best free to download anti virus

[twiterpated]

which is the best free to download anti virus
ta
twiter

[VHG]

The two that I use (on different computers) is AVG and Avast.

While AVG was "top dog" for a while it has been plagued with on and off problems for a while (new owner? new developers?)

I still use both but at the moment Avast seems to work AND gives me no problems.

Not sure which is the BEST in terms of finding viruses.

[wideboy]

Like VHG, I use AvG and Avast plus Adaware, Spybot, Windows Defender, Malware Bytes and ComboFix.

The 'best' is probably what you're willig to pay for - you might expext AVG full version (paid for) to be better than the free version?

[bestdriver]

I use AVG and it updates itself if you want and it is free.I also use Spybot as a second anti virus, but AVG is the best.

[Ice.Maiden]

AVG, with AdAware and Spybot.

[jamie909]

i had avg free for years...but lately it wouldn't update... so now use avast with no probs

[DanAB]

you shouldn't rely too heavily on these free applications. it is better to get a licensed version of anti-virus, as they are updated regularly and you also get customer support. some of the best ones are Kaspersky, ESET and BitDefender.

[ACtheTROLL]

Look in the mags

kaspersky security suite comes as standard with a 30 day trial http://www.kaspersky.co.uk/trials


at the moment there is a further 60 day trial on offer
http://www.kaspersky-labs.co.uk/trials/reg/kis 2009/

avira also has a free 90 day trial
on the PCPro disc this month ... which gives you 180 days full conerage (none of this free cr@p)

every penny counts

[daffy654]

AVIRA is the best I have used so far,I have had AVG and it developed some serious problems and kept shutting down or not loading at all.My stepson had AVAST and it denied him access to the internet despite being configured properly.You also need anti-spyware software which is where programs like Spybot Search and Destroy come into it.I use Malwarebytes and Spywareblaster(paid for version) for this.

[legendis.god]

and still noone can tell me how to get rid of the hijack homepage

keeps taking me to look and discover .com

malwarebytes removes it but on reboot its back ive got macafee antivirus windows defender and tried spybot and other stuff
it just wont shift and has been there for months now.

[daffy654]

Legend.......turn off system restore,run Malwarebytes,reboot PC,turn system restore back on.I can almost guarantee that the file is in your system restore file,following the steps above should sort the problem out.

[legendis.god]

this might sound daft
im using vista
how do you turn off system restore?i thiought it was always off unless you used it?

[daffy654]

http://www.d-a-l.com/122008/system-restore-poi nts-and-how-to-use-them/

This is a really helpful link ^^^

[VHG]

>you shouldn't rely too heavily on these free applications. it >is better to get a licensed version of anti-virus, as they are >updated regularly

The "free" anti virus is exactly the same as the "paid for" anti virus. My AVG and Avast both update every day with no problem (actually AVG has been playing up but usually it is fine).

They are also both licensed (free licenses).

Usually they are free only to home users, The people who pay for it are large companies who buy thoudands.

Also it is usually only the anti virus component that is free, these companies give it away as a loss leader in the hope you will come back and buy their full security suites.

Dont let people tell you the free versions of anti virus are somehow "bad", if they were bad it would count against them and people would then never buy the companies full security suites.

[VHG]

>and still noone can tell me how to get rid of the hijack >homepage. keeps taking me to look and discover .com

My guess is your files called "hosts" has been updated.

The file "hosts" (which has no extension) can be updated to direct web pages to wherever someone wants them to go.

While "hosts" can be useful (perhaps in an enterprise environment) it is not usually used in a home environment.

But some nasty spyware writers update your hosts file so that web traffic is always directed to their site.

I had some spyware that did this a few months ago, and even though I removed the offending entries from the "hosts" file their program kept putting it back.

More here on hosts (see the section on Malicious use of redirection)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_file

[VHG]

There is a great little free program called WinPatrol and it is useful to install it and leave it running on your PC (it is very small).

This will alert you if anyone tries to change your hosts file (and you can say NO).

It will also alert you if someone tries to change your browser home page (and you can say no).

It also alerts you to let you know if any program is trying to install itself (and you can say NO).

You can get it here
http://www.winpatrol.com/

The great thing about WinPatrol is that it alerts you BEFORE the problem happens, whereas most progams like anti virus and spyware often only warn you AFTER the damage has been done.

[annie0000]

I actually think that the paid versions are dodgy as I have lost count of the number of people who have had problems just at the point when the anti virus is due to run out.