Can You Trust Free Antivirus Software?

Reg cleaners are NOT the problem.
Improper use is where issues arise.

Its a simple Cause/Effect,the "user" must manually "click" so blaming the software for doing what "you" tell it .....
Useing cheap auto-run app's generally nets you accordingly.

Hammering HD's with diaognostic app's(ones that run consistantly or several times weekly) should be avoided.

Again its put back on the user and not the software.

 

Nah, I have a domain at home, 3 servers, 3 desktops, 2 laptops, and a couple of extenders. Not the typical home network, lol, but I do a lot more than the typical user; contract SQL DBA, remote administration, C/C++/Python, and all kinds of contract web work, as well as designing my own game.

 

110% TRUE!!! I have had many customers bring me dead drives that lasted shorter than 2 years and almost all of them were running diagnostic software such as FriedTater is mentioning.

Data Recovery costs? $100/GB.

 

I guess I should throw my free options out there. AVG Free has always served me well for "free" basic anti-virus protection. AVG is one of the oldest anti-virus companies out there, and they have always had a great product.

 

Microsoft is throwing it's hat in the ring with a free antivirus. Microsoft Security Essentials, supposedly due out next month.

http://www.microsoft.com/SECURITY_ESSENTIALS/


I guess we'll see what impact this has on the commercial vendors. Norton in particular has been a victim of this tactic by Microsoft, anyone remember the old Dos days when Norton Utilities was Norton's first major product? MS pretty much wrote all of those utilities into Dos 6.22, which killed Norton's product.

On the other hand, wouldn't it be nice not having to pay a third party to keep your computer secure?

 

I use Netscape with a fire wall, and I got only bugged twice in the past 2 score years
And I thought that was bad!

 

Currently using Apple firewall and Intego Antivirus (paid copy) on my MacBook. There are a small number of viruses out there that target Macs. Plus don't want to spread Windows viruses even though they wouldn't effect my Snow Leopard only system (particularly because I tie into a PC based office computer server).

On PC antivirus software, I've tried several packages over the years(McAfee, Norton, CA eTrust). Note you can sometimes get paid versions for free or cheap after rebates and sales.

The free packages mentioned do definitely work. My father has an older PC that had Norton, then CA. Couldn't put the newer version of CA on his computer this summer, so I put on AVG. Very simple but effective and it's not a strain on system resources like other packages. Since his PC is mostly used for text email, didn't see the need for anything fancier.

Think the key thing is to frequently update your security software and OS, and periodically scan your hard drive. Doesn't matter whether it's a free or paid program.

 

atm i use avira.
Even though ive had a false positive in the past few months, avira is ok (for a free av anyway) after you disable the nag screen that pops up once every 24 hrs.
I had norton on my pc at one time, long ago. Then i got a free year of trend micro's pc cillin. Figured what the hell, norton is about to run out so ill try it. Pc cillin found 36 viruses that norton didnt . Last time i use norton