Which is the best of the "free" anti-virus software packages out there?

[Teddy Wang]

I'm exploring the following packages:

eTrust EZArmor
avast! Home Edition
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
AntiVir Personal Edition

Can somebody please tell me which one is the best?

Thanks!

 

[Bill]

I'm exploring the following packages:

eTrust EZArmor
avast! Home Edition
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
AntiVir Personal Edition

Can somebody please tell me which one is the best?

Thanks!

You're going to get a number of varying opinions, but they''re just
that. Opinions. Your best bet is to check out the independent
comparative tests (No, not the ones in the PC rags) and make an
informed decision based upon their performance as well as your
individual needs.

Here's a link to Virus Bulletin's VB100 test scores. It is wise to
look at the track record of each product rather than just the last one
or two tests. It gives you a much better idea of their track record.

My personal opinion on free scanners is that you get what you pay for.
I know of no free scanner that will stand up to the top paid ones such
as Nod32, KAV, DrWeb, NAV and McAfee (to name a few) in terms of
detection.

 

[Bill]

I'm exploring the following packages:

eTrust EZArmor
avast! Home Edition
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
AntiVir Personal Edition

Well, lets look at the VB100 track records.


Free AV Programs

ETrust : 15 Passes 10 Fails
Avast: 7 Passes 18 Fails
AVG: 3 Passes 19 Fails
AntiVir: 0 Passes 7 Fails

The results all seem pretty dismal to me.

Popular Paid AV Programs

Nod32: 24 Passes 3 Fails
KAV: 19 Passes 13 Fails
DrWeb: 14 Passes 14 Fails
Norton: 22 Passes 6 Fails
McAfee: 13 Passes 16 Fails

You do the math...

 

[Clay]

I'm exploring the following packages:

eTrust EZArmor
avast! Home Edition
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
AntiVir Personal Edition

Can somebody please tell me which one is the best?

Sure...
IMO, the best package is the one you learn to use properly as a *tool*
only and not a security blanket.

 

[Robin T Cox]

Well, lets look at the VB100 track records.


Free AV Programs

ETrust : 15 Passes 10 Fails
Avast: 7 Passes 18 Fails
AVG: 3 Passes 19 Fails
AntiVir: 0 Passes 7 Fails

The results all seem pretty dismal to me.

Popular Paid AV Programs

Nod32: 24 Passes 3 Fails
KAV: 19 Passes 13 Fails
DrWeb: 14 Passes 14 Fails
Norton: 22 Passes 6 Fails
McAfee: 13 Passes 16 Fails

You do the math...

The above maths are incomplete, since they do not include a comparison
of the cost of the product versus the cost/risk incurred by the home user.
Whilst the risk of losses to a business caused by virus attack may be
substantial, the corresponding cost to most home users is likely to be
nowhere near that figure. Therefore it is unnecessary for the average home
user to spend a lot of money on a sophisticated industrial-
strength antivirus program, when most of the free ones are perfectly
adequate.

 

[Bill]

Therefore it is unnecessary for the average home
user to spend a lot of money on a sophisticated industrial-
strength antivirus program, when most of the free ones are perfectly
adequate.

Whether it's adequate or not largely depends upon the user.

 

[Jeffrey A. Setaro]

The above maths are incomplete, since they do not include a comparison
of the cost of the product versus the cost/risk incurred by the home user.
Whilst the risk of losses to a business caused by virus attack may be
substantial, the corresponding cost to most home users is likely to be
nowhere near that figure. Therefore it is unnecessary for the average home
user to spend a lot of money on a sophisticated industrial-
strength antivirus program, when most of the free ones are perfectly
adequate.

ROFLMAO... Tell that to someone who has lost the digital pictures of
his/her late mother/father/sister/bother. Losses aren't just
financial... In fact some of the most valuable things home users may
have stored on their systems don't have a financial value just
sentimental one.

--
Cheers-

Jeff Setaro
jasetaro <at> mags.net
http://people.mags.net/jasetaro/
PGP Key IDs DH/DSS: 0x5D41429D RSA: 0x599D2A99 New RSA: 0xA19EBD34

 

[Willie Nickels]

I'm exploring the following packages:

eTrust EZArmor
avast! Home Edition
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
AntiVir Personal Edition

Can somebody please tell me which one is the best?

Thanks!

Someone will I'm sure. Nothing personal. There's no free lunch. You
can never go home again. Whom would you trust?

 

[pgx]

|
|ROFLMAO... Tell that to someone who has lost the digital pictures of
|his/her late mother/father/sister/bother.

Anything you can't afford to loose should be backed up!

Phil

 

[Jeffrey A. Setaro]

|
|ROFLMAO... Tell that to someone who has lost the digital pictures of
|his/her late mother/father/sister/bother.

Anything you can't afford to loose should be backed up!

No kidding... With multiple copies store in different locations. I have
the REALLY important stuff stored on optical media and keep copies in my
safe deposit box!

--
Cheers-

Jeff Setaro
jasetaro <at> mags.net
http://people.mags.net/jasetaro/
PGP Key IDs DH/DSS: 0x5D41429D RSA: 0x599D2A99 New RSA: 0xA19EBD34

 

[Iceman©]

My oh my I been mis belief that etrust was a good antivirus.

Well, lets look at the VB100 track records.


Free AV Programs

ETrust : 15 Passes 10 Fails
Avast: 7 Passes 18 Fails
AVG: 3 Passes 19 Fails
AntiVir: 0 Passes 7 Fails

The results all seem pretty dismal to me.

Popular Paid AV Programs

Nod32: 24 Passes 3 Fails

Hmm I will give it go for Nod32, hopefully it will run better than it said.

 

[Bill]

Hmm I will give it go for Nod32

Wise choice.

 

[optikl]

It's important when looking at these tests to understand what you're looking
at.
With any ongoing benchmarking, recent trends are far more relevant than
total results.
Also keep in mind these test are restricted to ITW infectors.

 

[GuitarMan]

Wise choice.

Can you only purchase Nod32 through the net? I can't seem to locate it in
any local retailer stores.
Thanks...