Free software...good or bad?

[boeingbus2002]

I have been looking at getting a new Anti Virus and Internet security program (Norton) but was wondering if the cost is really justified.
Are any of the free programs good?
I currently use on my old comp :
ZoneAlarm - No problems whatsoever
Adaware - Ditto
Spyware Blaster - Ditto

Norton has free Auto Updates and I was looking at AVG which you are required to start the update yourself. (No big deal)

[126,7]

I use Zone Alarm (free) and the anti virus is from Avast (also free) and in my mind both very good programms. Used to be with AVG but didn't think they were so good. Another good anti virus is AntiVir.(free)
Also use AdAware. Nothing wrong!

[Memetic]

I use Zone Alarm and AVG. So far with no problems over about 2 years of use.

[matelot]

For some reason, on 95, 98SE, ME and now XP, always had trouble with Norton products. Now a friend with NAV has a problem because the engine repeatedly corrupts.

McAffee offer Stinger (now S-T-I-N-G-E-R.EXE), a freebee, which can be updated each month with new virus definition files.

My email accounts are with wanadoo.fr and tiscali.fr, who run their own AV software, so the threat from email viruses should be limited.

I also tend to delete unsolicited email attachments, particularly .doc.

Hope that helps anyone.

Cheers

[P.Pilcher]

Been using AVG since antivirus software became a must. Never had any problems. It has also auto infiltrated itself into my MS Outlook when I switched over from Outlook express. Some time afterwards, I became targeted in that e-mails suddenly appeared and mysteriously then disappeared from my inbox. I soon found them suitably de-virused (netsky worm) in Outlook's AVG Virus vault. The actual virus was in AVG's own virus vault. I used to get two of these a day but after a couple of months it has now stopped.

Thanks Grisoft!

P.P.

[timmcat]

I was looking at AVG which you are required to start the update yourself.

I've got AVG 7 (free edition) and have scheduled it to update automatically every evening, which it does (on my ADSL connection) in about 5 seconds, from start to finish. If you are not on line when the schedule is due to run, it will automatically try again when you next connect to the internet. I've used AVG on and off for 5 years now and, although pretty good then, it really has come on in leaps and bounds and must be a real thorn in the side to the likes of Mcaffee and Symantec.

[5711N0205W]

Been using AVG for the last 2 years with absolutely no problems whatsoever, now on version 7 and as mentioned before takes care of email and will auto update too.

[Miserlou]

I have upgraded from a free ZoneAlarm to the Security Suite for which I paid a small amount.

I wanted the option of restricting certain content when my children use the computer.

I managed tp get a porn pop-up on a search for 'cartoon network'!

We have the free version on our laptop so I can confirm that the bought version IS more effective when it comes to scanning time though both are very good and have been trouble free.

[boeingbus2002]

Seems obvious then! Why pay?!!
Where can you get a free version of AVG? On www.grisoft.com it mentions paying for a licence.

[P.Pilcher]

http://www.grisoft.com/doc/40/lng/ww/tpl/tpl01 Should get you there. Just look at AVG products from the home page and AVG free is an option.

P.P.
Edited to say that I have checked the above hyperlink and it sems to work correctly

[Mac the Knife]

How good is AVG free really?

How good is AVG free really?

I've put it on a machine that I'm commissioning just as a stopgap (I use Norton on Windows boxen these days) but may leave it on if it's OK?

[ZH875]

AVG Free has caught (apparently) all viruses that have come my way, scanning with other programs afterwards have never shown anything amiss. Regular updates is the key. Mine is set to daily, so is updated everytime Grisoft release new data.

Overall perfomance of AVG Free means that it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Gouabafla]

I use both AVG and Avast on different machines at home. Both perform very well and I'd reccomend either - which is more than I'd do for Norton. As an antivirus, Norton does a great job, but it also insinuates itself all over your computer and it is very difficult to get rid of.

The downside with Avast is that it insists on talking to you ('Virus database now updated').

Other free software that's worth looking at is Open Office. This is an MS Office contender which is less bloated but far cheaper.

[Mac the Knife]

Thanks - maybe I'll press on with AVG, not that I've had any trouble with Norton on various machines in the past.

BTW, Open Office is FREE (can't get cheaper than that) and the new OO 2.0 will be out soon. 95% of the functionality of MSOffice and highly compatible.

Star Office is the pay-for-it version of OO - a few advances on OO but won't be worth the difference when OO 2.0 comes out.