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Windows Forum / Windows XP / General Topics 1 / May 2008Free antivirus software recommendation
I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or Avast. Could anyone assist with a recommendation please. >I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP >SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or >Avast. >Could anyone assist with a recommendation please. You will find people who have one or the other as favorites and people who will tell you one or the other should be avoided. It would be best for you to try them all and see which you like best. > I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP > SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or > Avast. > Could anyone assist with a recommendation please. I use AVG and thats great, not as good as a paid anti-virus but is very good for a free anti-virus. > I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP > SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or > Avast. > Could anyone assist with a recommendation please. This question could start a war. What car do you like? Its the same thing. They all move you from point a to b but some do it better and some have better collision protection (virus) etc. Some feel better. Some even look better, now aint that a reason for picking one. And I'm talking about cars and av software both. So yes, try them out. NOD32 is another one I hear about. They all pretty much work, and along with being a good boy and not sticking your nose it sites you shouldn't and don't open those attachments, any suggestion you get is going to work. I use Avast by the way. I used AVG7 for a while, and it stopped a few attacks. I never got one! I'm sorta test driving Avast now to see how it works. But its kinda hard to test unless you know of a place to get a virus attack. Good luck. >I use Avast by the way. I used AVG7 for a while, and it stopped a few >attacks. I never got one! I'm sorta test driving Avast now to see how >it works. But its kinda hard to test unless you know of a place to get >a virus attack. I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it updated (almost daily). I'm happy with AVG 8.0. > I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it > updated (almost daily). Avast or AVG7 did the restarts? >> I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it >> updated (almost daily). > >Avast or AVG7 did the restarts? Avast. Kept it for about two weeks then went back to AVG7 or 7.5. Am now using AVG 8.0 and am happy with it. Does WAY more than before, including that it has a resident malware shield. >>> I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it >>> updated (almost daily). [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > now using AVG 8.0 and am happy with it. Does WAY more than before, > including that it has a resident malware shield. See, now that's probably like these SP3 problems we read about. I loaded AVG ver 8, as 7.5 kept telling me there was a new version and I thought.....heck I like new stuff why not. I'd had 7.5 for years. I'm a glutton for punishment. So I put it in. Boy did it find threats, and I thought it slowed the PC down. Old programs that were good were now threats. I even told my buddies about it and one other had the same story. So we both dropped it and moved back to 7.5. Now I'm on avast with no apparent reboots like you had. I get a little popup and voice saying it has updated the definitions. I gotta look at the settings and turn that off. It always pops up at the wrong spot in my tv show. I miss why Mike wanted to kill Bob or something. :-) So just like SP3, Mixed results. Odd how things do that. And I just reloaded this machine May 1, so its clean and I've not had the time to muck it up with junk yet. Good hearing your history though, gives me some encouragement to maybe try 8.0 again. I used 7.5 for years and have it on all 3 PC's, so its not like I hate it. It catches stuff and does its thing. Oh well, one more mystery of life to try and solve. As George Burns said: Goodnight Gracie! I've been up all night and its 6am and the insomnia has finally worn off. This lounge chair is starting to feel good. >Now I'm on avast with no apparent reboots like you had. I get a little >popup and voice saying it has updated the definitions. I gotta look at >the settings and turn that off. It always pops up at the wrong spot in >my tv show. I miss why Mike wanted to kill Bob or something. :-) I might be remembering the popups, but I'm sure I had reboots. So far AVG 8.0 is great here. I'll keep Avast in the back of my mind if I have a need for change. PD43 Is your AVG 8.0 free or paid for? I am believing you cannot get a free version of AVG 8.0 or a free version of AVG 7.5 for that matter now. The AVG 7.5 Free is still supported but if you can still get it the download link is very well hidden. I am still using AVG 7.5 Free but the nagging pop up for updating to AVG 8 appears on every boot. ~~~~ Gerry ~~~~ FCA Stourport, England Enquire, plan and execute ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> Now I'm on avast with no apparent reboots like you had. I get a >> little popup and voice saying it has updated the definitions. I [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > So far AVG 8.0 is great here. I'll keep Avast in the back of my mind > if I have a need for change. > I am believing you cannot get a free version of AVG 8.0 or a free > version of AVG 7.5 for that matter now. There is a free version of 8.0 (I'm using it, but I don't like the false positives): http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe >> I am believing you cannot get a free version of AVG 8.0 or a free >> version of AVG 7.5 for that matter now. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe My system is/was virus free so I didn't run a scan and don't plan to in the near future. Thanks Daave. They do hide these things away.  