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Wally Williamson • 9 years ago

I have been through a lot of anti-virus providers on this list, most annoying was Norton/McAfee/Symantec, with corporate IT mentality, even the standard personal version requires a uninstall/re-install to just change your network password?? I hope they have changed the "can't contact the upgrade server/can't use your computer network" lockout condition. With Avira, Panda and AVG free the popups discourage continued use, or paid upgrade. Avast may not be perfect, but it seems to have the fewest lockups, even if it's not highly rated. Didn't rate avast paid version?. Bit defender is rare in our area, don't know why for such a highly rated product, perhaps it is the cost?

kardmania • 9 years ago

Where does Webroot fit into this discussion?

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

For years, techs on "Toms Hardware" recommended Free Avast, and Free malware Bytes.
But most of the infected computers I have seen - had these two installed, and had all the automatic MS updates installed also. And neither of the two seemed to really help prevent infections, in the slightest.... Just an observation... maybe I'm dreaming.

Carling • 9 years ago

Trying to get people to understand that Microsoft and Apple Mac are NOT the only computer operating systems in the world The worlds Fastest computer operating that runs 486 of the worlds top 500 fastest computers Is FREE to download and use, It don't get viruses, It don't crash, It don't slow down, It has over 74,865 Free professional Application software packages available, and 1,700 free Games.

Every website you all go on use it, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter Youtube Yahoo, just to name a few, NASA are using it on Mars and to explore the univers.... Every photo of the stars was delivered to you using the Linux Free operating system Every block buster movie you have ever seen was developed using Linux,

There are a 100 other Linux operating systems that are up2Date July 2014 you can check them out here
www distrowatch org
for the 1,7865 Free software check here
www sourceforge net
now you know the rest is up to you.......

John Powers • 9 years ago

Guys ..no need for constant bickering ...I have found in the field that home page hijacks ,tool bars and search engine swaps et al are the No 1 enemy ..rarely do I see the traditional old fashion virus.Worse most anti virus anti whatever happily allow the install to proceed ...no questions asked.

Ron I. • 9 years ago

Panda? You must be joking. I like Kaspersky but had compatibility problems with Bitdefender although that may no longer be a problem.

1bits • 9 years ago

C'mon Neil, I doubt you are seriously advocating running an XP system at this point. You know better than most everyone that AV is not the same as correcting holes in the system.

Sure, an AV program is better than nothing but an XP machine connected to the internet used for surfing, email, etc is a pretty big target relative to an updated machine running a more current OS. Anyone running XP on a system for these purposes is going to get burned eventually.

flibbit • 9 years ago

microsoft is still updating its own security essentials program. No need for anything else

Ron I. • 9 years ago

I sure the heck would not trust Security Essentials to protect my pc. There are enough deals around to make having good anti virus protection cheap for a year. I would even bet that MS doesn't suggest their product is as good as 3rd party software.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

The only advantage to Win 7 was the video drivers. The video is much clearer. Changing to new OS generally makes hardware obsolete...

Other than that I would still use XP. There was nothing really bad about it.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

I'm not an antivirus vendor.
Just a user, who became fed up - after OS automatic updates crashed my system. Too frustrating to deal with.
And, I am not the only user who became fed up with automatic updates.
And certainly not the first one to shut them off, either.

Ron I. • 9 years ago

I ran XP with SP 3 and auto updates for years (along with probably lots of people) and never had a problem.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

You are welcome to come see anytime. My updates are off, and have been off. You are much too worried about updates.
When I used XP, my updates were off.
Updates, as far as I'm concerned, are the cause of too many problems for me.
My windows 7 updates are turned off right now. I don't use, or need them.
I use pro antivirus, (not the free kind), which updates automatically instead - and I rarely if ever have a single issue.
And after doing this for many years, I have no intention of changing to automatic microsoft updates.

Eric Wesley • 9 years ago

Would be nice is more was written about the free versions that are also part of paid products. I've always been curious if free is good enough.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

It's not good enough. You get what you pay for.

Al • 9 years ago

And you're paying for updates, so turn them on!

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

Updates, as far as I'm concerned IMHO, render my system obsolete...and are intended to force me to buy a newer operating system, which then renders my hardware obsolete.
I am not the first person to say this. I am not the first to turn off the updates either.

Kevin • 9 years ago

Bitdefender will not permit you to perform a System Restore Successfully when installed on a Windows XP system.
I didn't like that! I don't know about you but i need by System Restore working at all times!

I definitely recommend Panda Cloud Free Antivirus though

Very Light on system resources!

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

Panda is reasonable...but it floods your system with Panda Product Spam.
They place pop-up ads on your screen, for panda products. And these pop ups WILL NOT shut off.

It's really irritating, which is why I stopped using Panda.

