Good, free anti-virus? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Drunk Skunk · 07-26-2008, 09:32 PM

I was curious what everyone's choice for a free anti-virus program is. I was a loyal AVG user for years, but I installed the newest build on my computer, and it's locking up on me constantly since I did. So, I've removed AVG. What other options are out there?

getbak · 07-26-2008, 09:35 PM

I've used Avast for years on everything from Windows 98 to Vista and not had any problems.

Caged Great · 07-26-2008, 09:40 PM

spyware terminator is the one I use. It's pretty decent.

Crispy's Critter · 07-26-2008, 10:04 PM

I'm still using the older free version of AVG (7.whatever), and it's still updating even though they said it would no longer be supported. I won't upgrade to version 8.1 because I'd have to pay for it, and since there's enough free good ones around there's no point in that. Maybe you can find the old version still up for dl somewhere, as it's still working.

CaptainCrunch · 07-26-2008, 10:16 PM

I use AVG, and I decided to pay for the 8.1 version, and I have no regrets about paying for it. The not free version is pretty all encompassing and it works very well.

Crispy's Critter · 07-26-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I use AVG, and I decided to pay for the 8.1 version, and I have no regrets about paying for it. The not free version is pretty all encompassing and it works very well.

that's good to know, as I was really debating about just buying it, but I was worried they thought they might have to make it all bloated since they were asking people to leave the free version behind. Still though I'll milk the free one for as long as I can

Eddie Bronze · 07-26-2008, 10:25 PM

Damn guys, $40 for NOD32.

BlackArcher101 · 07-26-2008, 11:16 PM

AVG... I've heard others shun it... but I haven't had a virus problem the years I've been using it.

Drunk Skunk · 07-26-2008, 11:17 PM

I never had a virus problem with AVG either, or any problems at all, until my computer kept freezing after I installed it.

I installed Avast, and so far, there have been no issues. Thanks for in the input everyone!

Bill Bumface · 07-27-2008, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crispy's Critter

I'm still using the older free version of AVG (7.whatever), and it's still updating even though they said it would no longer be supported. I won't upgrade to version 8.1 because I'd have to pay for it, and since there's enough free good ones around there's no point in that. Maybe you can find the old version still up for dl somewhere, as it's still working.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I use AVG, and I decided to pay for the 8.1 version, and I have no regrets about paying for it. The not free version is pretty all encompassing and it works very well.

Ummm... there's a free version of AVG 8....

Eddie Bronze · 07-27-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

AVG... I've heard others shun it... but I haven't had a virus problem the years I've been using it.

I think the thing that people who don't like are saying is likely that is requires too much memory and slows your system down. I used it on my old computer but it was such a terrible machine I can't say really. I have NOD32 on my new cpu and all I can say is it's perfectly fine. The only thing I notice about it are the updates that say it's been updated, it doesn't even tell you it's doing it. If guys want free anti-virus that's fine, I did it in the past too, but that saying about "getting what you pay for" always holds true.

Crispy's Critter · 07-27-2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Ummm... there's a free version of AVG 8....

maybe there is now, dunno, have to check it out, but when the popups about avg 7 not being supported anymore were coming up, the only links were to the pay version of ver. 8, and I looked for a free version on their site at that time and couldn't find one, so figured they weren't going to offer one this time around.

Thanks for the heads up.

OilKiller · 07-27-2008, 12:01 PM

I've tried 'em all. Without a doubt, my personal favourite is Avira. Here is a link to the download page. FREE:

http://www.free-av.de/en/download/index.html

There is a pop up once a day reminding you about their full version product. Other than that, it is fully free to use. The pop up doesn't bother me at all really.

I have found it to be the fastest, most effective and does not draw on system resources at all. Much better than AVG or any of the other free anti virus software applications out there.

mykalberta · 07-27-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OilKiller

I've tried 'em all. Without a doubt, my personal favourite is Avira. Here is a link to the download page. FREE:

http://www.free-av.de/en/download/index.html

There is a pop up once a day reminding you about their full version product. Other than that, it is fully free to use. The pop up doesn't bother me at all really.

I have found it to be the fastest, most effective and does not draw on system resources at all. Much better than AVG or any of the other free anti virus software applications out there.

+1

Bill Bumface · 07-27-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crispy's Critter

maybe there is now, dunno, have to check it out, but when the popups about avg 7 not being supported anymore were coming up, the only links were to the pay version of ver. 8, and I looked for a free version on their site at that time and couldn't find one, so figured they weren't going to offer one this time around.

Thanks for the heads up.

They always bury it. The link is some tiny out of the way thing that you have to hunt for on their site.

@theCBE · 07-27-2008, 06:31 PM

I'm using AVG.. have been for years. Upgraded to the free version of 8.0.. took me a good 5 minutes to find it on their site though.

Rathji · 07-27-2008, 06:45 PM

Nod32 is the best antivirus software I have tried to date

kermitology · 07-27-2008, 10:13 PM

I just updated from AVG 7.5 to 8.0. Did a google search for AVG free.

Buff · 07-27-2008, 11:49 PM

I used AVG for years. I even had AVG Free 8. I began to notice a couple of problems with 8. Then I read an article that AVG's latest version of Free antivirus was causing problems on the web by creating extra and un-needed web traffic. Not sure this was the cause of my problems with AVG 8 but I decided to switch anyway.

I went to Avast, and after a couple of weeks I think I can safely say that my problems have gone away. Be forewarned though, if you haven't used Avast before, a little voice will tell you that avast was updated or the virus definitions were updated. Freaked me out the first time it happened.

STeeLy · 07-28-2008, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rathji

Nod32 is the best antivirus software I have tried to date

Agreed, sadly, its not free.