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Chat => Entertainment & Technology => Topic started by: chrisdicko on July 18, 2012, 20:47:13 PM

Title: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: chrisdicko on July 18, 2012, 20:47:13 PM
What are people using now? What would you recommend?

I use to use AVG but it seemed to slow things down sometime?


Cheers
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: Clock'd 0Ne on July 18, 2012, 20:48:34 PM
Microsoft Security Essentials. It's actually good.
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: Eggtastico on July 18, 2012, 20:56:21 PM
IF YOU BANK WITH BARCLAYS YOU CAN GET KASPERSKY FOR FREE
VIRGIN MEDIA GIVE TREND AWAY
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: Quixoticish on July 18, 2012, 20:57:39 PM
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on July 18, 2012, 20:48:34 PM
Microsoft Security Essentials. It's actually good.

What Nige said.
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: XEntity on July 18, 2012, 21:05:37 PM
Quote from: Quixoticish on July 18, 2012, 20:57:39 PM
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on July 18, 2012, 20:48:34 PM
Microsoft Security Essentials. It's actually good.

What Nige said.

I disagree, my computer ended up buggered while running this, I've gone to the darkside and now running norton, 3 licences for £29 and it doesn't seem to slow the system down like it used to! Manages to pick up on loads of things, even when using stumble it stops exploits running from the browser.

Seriously worth a look at the demo if you're not convinced, especially if you have 3 computers in need of protection
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: Leon on July 18, 2012, 21:29:52 PM
I use security essentials on all my machines and like it
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: soopahfly on July 18, 2012, 22:57:36 PM
For MSE to actually be good, you need to agree to sign up to the Advanced Spynet membership.  Then it will do real time scanning.
Norton is still crap.  Wouldn't use Kasperky/Trend if you paid me.

If it was my own money, I'd get NOD.  However, AVG2012 isn't bad but they are trying to push out more and more modules which are having a negative impact.
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: Clock'd 0Ne on July 18, 2012, 23:52:17 PM
I see nothing about needing the Advanced Spynet membership/MAPS or anything like that to use realtime monitoring? I don't use realtime, it constantly flashes red at me "Security Risk" telling me to enable it though, its just a tickbox away.
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: Blade on July 19, 2012, 05:55:41 AM
I use 'Avast'. It has never let me down and is usually highly recommended in threads of this type on many forums.


Dave.
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: chrisdicko on July 19, 2012, 07:33:29 AM
Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

I've downloaded Microsoft Security Essentials, so will see how that goes  :thumbup:
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: Serious on July 19, 2012, 12:36:43 PM
Still using AVG. It does slow the PC down when it is scanning the HD but not at other times.
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: M3ta7h3ad on July 21, 2012, 21:20:27 PM
I like AVAST but less so nowerdays.

The "spam-like" popups it does advertising its premium version or the mobile android version are getting more frequent and annoying so I now just install MSE on my parents and family machines.
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: Cypher on July 21, 2012, 21:56:13 PM
I wouldn't recommend a "free" product, either free version or given away.  A good solution is not expensive.
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: zpyder on July 21, 2012, 22:20:51 PM
I get free kaspersky internet licences as a Barclays customer, maybe worth checking if you get anything like that from your bank?
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: TheMallrat on July 22, 2012, 09:44:56 AM
For Windows, I've never had any problem using Microsoft Security Essentials, and never had to sign up to anything to enable real-time scanning, it just does it.
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: Serious on July 22, 2012, 10:09:46 AM
Quote from: Cypher on July 21, 2012, 21:56:13 PM
I wouldn't recommend a "free" product, either free version or given away.  A good solution is not expensive.

For some companies the 'free' version is identical to the 'pay for' version. Expending money might get you extras but that might not be cost effective.
Title: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: M3ta7h3ad on July 28, 2012, 10:21:46 AM
Quote from: Cypher on July 21, 2012, 21:56:13 PM
I wouldn't recommend a "free" product, either free version or given away.  A good solution is not expensive.

having needed to bypass AV as part of my day job I can honestly say...

Mcafee or Symantec endpoint protection are difficult but doable.

Avast and AVG a pain but easier.

Microsoft security essentials, is bloody impossible. Yet to successfully bypass it. Pack the exe how I want, inject the shell code into memory, encoded and polymorphic routines still don't work. No idea what voodoo hacks Microsoft are using but it's working.

It's a tough little bastard. I suppose that's why I see it being used as a layer when protecting systems dealing with IL3 data.
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: Cypher on August 02, 2012, 12:54:40 PM
It's just my personal opinion on my experience, I'm not going to say I'm right or wrong I'm no security expert.  I've seen companies go from a paid for solution to Security Essentials to end up with a machine with a nasty infection leaving it unusable that spread across a couple of desktops.  I'm surprised you couldn't get through MSE.

I understand Serious's point, but with some of these examples, such as ISP's, it's a profit making exercise, they are not giving these products away because it was the best solution, it's because, for example, Dell are paid by McAfee to ship with that product, the first thing I strip off.

I used to resell Symantec but it was far to bloated for my liking, McAfee has too many features that are just not needed.  I don't need or want a page safe ranker.

My current product of choice is ESET Endpoint Security, (without the Firewall/AntiSpam) my decision was originally based on AV Labs, Virus Bulletin, West Coast Labs, in short the independent testers, to date I don't believe ESET has failed a test for an in the wild virus, one thing I have noticed with some testers is they use infections that are not in circulation, making the test pointless.

http://www.eset.co.uk/Why-ESET

I haven't had a chance to look at version 5 yet but version 4 was a 40MB download file compared to 450-500 which was some variant of Symantec I came across.
Title: Re: Best, Free Anti-Virus Software
Post by: Leon on August 02, 2012, 12:59:18 PM
Used to love NOD32, infact its one of the only programs I've ever paid for. When my license ran out I moved over to MSE and been happy with it since.

TBH using NBZ's over torrents, a good adblocker on chrome, being sensibile with the questionable websites and I've done most of the work myself :P