48 PM
I did that :) Like an idiot, I installed their toolbar, and I unchecked the thing about having a Yahoo search bar in it... guess what showed up anyway? But no matter, I disabled the entire toolbar after all... too many already.
Chernabog
08-21-2009, 12:54 PM
So the next question is, what did your slutty little computer pick up this time? :p
Morrigoon
08-21-2009, 12:59 PM
After an hour and 24 minutes of scanning.... so far nothing.

Which is odd, since I've been reasonably sure that my computer's had a virus for weeks.
BarTopDancer
08-21-2009, 01:24 PM
Make sure you unhide all your files and folders

Then go download and run MalwareBytes (http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html) (it's free)

THEN rerun your AV scan.
CoasterMatt
08-21-2009, 04:34 PM
I go with Avast! (http://www.avast.com/) - I put it on every Windows machine I build.
Morrigoon
08-21-2009, 04:45 PM
Make sure you unhide all your files and folders

Then go download and run MalwareBytes (http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html) (it's free)

THEN rerun your AV scan.

MalwareBytes found two minor objects, now off to run the re-scan on AVG!
Andrew
08-21-2009, 05:13 PM
I concur with CoasterMatt; Avast is the one I use on all my Windows machines. It is free but you have to re-register once a year. I find AVG bogs down the machine when scanning, and I believe they have taken away some functionality from the free version.
Alex
08-22-2009, 08:10 AM
Go bareback like I do.
RStar
08-22-2009, 11:24 AM
So the next question is, what did your slutty little computer pick up this time? :p

I think it was Alex. He goes bareback.....

I use Ad-Aware by Lavasoft for the spyware, and AVG Free for the virus programs. This has worked fine for me for years. The AVG does bog things down quite a bit, but I run it every day at 1 pm when I am least likely to use it (I shut it down at night). If I am on it at that time I just pause the scans.

But I just might give Avast a try.
lashbear
08-24-2009, 12:01 AM
I go with Avast! (http://www.avast.com/) - I put it on every Windows machine I build.

I concur with CoasterMatt; Avast is the one I use on all my Windows machines. It is free but you have to re-register once a year. I find AVG bogs down the machine when scanning, and I believe they have taken away some functionality from the free version.
Just to add further concurrence, I also use Avast, and it's been great, and it installs it's updates with a minimum of disruption to the system.
Nerd
08-24-2009, 01:54 AM
I too use Avast. It's very efficient, it's very good at catching viruses, and best of all, it's very free. For spyware, I use a combination of Ad-Aware and Spybot.

I also use CCleaner to fix/remove broken registries and clean up space used by unused files. You'd be surprised at how much space all that stuff takes up.
Morrigoon
08-24-2009, 02:15 AM
Can you have Avast and AVG simultaneously? Or do they not play nice together?
RStar
08-24-2009, 06:32 AM
Can you have Avast and AVG simultaneously? Or do they not play nice together?

Most anti-virus programs insist that you only have one loaded on the computer at a time. I'm not sure if there is a way around this, or if it would be of any use.
Morrigoon
08-24-2009, 08:01 AM
At present, I have both going. I suppose time will tell if they play nice.