Reply to: Microsoft to give away anti-virus software

[Fred Bloggs]

So what is the best free AV software then?

could do with some new stuff as Norton is about to run out of its free trial period

Look no further than avast! it's the best, been using it for years now.

[blacjac]

Avast downloads in the background, it does pop up a message when it's finished to let you know there has been an update, but you can turn this off in the settings.

[blacjac]

Threats also come from some images that are downloaded when you open emails, so you would have to make sure your client is set to not download content automatically as well.

[voodooflux]

I've been running AVG for severla months and find it a pain in the ar*e when it updates itself - too intrusive.

To be honest you'll probably hate Avira even more - it's very instrusive when it updates as it displays an advert.

Don't really need the email client integration as the threats would only come from attachments so if you save them locally and scan before opening, you should be OK. Right?

That's essentially my view as well, but my email also gets scanned for viruses on the server.

[Clippy]

Seems to have a low resource overhead compared to AVG and Avast, along with very regular updates and good coverage. It does lack email client integration though.

I've been running AVG for severla months and find it a pain in the ar*e when it updates itself - too intrusive.

Don't really need the email client integration as the threats would only come from attachments so if you save them locally and scan before opening, you should be OK. Right?

[voodooflux]

First time I have heard of this product - what is so good about it? Does it have a low resource overhead?

Seems to have a low resource overhead compared to AVG and Avast, along with very regular updates and good coverage. It does lack email client integration though.

[Clippy]

Neowin are reporting that a beta of Microsoft Security Essentials has been released with an initial cap of 75,000 downloads.

Nice one - thanks for the heads up. Grabbed a copy to install later.

I find Avira AntiVir to be very good.

First time I have heard of this product - what is so good about it? Does it have a low resource overhead?

May install this if the MS beta proves problematic.

[d000hg]

One more thought - how about Microsoft simply fix all of the defects in their products and we would not need this kind of thing in the first place??


PZZ

Lame attempt at trolling. You really think it's possible to make an OS not susceptible to ANY virus? The only way to do that is to stop users installing or running any programs not verified by MS...

[voodooflux]

So what is the best free AV software then?

could do with some new stuff as Norton is about to run out of its free trial period

I find Avira AntiVir to be very good.

And here's a thread from last year with some more suggestions.

[original PM]

So what is the best free AV software then?

could do with some new stuff as Norton is about to run out of its free trial period

[voodooflux]

Neowin are reporting that a beta of Microsoft Security Essentials has been released with an initial cap of 75,000 downloads.

[Sausage Surprise]

I've been using AVG and Zone Alarm for years at no cost and with no problems, so it makes no difference to me.

[pzz76077]

One more thought - how about Microsoft simply fix all of the defects in their products and we would not need this kind of thing in the first place??


PZZ

[pzz76077]

Shame they are phasing out OneCare though as i've used it for a while and its very good. Its other features such as central backup, printer sharing and scheduled tuning are handy and but guess they'll be gone in the new thing.

As long as the new AV is as unobtrusive as OneCare then i'll happily accept the freebie.

I would agree- not had a single issue since I started using OneCare, hope the new product lives up to the experience that I have had with it or Ill be back to Norton!

PZZ

[swamp]

Maybe Microsoft are worried that Joe Public will switch to *nix-based OSes because they don't 'need' anti-virus. Not to mention AV bogging down your system.

Microsoft have included file sharing, print servers, unzip utilities, firewalls and other stuff in Windows which have no doubt pissed off ISVs. Anti-virus is just another logical step.