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    Best All around Free Av

    Discussion in 'Security and Anti-Virus Software' started by KayC, Dec 18, 2011.

  1. KayC

    KayC Notebook Consultant

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    I was looking for a free antivirus program that is light and won't annoy the shiz out of me. I did some research and i found out that MSE, Panda Cloud, Avira, Avast, and kaspersky were up there. I want something that is noob friendly

    What do you guys recommend?

    Btw will this be all i need, do i have to download any other security programs
     
    KayC, Dec 18, 2011
    #1
  2. yuyi64

    yuyi64 Notebook Consultant

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    Avira, Avast, and MSE in that order (install only one as your active protection). Also get Malwarebytes and Superantispyware to use as on-demand scanners.
     
    yuyi64, Dec 18, 2011
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  3. Hungry Man

    Hungry Man Notebook Virtuoso

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    If there were a correct answer to this the world would be a very different place.

    My vote goes to Panda.
     
    Hungry Man, Dec 18, 2011
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  4. Mitlov

    Mitlov Shiny

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    I use Microsoft Security Essentials and like it. The scans are slow, but the interface is easy to use and it's not a resource hog at all.
     
    Mitlov, Dec 19, 2011
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  5. 1994F7PT

    1994F7PT Notebook Evangelist

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    i used to use AVG until it filled with bloat and got fat and clunky, now i use MSE, no complaints at all, works a treat

    i also use malwarebytes on demand
     
    1994F7PT, Dec 20, 2011
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  6. Nilfiry

    Nilfiry Notebook Enthusiast

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    I think I would recommend Windows Defender since it seems to be climbing up the ladder now-a-days. It is simple to use and does not take up a lot of resources. It might not get rid of the more problematic viruses like trojans and rootkit, so get another on-demand virus scanner as well.
     
    Nilfiry, Dec 20, 2011
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  7. niharjhatn

    niharjhatn Notebook Evangelist

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    MSE IS a bit of a resource hog... whilst its RAM usage is fine, CPU usage continually spikes, updates are only released once a day, and the one time I got infected with MSE, I had a lot of problems cleaning the system again...

    AVAST, avira, and comodo internet security are all great, comodo especially as you get an awesome firewall as well (and so few seem to know about it!)

    Make sure you grab an ondemand scanner like malwarebytes or something similar as well.

    But every computer reacts very differently to the same AV, so try them all, but make sure you remove the AV PROPERLY i.e. consider running the clean up tool + ccleaner after you uninstall it, as fragments of remnant AV can really screw up the function of any you subsequently install.
     
    niharjhatn, Dec 20, 2011
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  8. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Windows Defender is now Microsoft Security Essentials.
     
    sgogeta4, Dec 21, 2011
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  9. Hungry Man

    Hungry Man Notebook Virtuoso

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    N, only on Windows 8. On Windows 7 and previously it's still just Defender.
     
    Hungry Man, Dec 21, 2011
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  10. westCoastgeekbaby2

    westCoastgeekbaby2 Notebook Consultant

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    I like Comodo which has not failed me yet
     
    westCoastgeekbaby2, Dec 23, 2011
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  11. MAA83

    MAA83 Notebook Evangelist

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    Another vote for Avast along side Comodo Firewall and Defense+

    I used to use Avira as well so it's my second choice, but recent changes have pushed me over to Avast.
     
    MAA83, Dec 23, 2011
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