Best free antivirus out there?

lisasctt4

New Member
I have heard very good things about Avira AntiVir Free and Microsoft Security Essentials and currently I use MSE together with Windows Firewall + Common Sense + Malwarebytes.

I don't need a fancy and pricy AV because I know a free one can be just as good if you actually know what you do and what sites you visit/things you download and I'm not gonna shell out hundreds of dollars a year.

So it all comes down to this. What FREE AV is the best out there? Which one would you recommend? Don't be so quck to judge an AV just because it's a certain corp. that made it.

Avira Free?
MSE?
Avast! Free?
AVG Free?
 

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Welcome

Very astute question. Best is in the eye of the beholder. For me and many at this forum, we believe that MSE is best
Best because it uses very little resources
Best because it is the only AV made specifically for Windows by the creators of Windows
Best because it has a very good track record of stopping Virus and Malware.

I think its best because, in addition to the above, it is the only AV that I have seen at this forum that has not caused computer problems, such as freezing, BSODs as well as other problems
 

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  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
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    DSL provided by ATT
This list can be useful:

Probably the Best Free Security List in the World

Don't just look at the editor's picks. Often in the comments section you can find out about a software you are not familiar with. Myself, I prefer scanners. To run with real-time protection is like taking a shower with a rain coat on. On occasion I'll run a browser in Sandboxie if I have no confidence in the site or it's a link I'm not sure about. There are other browser shields too, probably in the lists in the link. :)

Also I believe some like to run a VM just to run a browser to risky sites. Many ways to skin the cat. It's been my experience that "real time shields" often create more problems than they solve.

Just my $.02
 

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System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
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