SignatureRegards. Gerry ~~~~ FCA Stourport, England Enquire, plan and execute ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > >> I am believing you cannot get a free version of AVG 8.0 or a free [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe >> There is a free version of 8.0 (I'm using it, but I don't like the >> false positives): >> >> http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe > Thanks Daave. They do hide these things away. YW, Gerry. I agree these pages aren't the easiest to find. But I usually use Google to help me get there faster. For starters, I tried: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=free+avg+grisoft >Is your AVG 8.0 free or paid for? I am believing you cannot get a free >version of AVG 8.0 or a free version of AVG 7.5 for that matter now. The >AVG 7.5 Free is still supported but if you can still get it the download >link is very well hidden. I am still using AVG 7.5 Free but the nagging >pop up for updating to AVG 8 appears on every boot. It's free. I clicked the pop up and found it. You can find it if you try hard enough. Try this link: http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe PD43 Thanks for the link. It was well hidden. SignatureRegards. Gerry ~~~~ FCA Stourport, England Enquire, plan and execute ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> Is your AVG 8.0 free or paid for? I am believing you cannot get a >> free version of AVG 8.0 or a free version of AVG 7.5 for that matter [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe You won't get that nagging popup with AVG 7.0. > PD43 > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >> So far AVG 8.0 is great here. I'll keep Avast in the back of my mind >> if I have a need for change. >You won't get that nagging popup with AVG 7.0 I don't think that version is even being supported anymore. Are you getting any updates to it? >> You won't get that nagging popup with AVG 7.0 > > I don't think that version is even being supported anymore. > > Are you getting any updates to it? Nope. But then again, I'm pretty careful where I go online. (plus the fact that I'm ONLY connected to the internet when I dial-up, and if anything suspicious comes in, I can often catch it, since it takes awhile to come in here. :-) >>> You won't get that nagging popup with AVG 7.0 >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >suspicious comes in, I can often catch it, since it takes awhile to come in >here. :-) Understood. I only run an up-to-date a/v program because I have plenty of memory and a super-fast broadband connection (10+mb) so downloads go extremely fast. I don't do file sharing, I don't visit hacker sites, and I don't download from unknown sites, so I'd probably be safe without one. Why are you using dialup when it's possible to get DSL for the same price or less than a dialup account in most locations? Are you so for out in the boonies that no such option exists? >>>> You won't get that nagging popup with AVG 7.0 >>> [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > price or less than a dialup account in most locations? Are you so for > out in the boonies that no such option exists? I can't get DSL at this specific location, but I could get Cable Internet (but it's more expensive obviously, and I already am paying enough for Cable TV with HBO :-). But I don't really mind the slower speed of dial-up, since I generally spend more time on email and newsgroups than surfing the web - and even when surfing the web, I don't mind waiting a bit (you know - the old school values of patience, which I'm trying to keep in shape :-) This may surprise you though - on rare occasions I have even had the patience to download a 50 MB shareware program just to try it out, and that takes about 5 hours to come in here! (I've been trying to inspire some like PD43 to develop some old school patience, but it obviously falls on deaf ears (evidently only some of us old timers still have it :-) >This may surprise you though - on rare occasions I have even had the >patience to download a 50 MB shareware program just to try it out, and that >takes about 5 hours to come in here! I haven't had to deal with that slow a connection since 2000. I now have Comcast as my provider... got it without having to subscribe to anything else because my high-rise has Comcast cable included in the rent. I am on a 6-month special that only costs me $22/mo for the first six months. After that it goes to $46/mo. But that's cheaper than the DSL plus the land line phone service I had with AT&T because I dropped my land line phone service in favor of keeping my cell phone service (costs me $5/mo to keep it active and I don't even use that much in monthly minutes). And its 10+ megabit speed. Eat yer heart out! Watching the paint dry Bill <G> . SignatureRegards. Gerry ~~~~ FCA Stourport, England Enquire, plan and execute ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > This may surprise you though - on rare occasions I have even had the > patience to download a 50 MB shareware program just to try it out, > and that takes about 5 hours to come in here! (I've been trying to > inspire some like PD43 to develop some old school patience, but it > obviously falls on deaf ears (evidently only some of us old timers > still have it :-) Yeah, there ya go!!! I also enjoy watching the Disk Defragmenter take its sweet time moving around all those fragmented blocks, too. :-) I have all the time in the world. Like - where's the fire? > Watching the paint dry Bill <G> . > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >> obviously falls on deaf ears (evidently only some of us old-timers >> still have it :-) >>>> I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it >>>> updated (almost daily). [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > 6am and the insomnia has finally worn off. This lounge chair is > starting to feel good. AVG 7.0 works like a charm over here. 'Night, Gracie'! Strange, I never had that problem with Avast. Mark >>> I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it >>> updated (almost daily). [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > now using AVG 8.0 and am happy with it. Does WAY more than before, > including that it has a resident malware shield. I tried AVG and Antivir. Now I am using Avast and never looked backed. Avast never asks me to restart UNLESS it is a full program update. >>> I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it >>> updated (almost daily). [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > now using AVG 8.0 and am happy with it. Does WAY more than before, > including that it has a resident malware shield. Saucer Man Avast stops System Restore from working if you need to go back to an earlier restore point. The Self Defense function does not work in safe mode. There is also a programme setting whereby this function can be disabled. SignatureHope this helps. Gerry ~~~~ FCA Stourport, England Enquire, plan and execute ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > I tried AVG and Antivir. Now I am using Avast and never looked > backed. Avast never asks me to restart UNLESS it is a full program [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >> now using AVG 8.0 and am happy with it. Does WAY more than >> before, including that it has a resident malware shield. The paid AVG 8 does its updating silently, in the background, and you don't even know it is updating unless you check on the processes. > I tried AVG and Antivir. Now I am using Avast and never looked backed. > Avast never asks me to restart UNLESS it is a full program update. