looking for good anti-virus freeware...

[The FlyerFly]

hi everyone...

first post here. i was just wondering if anyone could suggest a good, solid freeware anti-virus program. ive done a google and found a few, but i was looking for some users opinions.

my sister and brother-in-law have a laptop that they have let go completely. god knows how much spyware, adware, and virus infection they have on it. however, they do not want to have to pay the yearly subscription for Symantec or the like. i tried to convince them that it would be worth their while, but to no avail. so, i plan on hooking them up with Ad-aware and i wanted to find some kind of updatable freeware anti-virus as well for them.

i just hope the damage isn't so bad that theyll have to reformat the hard drive and reinstall XP. but somehow i get the feeling it is.

thanks in advance for any help!!

The FlyerFly


check out my Flyers homepage at

http://flyerflies.bravepages.com

[meatwad]

We annually test most of the anti-virus programs out there here in our shop. NONE of the free ones did very good. I suppose their better than nothing, but they really do a pretty lousy job. I setup F-Secure 30 day free trial on a friends computer and I have the retail version on mine. It came in second on our tests next to KAV. But the newest KAV is kind of a memory hog. AVG free came in third to last on the test.

[eboyjones]

What test are you running Meatwad? A lot of us here us AVG free, and in the time I've used it nothing got through. Of course you gotta keep up on your updates.

[TripleRLtd]

Hear is something, although it lacks for details, perhaps if we all test all the one's besides AVG, we will know a lot more!!!http://forums.windrivers.com/images/smilies/thumbs.gif
http://pcworld.shopping.yahoo.com/yahoo/article/0,aid,113462,00.asp

[meatwad]

What test are you running Meatwad? A lot of us here us AVG free, and in the time I've used it nothing got through. Of course you gotta keep up on your updates.

Install Antivirus software. Update AV software. E-mail viruses to the computer. Record results. Connect hard drive infected with thousands of viruses. Scan. Record results.

AVG Free missed almost every virus that was packed in a zip file.

[Zonie]

Install Antivirus software. Update AV software. E-mail viruses to the computer. Record results. Connect hard drive infected with thousands of viruses. Scan. Record results.

AVG Free missed almost every virus that was packed in a zip file.


That's interesting considering I have been using it with my clients for over 2 years and it has been catching virus in zip files especially from emails. I have even found it effective for booting to when I suspect a drive to be infected to a point of not working and have had it clean the drive so the operating system is able to work again. As in all phases of software programs, each have their own beliefs and tests. IMHO, go with what you feel comfortable with.

[ilovetheusers]

Install Antivirus software. Update AV software. E-mail viruses to the computer. Record results. Connect hard drive infected with thousands of viruses. Scan. Record results.

AVG Free missed almost every virus that was packed in a zip file.



Where do you get a drive that's infected with thousands of viruses?

I concur about AVG missing things in zip files. Scary thing is that it misses trojans and viruses in self extracting (.exe) files. Otherwise it's pretty good.

[dgiese01]

That's interesting considering I have been using it with my clients for over 2 years and it has been catching virus in zip files especially from emails. I have even found it effective for booting to when I suspect a drive to be infected to a point of not working and have had it clean the drive so the operating system is able to work again. As in all phases of software programs, each have their own beliefs and tests. IMHO, go with what you feel comfortable with.
:drink:

I am a firm believer in the adage of TANSTAAFL! If this gentleman wants a free antivirus then I suspect that is what he's going to get. I have yet to find a free antivirus that I would trust. Some were ok but slow on the update.
I personally use Norton SystemWorks2003 and found the price of $69.99 a investment in my machine. If the gentleman really wants a free antivirus tell him to hunt in the Warez department. I KNOW there are several commerical versions of all the major companies.
Yes I am fully aware that NAV is a memory hog if you give it it's head, but with a bit of though you can pare down the memory use and still get the covrage that you need, and only waht you need.

[meatwad]

[QUOTE=ilovetheusers]Where do you get a drive that's infected with thousands of viruses?
QUOTE]

You mean you don't collect them?

[TripleRLtd]

[QUOTE=ilovetheusers]Where do you get a drive that's infected with thousands of viruses?
QUOTE]

You mean you don't collect them?http://forums.windrivers.com/images/smilies/smile.gif
Check the best of best software thread meat....

[confus-ed]

Here's a big list ! (http://www.freebyte.com/antivirus/#scanners) with lots of links to other 'free' related stuff ;)

BTW - 'TANSTAAFL' - there is no such thing as a free lunch ... well there is free av s/w & some of it is better than others !

& an FYI ... for you AVG devotees ... check that 'use heuristics' button & you'll magically find it gets a whole load more stuff ;)

Oooh edit !! :

We seem to be all very rude today ... so since no-one said it ... Welcome to Windrivers :-The FlyerFly :)

[Ferrit]

At this point in time its about like owning a home and not having home insurance. I wouldnt leave my home unprotected and neither would I my computer. Norton all the way I dotn care how much resources it uses.

[toranthx]

http://www.hbedv.com/download/download.htm



I found this one @ www.nonags.com

AntiVir

This thing is cool... catches some things that aren't even dangerouse even.

[Pluto]

I use AVG free and Norman AV. Never had a problem other than blaster.

[Platypus]

I concur about AVG missing things in zip files. Scary thing is that it misses trojans and viruses in self extracting (.exe) files.

