Free Antivirus for Windows
 

Microsoft Security essentials and MalwareBytes, both free

They have both served me well for years.

Norton is best removed (in all senses!) by the Norton removal utility.

One word of warning though - many free programs now download with 'baggage' unless you opt out of it. Look for boxes to untick before clicking Download.

I have been using Avast, like many others, very successfully for years. Be warned that, like all suppliers of free software, they have a paid version to promote which may or may not be better than the free offering. You do however have to be careful when on their website to click on the correct option to get the freebie. Naturally they tend not to make it too obvious as to which the correct button is!

My wife's new computer had three months free Norton which she immediately opted for. Two and a half month's later it was screaming like mad to be renewed, fortunately the appropriate Norton removal tool silenced it and Avast was then installed to take over. I havn't dared to do a registry scan on her computer yet to see how many "Norton" entries remain.

P.P.

Lady Radz,

BT Broadband customers (residential, not business packages) get NetProtect Plus for free and it can be installed on multiple computers.

B x

Kasperky has served my needs on my three computers for more than 10 years. Never had a virus, malicious software or other problem unlike friends who use freebies such as AVG and others. All get problems once in a while.

You pay hundred of pounds/dollars for a computer then want it protected for free. You get what you pay for. Suffer if you must!

A word - don't buy from the manufacturer of programs, buy them via Amazon for one third of the price - a bargain.

AVG Free | Free Antivirus Download | Free Antivirus Software | UK

I've been using AVG Free for some years, and am very happy with it. You just need to be alert to all the various attempts to persuade you to change your mind and go for the paid version.

G

Of the free AV programs, Avast and Avira both consistently hit the highest scores in virus detection tests. In fact both are usually in the top 5 of ALL A/V programs with detections rates of 95% or above
Of the two, Avast has a wider range of abilities, which is why it gets my vote. Its what I install on any machines I have to clean up for customers - and so far I've never had one come back to me infected. However I use it as part of a cocktail of free software - which all work together OK without clashing

Avast Antivirus free (version 7 released this week)
Threatfire - a behavioral scanner with a very good hit rate for rootkits zero-day attackes
Windows Defender - already installed on Vista / &, optional download on XP
Browser Protect (Browser Hijack Protection for free - BrowserProtect.org) - stops browser hijacks
Spamfighter (if sing a POP/IMAP mail client)

I don't bother with additional firewalls unless a customer demands it, in which case I use Zonealarm. My experience is that for most people the firewall built into Windows from XPsp3 onwards works well enough. Installing a 3rd party firewall requires too much intervention for most users and they end up turning it off

if you have really nasty browsing habits, then installing Spybot S&D and Spyware Blaster helps - but only as long as they are kept up to date (a manual process)

I fond it more constructive to use Mozilla Firefox and then lock it down with security plugins - if you can protect the browser, generally you can protect the computer

Online Security and Parental Controls | MyBT Broadband

Option 1 customers have to pay for it, it's free to all other package subscribers.

If you can't remember your login details then the customer service people are on hand to help.

;)

The BT software is a version of McAfee's security software.
Like all McAfee products its a memory hog. slow clunky and doesn't actually do very well at virus detection

AVG every few days and MalWareBytes once a fortnight. Solved !

Microsoft Security essentials and MalwareBytes, both free

Good combination - resource light, works fine.

Avast :hmm:
Norton :yuk::yuk::yuk:
McAfee :yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk:

:ok:

I've spent many afternoons removing McAfee and the like from computers that came with it "for free".

Until a year or so ago, I used AVG Free. Then they did something to the "engine" that slowed it right down, and I switched to Avast Free, which does a superb job. As others have said, you have to be determined that you want the "free" version and that you don't want any of the other offers that will be thrust at you. Watch out, in particular, for browser toolbars that they offer.

The various antivirus offerings leapfrog each other in scores - I don't think any of them are particularly bad, but I wouldn't pay good money for McAfee. None of them is 100% so you need to be wary of websites you don't know.

Apart from that...

The Windows 7 firewall is OK (ZoneAlarm is better, but a right pain until it's set itself up with the various stuff you use).

NoScript in your browser is essential, and is a bit of a pain till it's learned the sites to allow. You get used to its warning bar and having to click "Temporarily allow all this page".

WOT (Web of Trust) will protect you from norty websites that might try to upload stuff. It gives nice, clear warnings.

AdBlock Plus does a sterling job.

That combination works for me too. I got fed up paying for NcAfee about 6 months ago and have had no problems at all since using the above.

You could always have looked at the last post in the 'frequently asked questions' sticky :)

I have had a Avast for years with no problems until this week when the latest program upgrade caused a major headache. I have now uninstalled it and will probably go for the Security Essentials option as that appears to have a good fan base all over.

Long time Avast user. The latest update causes no problems at all, here.

I'm still seeing problems. I've had several cases where after the upgrade, a subsequent program update stalled, disabling the antivirus.
Removal and resinstalation fixed all except one - which is a Win7 machine which has always shown weird behaviour with file permissions when installing Avast

Two minor issues with it - if you've overridden the default scan action options, then not all of these are carried through after the upgrade. You need to check each scan type individually
And some older programs - notably MS Office 97 and 2000 - are not in the database of whitelisted applications. By default it tries to open them in the sandbox

No problem here either. Win 7 Ultimate 64bit.