Scared to download any free AV software...

Currently I browse with FireFox and have Windows Defender and Windows Firewall as my protection. I was gonna also download Avira, Malwarebytes, SuperAntiSpyware as well but I hear horror stories or people saying AVG or Avast is better, I never get a straight answer so I don't want to download crap appilcations. Any ideas?

 

Neither AVG nor Avast are crap--I myself use the latter on my Thinkpad.

 

I used to use AVG for a long time, now I use Avira.
It actually does detect some viruses that AVG missed.

Those two are the best IMO.

 

I also used to use AVG for the longest time, but as of late it seems to be lacking, so I've moved onto Avira, which if anything is too sensitive for my tastes.

 

Both Avast and Avira make rock solid products. Cant go wrong chosing either of them.

 

LOL! Good to hear that you have moved to Avira instead of the worthless AVG.
Many people claims AVG is the BEST if they haven't try Avira.
After they try Avira, they will realise how much weaker AVG compared to Avira.
Avira = High detection rate and Low resources usage(use a little RAM)
AVG = Low detection rate and high resources usage(use a lot of RAM) with extra protection features(which is useless due to the poor detection rate).
Avast = High detection rate(lower than Avira) and medium resources usage but with extra protection features(which is useful).

 

Avira AntiVir is the best FREE Antivirus ever! Never misses a virus! and is light on the system!

 

You will still always hear this even though you use any of these tools with no bad experience of your part.

Check the stickies, ask for inputs, and use what works well on your systems!

I use Avast and it fits fine for me for many years.

cheers ...

 

yes, thanks for letting me know about Avira
It is much better than AVG.

 

I'm not sure what you consider "horror stories", but the overwhelming majority of posts about Avira, MBAM, and SAS on this sub-forum are very positive about those three applications. As for "never" getting a straight answer, I have to strongly disagree with you. I find most answers to questions posted here to be straightforward, sincere, and informative. Of course different members will have different opinions about what is the "best" antivirus or security application, but that does not mean you're not getting a straight answer. Finally, those three apps you mention are far from being "crap" applications; on the contrary they're three of the most highly rated and recommended security apps not just here but throughout the tech community. If everyone with a computer was running at least those three security apps we would get a lot fewer panicky "please help me my computer just got infected" posts.

 

Non of the apps you mentioned are crap. I have used all of the mentioned ones and they worked very well. I had been using Avira for the last year without issue.

 

So which is better? I hear Avira is the best but is slow as dirt updating/scanning. Does the free version of each have real time protection?

Would I be safe with Windows Defender, Windows Firewall, Avira, Malwarebytes, and SuperAntiSpyware?

 

Yes, that is a great combo. I use all that except replace Avira with Symantic Endpoint Protection 11 (forced to use it at my university). Avira is my favorite free AV, followed by Avast.

 

I recommend avast/avira and comodo firewall

 

The Avira updater is not always "slow as dirt". It really depends on the time of day, the size of the download, and the load on the Avira servers. Some days it checks for updates and downloads them in a matter of seconds. Other days it might take several minutes to connect and download, such as when a new engine is available or a major product update is being pushed out. That kind of inconsistency is a small price to pay for an excellent free product and no longer bothers me. Being a rather impatient person and having the need for speed, I too was bothered at first by how long the updater took to connect on some days. Now I just start the updater and minimize it, then proceed to doing whatever else I was planning on doing on the computer (ignoring the time it takes to update). The updater will download and still the files automatically and close when it's done. As far as scanning goes, I don't think it's any slower than any of the other good AVs out there, free or paid. I usually do a scan per week and I simply start it when I need to walk away from the computer for a while. By the time I return it's usually finished or close to finishing. The combination you mention of Avira, MBAM, SAS, Defender, and Windows firewall should keep most users safe as long as they practice common sense. The only thing I would add to that mix is Spywareblaster for passive protection.

 

I've been messing around with both Avira nad Avast! and I kinda prefer Avast!, Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware have already been downloaded.

Explain SpywareBlaster to me a little, I looked up reviews and they seem low.

Right now I have:
Windows Defender
Windows Firewall
Malwarebytes
SuperAntiSpyware

And either Avast! or Avira, so I think I should be safe. I'm the only one who uses the laptop since it's mine and I'm pretty computer literate so I wouldn't click any stupid links, etc.

 

SpywareBlaster is a FREEWARE too.
It provides the protection against spyware on Internet Browser(Firefox, Chrome, IE and so on). It blocks the spyware instantly.
Since it doesn't need any start-up or services and you don't need to turn it on to gain the protection. All you need to do is Turn on the SpywareBlaster, update it and click enable all protection, close the SpywareBlaster(do this once a week). It used 0 CPU and 0 Memory of your PC/Laptop. The protection can be called as PASSIVE which already build-in into your Internet Browser.
You need not to worry about system slowed down or resources being used.
Since it is ZERO resources usage, installing it is better, add another layer of protection to your system. ^^!

 

Avira Antivir is the best.

Don't bother with the other resource hoggin anti virus programs out there.

 

Avast! isn't a resource hog, I tried both Avira nad Avast! on my mother's slow laptop with vista and 1gb of ram and noticed no difference.

 

I was happy with Avira and SuperAntispyware. All I had for a firewall was Windows Firewall. I could have probably gone for more security but I didn't have any problems with that combo. I am using NIS 2009 now and I love that very much and it has spyware, antispyware and firewall along with a whole host of other things.

 

it never misses but can't remove a stupid virus. KIS10 pawn it

 

He didn't mention Avast!.
Indeed, Avast! Home Edition is not a resources hog. Yet, it uses more resources than the Avira Antivir Personal 9. However, Avast! Home Edition have more features than Avira Antivir Personal 9.
Some people said Avast! Skin(theme) is like Media Player/Cute Gaming Emulator(which look horrible). LOL.

 

Avast is ugly, but the new version 5 fixed that.

 

I use avast + comodo firewall.... so sweet!

 

Like other people said, a combo of Avira AntiVir + Comodo Firewall is perfect. I haven't tried the anti spyware solutions you mentioned but I would recommend Ad-Aware for protection against spywares, it never let me down.

 

I have to agree on that. I downloaded Avira today and it's far superior than AVG which I used for years. Now I prefer Avira simply because it's a lot better than AVG.