Vista - Is AVG 7.5 FREE EDT enough for complete security?

Hi, im using a vista home premium which was pre installed when i purchased the laptop, it came with Norton Internet Security trial version...and now 60days are over and i uninstalled the AV. Based on other user experience i just need to know if i can actually rely on the Win firewall, defender? and simply install the Free AVG AV for full security...If not, then id appreciate anyone who can help me in keeping my PC secure...

Hi Bushako,

AVG is a great AV program to use to replace Norton. However to help keep clean, you should run a good anti adware, spyware, and malware program every once in a while to check for these. They are not always caught by a AV program.

Windows Defender is one, but these are alot more thorough. You can install and run one or all of them.

Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/

SUPERAntiSpyware
SUPERAntiSpyware.com - AntiAdware. AntiSpyware. AntiMalware.

A-Squared Free
a-squared Free (formerly a² free) Freeware! A2 is a free of charge Anti-Trojan, Anti-Worm, Anti-Dialer and Anti-Spyware Software - optimal protection

Shawn

Hey Bushako,

To piggy back on Shawn's advice (our resident expert), I'll point you to a short list of utilities which may be useful to you. The post can be found here: Short List of Utilities for Vista

I hope this helps.

Hi Shawn,
I have downloaded the EDET smart security and am using it as a trial for these few days and if i find it helpfull il just purchase it. However, if im not satisfied il follow your advice and download the programs you mentioned above. Btw, if you have had any bad experiences with Nod32 id appreciate it if you can point them out. Thanks

Cliff

Cliff,

I have never used Nod32 since it is not a free program, but I have not heard anything bad about it either.

It all depends on how secure you want your PC bearing in mind that higher realtime protection standards such as Norton and Kaspersky have will reduce CPU performance.

I have made a list of the AV'S I have used over the years:

avast! - High detection rate and amazing realtime protection
AVG - Nice GUI, basically classed as a 'slimmed down' version of Kaspersky 7
Kaspersky 7 - High detection rate and some worthwhile premium features

Anyway, don't take my word for it, go out and grab the free trials and see whether you will suit a high detection rate AV such as NOD32 or Kaspersky or a free resource friendly AV such as avast!, AVG or Antivir.

I use AVG Anti-Virus Free and I think this program is really good. I have never had viruses in system with this soft. New version, AVG 8.0 is better because it has include antispyware. I think this is the best freeware antivirus :-)

AJTazza
Thanks for the info on different AV. However, i have been using ESET Smart Security for a month now as a trial and it works great, so i purchased it and am happily using it. So far i have managed to eliminate all the viruses that are up to my knowledge and it has good personal firewall which can easily be configured. The best thing about Eset Smart security is that, it uses very little resources. It seems to have little or no effect on my system perfromance. And i have also recommended about a dozen other people who were in need of security. And so far they dont seem to be complaining.

Saladyn thanks for sharing your opinion on AVG. Id have to disagree that its really that good. I agree on the part that it uses less resources of the pc and that its free. HOwever, i think it has a low detection rate. You know i was using AVG free edition for almost 1 year and a half since i didnt have much choice from all the good advice i got about it. While using it i had faced hundreds of problems with viruses and i had to manually remove most of the viruses. The funny thing is in the end one of the viruses even managed to easily disable the AVG and corrupt it. Last, i installed the ESET and it detected and eliminated all most 200 viruses and trojans.

ESET is Definately good.low on Resources and high detection rate.
I still maintain tho that if you are careful with what you put into the system(data) any basic AV / FW will work.