question re: free a/v software

[D.]

does free a/v software provide
adequate security ?
can someone recommend some ?
thanks ,
dick

 

[Maincat]

does free a/v software provide
adequate security ?
can someone recommend some ?
thanks ,
dick

There's some excellent free AV software out there. Try AVG and Avast.
There's bound to be more as well.

 

[Robert Pendell]

does free a/v software provide
adequate security ?
can someone recommend some ?
thanks ,
dick

In my personal opinion... Yes. Here are a few that I can suggest. The
first one I use personally but I have seen plenty using the second one.
The third is from a respectable security company

Avast Home Edition
Note: initial 2 month at install then needs free registration once every
14 months
http://www.avast.com

AVG Free Edition
http://www.avgfree.com

Comodo Anti-Virus
http://antivirus.comodo.com

These all use a relatively low amount of resources when compared to the
retail off-the-shell products. Avast is designed in such a way that
it's current minimum requirements still sit at a 486 processor with only
16MB of ram.

--
Robert Pendell
(e-mail address removed)

"A perfect world is one of chaos."

Thawte Web of Trust Notary
CAcert Assurer

 

[Big Al]

does free a/v software provide
adequate security ?
can someone recommend some ?
thanks ,
dick

I agree with the other two respondents. I've used both AVG and Avast.
I like both for different reasons. I've upgraded from AVG7.5 to
AVG8.0 however, and I find 8.0 not quite that good. Its a bit too bulky
and seems to slow the PC. So as long as AVG7.5 works, I'll stay there.

Other people like Nortons and some like McAfee etc. Pay programs but
you can get them on discount now and then for about 10-15$ for a year
subscription to the virus updates.

I don't think there are absolutes in life but if you stay with safe web
practices, then yes, AVG/Avast/etc will probably take care of you.

 

[Alias]

does free a/v software provide
adequate security ?
can someone recommend some ?
thanks ,
dick

I use Ubuntu with a hard firewall and NO AV and NO soft firewall and NO
viruses or malware. Check it out at http://www.ubuntu.com/

Alias

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Free AV apps provide minimal security IMHO. I can recommend two (in order):
Avira AntiVir; Avast4. I do NOT recommend AVG AV for most users.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Which is totally non-responsive to the users question when asked in an XP
newsgroup.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

I use Ubuntu with a hard firewall and NO AV and NO soft firewall and NO
viruses or malware...

We shall alert the media.

PS: Go away.

 

[Alias]

Which is totally non-responsive to the users question when asked in an
XP newsgroup.

I made a viable suggestion. You tried to play net nanny. Note that this
groups says xp.general, not xp.only or xp.specific.

Alias

 

[Alias]

We shall alert the media.

Yeah, right.

PS: Go away.

No.

Alias

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

does free a/v software provide
adequate security ?

That depends on what you are asking.

If you're asking whether all free anti-virus programs are good, the
answer is no (but neither are all paid-for anti-virus programs).

If you are asking whether the best free anti-virus program is as good
as the best paid-for anti-virus program, the answer is still no,
although the better free ones are very good and are close to the best
paid-for ones.

If you are asking whether *any* anti-virus alone provides adequate
security, the answer is also no. For adequate security, you also need
to run a firewall program, and two or more anti-spyware programs.

Also note that some of the most well-known and most commonly-used
anti-virus programs are among the poorest available--for example,
Norton and McAfee.

My personal choice of anti-virus software is NOD32 (a paid-for
product) but the free version of Avast is close behind it.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

<plonk again>

Yeah, right.


No.

Alias

 

[D.]

O.K. is free avast better than mcafee security center ?
i'm fairly sure i know the answer but i want to hear
it from the pros .
dick

 

[Mark]

Avast works very good. I've used both Norton and McAfee in the past
(distant). McAfee was the worst with Norton not too far behind it.

O.K. is free avast better than mcafee security center ?
i'm fairly sure i know the answer but i want to hear
it from the pros .
dick

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

O.K. is free avast better than mcafee security center ?

Avast is very much better than McAfee.

As far as I'm concerned, there's only one available product I know of
that isn't better than McAfee, and that's Norton.

i'm fairly sure i know the answer but i want to hear
it from the pros .
dick

 

[D.]

i did it ! dumped mcafee for avast .
i don't know why i took so long .
one question , is it advisable to disable e-mail
scanning in avast ?
thanks to everyone for their input .
dick

O.K. is free avast better than mcafee security center ?

Avast is very much better than McAfee.

As far as I'm concerned, there's only one available product I know of
that isn't better than McAfee, and that's Norton.

 

[Daave]

is it advisable to disable e-mail scanning in avast ?

Yes, it's unnecessary since you are already using Avast's onboard
scanning all the time.

 

[D.]

i can't figure out how do do this .
any advice ?
thanks ,
dick

 

[Alias]

<plonk again>

Being a drama queen again, eh?

Alias

 

[Doug W.]

Leave Avast as it is if you are not comfortable at making
changes...DON'T disable the e-mail scanning module despite what
you read. The e-mail scanning uses very little resources. Avast
does not say to disable e-mail scanning despite the fact that
on-board scanning MIGHT cover every aspect of continual
protection.

Doug W.
--------