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> now using AVG 8.0 and am happy with it. Does WAY more than before, >> including that it has a resident malware shield. >The paid AVG 8 does its updating silently, in the background, and you don't >even know it is updating unless you check on the processes. So does the free version. >> I use Avast by the way. I used AVG7 for a while, and it stopped a few >> attacks. I never got one! I'm sorta test driving Avast now to see how [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I got pissed at all the required restarts it wanted me to do when it > updated (almost daily). That is not typical behavior for AVAST!. Normally, the restarts are required only when the program itself gets an update, not for the frequent (yes, almost daily) virus definition updates. There may have been something wrong with your particular installation, as I've not even heard anyone else mention this phenomenon. SignatureBruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot >> updated (almost daily). > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >been something wrong with your particular installation, as I've not even >heard anyone else mention this phenomenon. I gather that. It's a moot point right now because AVG 8.0 is a very nice collection of protections and is running smoothly on my Vista machine right now. I might try Avast on my XP notebook. >I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP >SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or >Avast. >Could anyone assist with a recommendation please. Avira Antivir: http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse/summary2007.pdf can be found here: http://www.free-av.com/antivirus/allinonen.html http://www.majorgeeks.com/AntiVir_Personal_Edition_8_d955.html SignatureFred W. (NL) They are free to use, I think the correct question to ask folks would be "Is there any reason you would NOT use one of these?" > I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP > SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or > Avast. > Could anyone assist with a recommendation please. > I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP > SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or > Avast. > Could anyone assist with a recommendation please. At this point, it's almost purely a matter of personal preference. Try them all (one at a time, of course!) to see which _you_ like best. I've used both AVG (on WinXP) and AVAST! (on Vista, mostly because it was available first), and was perfectly satisfied with each of them. Some people have said that AVAST!'s interface isn't "user-friendly" enough for them, but I had no trouble using it. Haven't tried the Avira product. For a recent comparison of anti-virus products: Retrospective / ProActive Test http://www.av-comparatives.org/ SignatureBruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot > At this point, it's almost purely a matter of personal preference. Try >them all (one at a time, of course!) to see which _you_ like best. I said that in the first reply to the OP ;-) Bruce One problem with Avast. Avast stops System Restore from working if you need to go back to an earlier restore point. The Self Defense function does not work in safe mode. There is also a programme setting whereby this function can be disabled. I have read Avast are working on this. SignatureRegards. Gerry ~~~~ FCA Stourport, England Enquire, plan and execute ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my >> Windows XP SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Retrospective / ProActive Test > http://www.av-comparatives.org/ >Bruce > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >mode. There is also a programme setting whereby this function can be >disabled. I have read Avast are working on this. Sounds like more than a "problem"... sounds like a BEEEEG problem! > Bruce > > One problem with Avast. > > Avast stops System Restore from working if you need to go back to an > earlier restore point. Not on my machine, it doesn't. Alias Alias It what respect? You can restore to an earlier time in normal mode without disabling the Self Defense function? Do you have version 4.8.1169? This is the latest version. http://forum.avast.com/index.php?action=search2 There are later betas being tested. SignatureHope this helps. Gerry ~~~~ FCA Stourport, England Enquire, plan and execute ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> Bruce >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Alias > Alias > > It what respect? You can restore to an earlier time in normal mode > without disabling the Self Defense function? Yep. > Do you have version 4.8.1169? Yep. Alias This is the latest version. > http://forum.avast.com/index.php?action=search2 > > There are later betas being tested. > Bruce > > One problem with Avast. > > Avast stops System Restore from working if you need to go back to an > earlier restore point. Really? I was unaware of that problem, since I usually disable System Restore, anyways; it's too limited compared to proper backups. > The Self Defense function does not work in safe > mode. Not surprising; most non-essential (to the OS) drivers are not loaded during Safe Mode. An anti-virus applications drivers would likely be included in that group, much as we'd wish it were otherwisw. SignatureBruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot I have used AVG, Avast, and FreeAntiVir and all work. Link to downloads: http://www.download.com/1200-2018-5186348.html?tag=vtsplashpc Ray > I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP > SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or > Avast. > Could anyone assist with a recommendation please. I use all of these and a few more besides. None are configured to actively scan. I manually scan regularly and alternate among them. Gene >I would like to install a new free antivirus software with my Windows XP >SP2 and Microsoft Defender and can't decide between AVG, Avira Antivir or >Avast. >Could anyone assist with a recommendation please. |
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