Kevin • 9 years ago

never had that happen I used panda cloud free

Carling • 9 years ago

Fot those of you that have old computers with either Vista or Xp then up date your computers operating system with the latest July 15th 2014 Free Linux operating system.
For those of you that have W8. Jail break it and do the same, Linux is faster, superior and far more advanced with over 70.800 Free application software packages, and 1,800 Free games, Linux has NO restriction what so ever
check out the latest July 2014 Free Linux releases here
http://distrowatch.org/

I recommend this one for windows users it works like windows xp or w7 desktops so you will be at home using it....
http://zorin-os.com

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

I do not doubt that Linux is superior, although I have no interest in games.

A Floyd • 9 years ago

You need to separate the software into Free and Not Free. Which one was the best Free? Looks like AVG Free beats Avast there. I refuse to believe McAfee and Norton scored higher - the number of times I've run into an infected computer with those on there is numerous. It's like they couldn't stop a single thing. Put AVG Free on there and presto, I find all sorts of bugs.
Then aside from those, you need to separate them into which ones affect a simple activity - playing video on a laptop.

Carling • 9 years ago

Floyd... You need to learn Microsoft and Apple are NOT the only computer operating systems in the world there are 100 other Free Operating systems available that's up to date, July 2014 you can check one of them out here www zorin-os com it will blow your mind when you see what it can do that windows and Mac can't do...
for the latest July top 100 free operating systems check here > www distrowatch org

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

I would not use AVG, even if it were the only antivirus on the planet.

Ron I. • 9 years ago

You would simply not connect to the internet.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

I connect, and I am still waiting for this "doomsday attack." and waiting...and waiting...

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

I shut off microsoft updates, permanently. And, had far fewer problems.

Carling • 9 years ago

I shut windows up in 2002 (12yrs ago) never used it since.....

A Floyd • 9 years ago

Once again, I call you a liar.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

It's easy to say somebody is a liar, when you have no accountability.
Which is exactly what you are doing, troll.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

80% of all "free" security on the internet, is a scam. Goggle has already warned all of us about this.
Don't download "free" security programs. Use Professional systems only.

Carling • 9 years ago

Quote :- 80% of all "free" security on the internet, is a scam.
Reply : You should have stated 80% of all "free" security on the internet for windows is a scam.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

Scam artists target windows with fake free security products, that is correct.

A Floyd • 9 years ago

Scam programs are things like PC Matic, My Clean PC, etc. etc. They promise to fix problems they are programmed to find, then complain that those problems aren't going to be fixed anymore when you remove the software. It's supposed to fix the problems, not unfix them.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

As I said, 80% of free downloads are a Scam.

Carling • 9 years ago

For windows only... is a scam

Гена • 9 years ago

Telling commonly whole linux ecosystem is a scam.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

"Free" tools and "Free" utilities...that promise they will "fix" problems....
should NEVER be loaded into your system.
Don't fall for it. Use professional antivirus only.

Carling • 9 years ago

Nicola I'm trying to educate you! The worlds fastest computer operating system Linux is developed by the worlds top 200 biggest hardware and software developers is FREE to download and use, It runs 486 of the top 500 worlds fastest computer, It has over 74,864 FREE professional application software packages

Android is = Linux
Chrome is = Linux
Firefox web browser is = Linux

Websites that use Free Linux opersting system
Amazon, Facebook, YouTube,Yahoo Twitter, Every website you go on use Free Linux Operating system

Your home runs on Linux, Fridge, Washer/Dryer, Microwave, TV, Cars you name it it runs on Linux OS

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

I'm already sold on Linux. You don't need to sell it to me. When my windows 7 quits, I'm going to use Linux from then on.

A Floyd • 9 years ago

You sound like a paid AV software shill. I've used free utilities to clean systems and they do their jobs really well.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

Free Works Really well...temporarily. These types of tools have no long term reliability or accountability.
That's why you should use a reliable system, that updates threat detection hourly, all day long.

Other than, 80% of free software is loaded with malware. This figure comes from Goggle Corporation, who has issued multiple warnings about downloading "free" software.

But no matter how many people are warned about this, you can't fix stupid.
Some people just can't stop downloading junk off the internet.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

Multiple security systems, loaded from different sources, will cause system conflicts, and should be avoided.

A Floyd • 9 years ago

IE don't try to run 2 Antivirus software at the same time. DUH.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

I just said that, troll.

Ron I. • 9 years ago

Shouldn't call people troll.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

Free antivirus, downloaded from the internet, should be avoided. These free systems do not cover all the bases, and do not automatically update protection. It leaves too many areas unprotected.
You should only use a professional all- in- one system.

A Floyd • 9 years ago

You obviously know nothing (pretty evident as you said you use XP without any updates). Free antivirus software is better than nothing, and AVG Free does its job really well. Also stop using Internet Explorer.

Nicola Tesla • 9 years ago

I wouldn't use AVG, even if it were the only antivirus on the planet.