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I would like to have had the following summary when I was looking for my answers. Since I only read the end of the thread, please add other pertinent information.

Best AntiVirus Software
Neither interferes with K9 now.  Do not have more than one antivirus running at a time.
Free - Avast           download here
Paid - Kaspersky

Best Free Spyware
ublock                    download here for FireFox

Firewalls
Windows Firewall should be ON at all times unless your antivirus software comes with one.
If so, it will probably shut off Windows Firewall on its own.



Before following the information contained here, check the date at the bottom to make sure this wiki is relatively up to date.
 
« Last edited by srap on November 17, 2015, 01:34:37 AM »

Author Topic: Best free Anti-Virus master thread  (Read 66674 times)

Offline txtmax4

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Best free Anti-Virus master thread
« on: August 16, 2010, 09:15:15 PM »
Question to the nitty-gritty maivinim:
What, in your opinion, is the best free antivirus nowadays?
« Last Edit: July 22, 2013, 03:05:56 PM by AsherO »
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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2010, 09:33:47 PM »
Question to the nitty-gritty maivinim:
What, in your opinion, is the best free antivirus nowadays?

I'm happy with Avira (on windows 7). I'm still looking for an AV that completely blocks the ave.exe virus (that's the annoying one that looks like a fake AV program, keeps popping up telling you that your computer is infected).
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Offline txtmax4

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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2010, 09:43:39 PM »
What about XP?
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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #3 on: August 16, 2010, 09:47:09 PM »
What about XP?

Avast was good, only that I would get the occasional pop asking me to upgrade.
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Offline md

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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2010, 10:22:44 PM »

Offline Avid Reader

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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2010, 10:57:10 PM »
How about on Vista?

A relative had Avast installed and somehow a virus got into the avast and deactivated it. As soon as windows starts a pop up comes on saying there is no key for avast - but when you look at avast the license is up to date. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling but same thing. Safe mode did not help (it was helpful in letting me download Spybot and Avast instead of the PC shutting down every time I tried in normal mode...).

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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #6 on: August 16, 2010, 11:04:07 PM »
How about on Vista?

A relative had Avast installed and somehow a virus got into the avast and deactivated it. As soon as windows starts a pop up comes on saying there is no key for avast - but when you look at avast the license is up to date. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling but same thing. Safe mode did not help (it was helpful in letting me download Spybot and Avast instead of the PC shutting down every time I tried in normal mode...).
That's probably the smallest issue in Vista.
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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #7 on: August 16, 2010, 11:34:31 PM »
That's probably the smallest issue in Vista.

I'm not familiar with it at all...

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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #8 on: August 16, 2010, 11:39:52 PM »
Any AV is free! These days you could get any AV FAR if you're on the lookout. I have keys for McAfee, Norton, Ca and Trend Micro!!

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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #9 on: August 16, 2010, 11:41:51 PM »
Any AV is free! These days you could get any AV FAR if you're on the lookout. I have keys for McAfee, Norton, Ca and Trend Micro!!
Would you give the keys out?
Which one of those do you say is the best?
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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #10 on: August 16, 2010, 11:45:50 PM »
Im a fan of kaspersky...comes up FAR every so often. Usually around the time mine is expiring :)

Offline Chaikel

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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #11 on: August 16, 2010, 11:47:28 PM »
  • Avast
  • Avira
  • AVG
  • MS Security Essentials
Every year they get rated in a different order. I personally have been using AVG for years, as they more consistently rank toward the top, but the reviews seem to think that it's not that user friendly, so some ppl might have some trouble using some of the features.

As far as you malware problem, I find malwarebytes to work the best, however some viruses prevent you from installing. If that happens, try booting into safe mode with networking (you have to press f8 right before the windows loading screen comes up) and try running ur AV and malwarebytes.

Other Malware scans you can try:
Spybot
Ad-aware
Superantispyware.

If that doesn't work, your options are remove the drive, and scan as an external drive (which runs the risk of infecting the host), or reformatting.

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« Last Edit: August 17, 2010, 01:47:07 AM by Chaikel »
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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #12 on: August 17, 2010, 12:00:03 AM »
Im a fan of kaspersky...comes up FAR every so often. Usually around the time mine is expiring :)

 I got 3 PCs for $5 after rebates but usually it can be had for $24-30 for 3 PCs so just find 2 others and get it , its Worth the $10 as alot of people hold its the best product on the mkt

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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #13 on: August 17, 2010, 12:14:07 AM »
  • Avast
  • Avira
  • AVG
  • MS Security Essentials
Every year they get rated in a different order. I personally have been using AVG for years, as they more consistently rank toward the top, but the reviews seem to think that it's not that user friendly, so some ppl might have some trouble using some of the features.

As far as you malware problem, I find malwarebytes to work the best, however some viruses prevent you from installing. If that happens, try booting into safe mode with networking (you have to press f8 right before the windows loading screen comes up) and try running ur AV and malwarebytes.

Other Malware scans you can try:
Spybot
Ad-aware
Superantispyware.

If that doesn't work, your options are remove the drive, and scan as an external drive (which runs the risk of infecting the host), or reformatting.

For more tips, you can join my FB page
Thanks, will try.

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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #14 on: August 17, 2010, 05:10:39 AM »
The best I like is AVG with lots of serials till 2018 and offers a full and complete protection.

Other programs to install are:

Ccleaner

YourUninstaller

TuneUp

----------------

Spybot is used by tons of yidden, but isn't what it used to be.

Norton and McAfee aren't good since the last few years.(+way too heavy)

Careful of all those new ones, that you find by googling, lots of **** between them.

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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #15 on: August 17, 2010, 05:17:22 AM »
Kaspersky is overly aggressive, and you need to change serials way too often.

I know you can change the settings, but unless hunting for bots viruses and similar, I don't think its needed.

When needed I use a portable one.

Offline txtmax4

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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #16 on: August 17, 2010, 11:44:26 AM »
Can you explain the procedure of "serials till 2018"?
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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #17 on: August 17, 2010, 01:24:20 PM »
@Superflyer

Stupid question, but why is this one better than the free one that AVG has?

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Re: Best free Ant-Virus master thread
« Reply #18 on: August 17, 2010, 01:33:32 PM »
@Superflyer

Stupid question, but why is this one better than the free one that AVG has?

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