Anti-Virus: Purchase or Free?

[Zartan]

Thanks guys, great info. I'll just try MSE and see how I like it. I currently use Spyware blaster on my Desktop, but nothing stops the pron pop-ups when I want a full size window.

[ExtremeX]

After trying a lot of different solutions I ended up a Kaspersky user for a long time, but about 4-5 years ago I switched to ESET NOD32 for both home and business use and haven't looked back.

It seems to be one of the best solutions I've come across, plus Newegg has them on special a lot, so you can get 3 x 1 year licenses for about $25 shipped so the cost can be very reasonable.

For a free solution, I also have no problem with MSE, its better than nothing if you don't want to pay for a solution. +1 on MalwareBytes too

[SMR510]

I use Avast as the main protection on all of my computers and have never got any virus or anything. I do scan occasionally with Malwarebytes just to double check but it has yet to find anything.

[epic1856]

As part of your security routine make sure windows has all of the latest patch releases.

If you want another layer of protection, create another account on the PC and DO NOT give it admin rights. This way if anything does want to get installed on the PC it can't due to permissions. For browsing and fapping it should work.

[VictorFranko]

While Malwarebytes is great free anti-malware, IMHO spending $19 a year for Malwarebytes Pro was well worth the money.

[hermosabeach]

Who is your internet provider???

Many offer free antivirus while you are a customer.

They offer the big brands.

[the86d]

Wow ... that is pretty ignorant advice. If you have Windows 7 or 8, MS's own Security Essentials is probably THE best anti-malware available for the OS. I'd like to see proof where third-party AV software alone is better than MS SE. MS SE will stop most of all direct attacks against the MS OS -- that's what it was made to do, duh. Besides, it's already there with your OS and it's essentially free. Use it, just add another anti-malware software.

Right because M$ makes the BEST browsers, Windows 8 is SUPER efficient, Vista was GREAT, XP64 was the best, ME was super, Windows 3.0 was AWESOME. /scar-chasm

Windows 7 ALWAYS tells you that ME that I don't have Internet access when I do, they STILL haven't figured out that while right-clicking files the same menu doesn't always pop-up in Windows 7 (x86 & 64bit) until you click it, then have to right click it again, so assume their AV is worth a crap? Let me just leave this here: http://www.howtogeek.com/173291/good...rty-antivirus/

I personally trust it as much as I trust IE (THX to the dubstep'd commercials), or "Verizon Internet Security Suite Anti-Virus Firewall".

[Zartan]

Who is your internet provider???

Many offer free antivirus while you are a customer.

They offer the big brands.

U-Verse.

I'd rather not use something given to me from a provider and I'm now leaning towards a pay fer AV.

[glock_this]

IMHO.. there is only 1 clear choice for a PC - Kaspersky. And, you can routinely get dirt cheap year (or more) renews on ebay. I have done it this way for years for my PC dev machine. I have even bought 3 packs of renews and given codes away since I only use 1 code per year.

Kaspersky has a 30 day free trial. Do your research on them, they are an awesome product, CS is great, never had an issue or anything slip by it.

[sd_shooter]

Hilarious that some people are suggesting paid version$ of McAffee and Norton

ALL the computers I diagnose for friends/family have one of these two installed of them

[ExtremeX]

Hilarious that some people are suggesting paid version$ of McAffee and Norton

ALL the computers I diagnose for friends/family have one of these two installed of them

I think its fair to say a good amount of us have started there too at one point in time, but I agree, not something I would actually use, let alone spend money to buy considering what else is available on the market.

Its almost hard to avoid them at times, its shipped with PCs from lots of manufactures by default as a trial or 1 year subscription, and also given away as part of ISP plans. Most of their market share is because its packaged with so many products.

[NytWolf]

Right because M$ makes the BEST browsers, Windows 8 is SUPER efficient, Vista was GREAT, XP64 was the best, ME was super, Windows 3.0 was AWESOME. /scar-chasm

Windows 7 ALWAYS tells you that ME that I don't have Internet access when I do, they STILL haven't figured out that while right-clicking files the same menu doesn't always pop-up in Windows 7 (x86 & 64bit) until you click it, then have to right click it again, so assume their AV is worth a crap? Let me just leave this here: http://www.howtogeek.com/173291/good...rty-antivirus/

I personally trust it as much as I trust IE (THX to the dubstep'd commercials), or "Verizon Internet Security Suite Anti-Virus Firewall".

So because MS makes lowsy browsers, their security software isn't worth a damn either? Sound logic you have. If you read above, there are others who recommend MSE also.

Anywho, like I stated above, use MSE in conjunction with at least one other anti-malware. NO anti-malware is going to stop 100% of all malware anyway.

[Peter.Steele]

...and the most infected.

Skip any M$ product that is supposed to protect you. SE is like their 3rd attempt at an AV, and still fails more than 3rd party free AVs.

I use Avast free(, used to use AVG until they started hijacking browser searches), Clam for my Windows server (not public-IP accessible).

Right because M$ makes the BEST browsers, Windows 8 is SUPER efficient, Vista was GREAT, XP64 was the best, ME was super, Windows 3.0 was AWESOME. /scar-chasm

Windows 7 ALWAYS tells you that ME that I don't have Internet access when I do, they STILL haven't figured out that while right-clicking files the same menu doesn't always pop-up in Windows 7 (x86 & 64bit) until you click it, then have to right click it again, so assume their AV is worth a crap? Let me just leave this here: http://www.howtogeek.com/173291/good...rty-antivirus/

I personally trust it as much as I trust IE (THX to the dubstep'd commercials), or "Verizon Internet Security Suite Anti-Virus Firewall".

Yeeeeaaaahhhh ...

Since MSSE was released, I haven't had a single infection of any sort, and trust me ... if ANYONE was going to get infected, it would be me. Yes, I also have a paid subscription to MBAM as a backstop, but it's just been sitting there doing absolutely nothing for years.

[Iknownot]

I have a back up laptop that I don't use for much that I just use MS security essentials on. I haven't had any issues, but then I don't use the lap top for much.

On my main PC's, I've been using ESET Nod 32 for awhile now. I haven't had any issues running it. If you wait for a sale, you can often get it for $20 to $40 at places like Fry's. It just depends on if they are doing a sale or rebate at the store.

I like ESET because it is not very resource intensive. I used to run it on a very old XP machine and the PC had no issues running it at all nor did ESET seem like it was slowing it down much.

[pitbull30]

Watch the FRYS website. You can get a full paid version for the price of tax (5-10 bucks) after a mail in rebate. Been doing it for years. 3 PC License. Right now Im using Kaspersky with no problems. I use it for parental control as well.

http://usa.kaspersky.com/products-services/home-computer-security/internet-security/

The free versions don't come with all the extras. if they do I don't believe a company is dumping that much time and research into a free product when they most likely offer a paid version.