In attachments or disk files?

If disk scan, in Complete Test Settings (on Service menu in the main AVG window) make sure in the Testing section both "Internally compressed" and "Archive" options are checked. Also for a maximum security scan, it may be wise to have the Integrity Check not enabled. If it is enabled (default) AVG doesn't scan files that are unchanged against its internal integrity database of scanned files. At the moment I'm not sure what this means if the file was infected with a very recent virus just before AVG was updated to recognise that virus. By rights the integrity database should be invalidated for the first scan after an update occurs, but unchecking the option would make certain.

Also there are two heuristics options, one in Complete Test Settings in the main program, for disk scans, one in the Control Centre on the Resident Shield tab, this one is easily missed, and would be the one to catch nasties in attachments. "Use Outlook Express Plugin" on the Email Scanner tab should also be selected when OE is the email client.

[confus-ed]

:thumbs: ... Platypus is quite right ... make sure with AVG you examine ALL the default settings carefully ... it works much better when you turn everything on ! :eek2: :devil:

For free I still think this is 'brill' !, but it has its 'oddities' & updating for pattern matches/ reference files isn't always the greatest ;)

[JeffO93]

As for leaving your home "unprotected", my mentality is to leave the doors wide open and care both a hi-capacity autoloader and a revolver backup.
I'm careful, I hate the hogs that AV software puts on my PC, and I scan at the slightest hint of abnormal behavior.

I own NortonAV and keep the latest updates religiously. In fact updating is scripted. With a few mouse-clicks, it downloads, and expands.
Same thing with McAfee SuperDAT. Many don't know you can download the SuperDAT, expand it, and run scan /adl /all /clean for free. If you want an AV service hogging your memory, you gotta pay McAfee for retail.

I don't know which company is best. I've had to fix too many computers that have problems created by McAfee, though. Lately, though, McAfee seems to be beating Norton by 1-3 days when getting new defs out.

[writerguy]

Norton all the way I dotn care how much resources it uses.

Yeah, I used to think Norton was good, too. I scanned with BitDefender Standard 7.2 and found SIX infected files after using Norton AV for eight months. Norton also won't scan email properly using my email client (PocoMail 3.0.3).

I uninstalled NAV and found that, when you uninstall, it leaves a driver buried deep in the DCHP key in your registry (this is XP Home Edition SP-1) that prevents the DCHP service from starting -- cutting me off of my home network and Internet access.

Nope. No more NAV for me, thanks. Other good ones out there. You might look at EZ Antivirus from eTrust/CA -- they were giving it away free with a free firewall, but I don't know whether they still are. It's a bit out-dated as far as the interface, but seems to work well.

Right now I'm evaluating NOD32 and probably will purchase it.

I had avast! Pro 4.1 for a week or so, until it let two Bagle viruses slip through. (AVG Pro 7 missed the same two. Didn't try AVG free or avast Home free ed.)

Regardless, I think NAV is highly overrated, living off the Norton reputation from years past.

Gary Speer

[JeffO93]

I just found a java virus on my machine three days ago. It couldn't do anything because I'd had the MS patch that plugs the exploit already applied.
So the protections I'd rather have instead of always-on AV services is:
- Install all the latest patches
- Have at least one firewall layer
- Never view any email from someone you don't know. All my friends know how I sign my email subjects. I know how they sign theirs.
- If you have high-speed always-on Internet access, have a hardware firewall, then a dummy Internet gateway computer sharing out the connection, then have software firewalls on each computer that connect through the gateway.

If you follow these practices, and you're technically savvy, there's no need for live protection resource hogs.
Besides, the first thing a virus tends to do is kill the antivirus application. I worked on a PC that had a virus (I think it was Bugbear?) that damaged Norton's link to the antiV defs. Norton ran and would do a scan and report all was fine. Totally bogus! You can't trust AV services 100%.

So I ask, why install a giant resource hog that is only about 40-50% able to protect you?

I say this advice for home only, though...
Company net's where there are dozens or hundreds of computers where a virus can spread like wildfire and do tons of damage need ALL the protection they can get, including AV services that hog resources and are 50% reliable.
It's one of the costs of doing business.

[bazcook]

- and to answer the initial query of this thread -

I'm currently using AVG 6 Free. Seems okay, but doesn't include Support - hence why we are all here - but beats paying for Support that never responds...

I've also looked at both Avast! and AntiVir, but recent posts on their Forum sites suggest things are not all as they should be there, either - so little incentive to shift to them.

And currently there is a commercial product from Computer Associates going 'free' for a one year trial, too - their E-Z Armor Suite in cooperation with Microsoft
( http://www.my-etrust.com/microsoft/index.cfm? )

I have used, at one time or another, McAfee and Norton. Norton most recently. Slick interface but a resource hog with a history of buggy problems with other software.
And, as with all the retail AVs, I resent paying for a piece of software that must be 're-subscribed to' each year. I mean, its one thing to choose to update to a more recent version of software (the old one still works) - its quite another for a manufacturer to demand it. In a fit of pique I ripped Norton out (my New Year's present to myself) and installed the aforementioned AVG.

There is *no* product out there that will stop everything from getting thru and every product is only as good as its build - but most especially, its last update and how often the scan is done.

So, read the commercial reviews, look at the products webpages, dig around in their forums or just do a Google on the product and see what shows up - and choose whatever you feel most comfortable with.