Best Free Anti-Virus Solution

[Jan Il]

I'd recommend avast!, but that a person preference. Now as for ZoneAlarm...
I'd recommend it to ANYONE... It is an AWESOME program... I run ZoneAlarm
Pro (won free registration for 1 year, but when that year is up, I want a
lifetime reg).... it's very very very very nice and very configurable....

I have tried several others, and have found the ZA free to be just as
reliable as any of the others, with a lot less bloat and use of resources.

I have been using both AVG6 and ZA Free for over a year and a half now, and
I have never had a virus. I control the other pests and bugs with SpyBot
and Adaware, both also free. I also use SpywareBlaster.

But, my main antivirus weapon is employing the gray-matter between my ears,
and practicing safe hex. The software programs are just in case one of the
others fails.

Jan

 

[Dale Simmons]

I have tried several others, and have found the ZA free to be just as
reliable as any of the others, with a lot less bloat and use of resources.

I have been using both AVG6 and ZA Free for over a year and a half now, and
I have never had a virus. I control the other pests and bugs with SpyBot
and Adaware, both also free. I also use SpywareBlaster.

But, my main antivirus weapon is employing the gray-matter between my ears,
and practicing safe hex. The software programs are just in case one of the
others fails.

Jan

Hey... that's good to know... I am always open to opinions.... it's just
that Zone Alarm switched my system from a fortress to a citadel

I was gonna use ZoneAlarm Free... it just happened to win a reg. for
ZoneAlarm Pro...

 

[Jan Il]

In

Is it possible to download?

If you already have all the critical updates installed, then you don't need
the Security Update CD. It is bacilli for those who have not, or in some
cases, can not, install all the critical updates already available on the MS
Update website. However, beware, the e-Trust EZ Antivirus and Firewall CD
included with the Update CD is only a *trial offer*. And, it is not
supported by Microsoft.

Jan

 

[Jan Il]

Look for the free "Security Update CD-ROM" on microsoft.com . It is
actually 2 CDs, the second being eTrust EZ Antivirus. That's a great
program if you have only one machine.

I don't know if you are aware or not, but, the eTurst EZ Antivirus and
Firewall program is a trial offer only, and not supported my Microsoft.

Jan

 

[Jan Il]

This Sunday if all goes well I will be setting up an old Pentium
clunker to give to a non-technical friend of a friend. I had been
thinking of putting Avast! on it, because at least in the short
time I've been reading this newsgroup people seem to have been a
bit down on AVG6. Still, if AVG6 is much lighter than Avast! it
might be more appropriate here. The two things that bothered me
in reading about AVG6 were 1) updates don't seem to be working
right recently, and 2) it detects viruses but doesn't disinfect.

Have I understood these problems properly? What exactly is wrong
with the updates? What exactly can AVG6 do when it finds a virus,
other than tell you it's there? In general, what are the pro &
cons of AVG6 vs Avast! on an old, slow PC?

You have a variety of answers here, but, to add my own 2 cents worth, if it
were me, I would use AVG6 Free. I have tried Avast, and yes, it is a good
program, but, not that much if any better than AVG6 in the overall, IMO. I
would also suggest that you use F-Prot as a backup on-demand AV, it runs
from DOS, and ZA Free as a firewall. Using these along with safe hex and
simple common sense regarding handling e-mail messages should keep the burrs
out of your saddle blanket. ;-))

Jan

 

[William W. Plummer]

I don't know if you are aware or not, but, the eTurst EZ Antivirus and
Firewall program is a trial offer only, and not supported my Microsoft.

True. It's a 1 year trial period for free. Then, I believe it is $9.95
(or is it upto $14.95) per year.
I believe the firewall Microsoft supplies is Zone Alarm.

To me, having Microsoft behind it lends credibilty. That just feels warm
and fuzzy compared to an unknown product from a foreign country. And, if
push comes to shove, you know who to serve when you sue Microsoft.

 

[Jan Il]

well. want

Hey... that's good to know... I am always open to opinions.... it's just
that Zone Alarm switched my system from a fortress to a citadel

I was gonna use ZoneAlarm Free... it just happened to win a reg. for
ZoneAlarm Pro...

Don't blame you a pound for the take on the Pro. ) ZA is pretty
flexible, and lets you customize pretty good, you just have to go through
and see which format works best for you. Once you get the programs you want
to have access the first time they try to make contact, it stops being such
a nag. My first thoughts when I first got it and get all these Do you
want?'s...'Geez...do I really want to be nagged like this all the time?
But, I did some reading, and asking, and I finally got it to where it just
takes good care of me without being a pest. ;-)

Good thing is, when the free deal runs out on the Pro, you can go to the
Free version if you want, and know you'll still have good protection <g>

Jan

 

[Jan Il]

True. It's a 1 year trial period for free. Then, I believe it is $9.95
(or is it upto $14.95) per year.
I believe the firewall Microsoft supplies is Zone Alarm.

To me, having Microsoft behind it lends credibilty. That just feels warm
and fuzzy compared to an unknown product from a foreign country. And, if
push comes to shove, you know who to serve when you sue Microsoft.

Not to sure about the warm and fuzzy part myself. Putting MS and warm and
fuzzy in the same sentence is a bit of a stretch, for me anyway. <vbg>
However, that MS seems to promote it means that it is at the least
compatible with their various software versions, unlike a lot of others. Not
all of them play nice together. As I understand, the EZ Trust Firewall *is*
Zone Alarm.

Jan

 

[Jan Il]

The updates seem ok when using the modified url.ini described elsehwhere in
these groups.
It does fix a virus but only after you scan the whole drive, alternative is
just to manually delete since it does identify the errant file. In the event
you should need the deleted file, well, that's a good reason to keep
backups, just don't wait until you need them.

The one that seems to be working best for me is the www.grisoft.cz. I've
had no problems updating here. But, when the regular updates don't work, I
just do a manual update. Only takes a couple minutes, no biggy.

Jan

 

[kurt wismer]

Jan Il wrote:
[snip]

Not to sure about the warm and fuzzy part myself. Putting MS and warm and
fuzzy in the same sentence is a bit of a stretch, for me anyway.

no stretch here...

"ms roasting on an open fire gives me warm fuzzy feelings"....

 

[Jan Il]

Jan Il wrote:
[snip]

Not to sure about the warm and fuzzy part myself. Putting MS and warm and
fuzzy in the same sentence is a bit of a stretch, for me anyway.

no stretch here...

"ms roasting on an open fire gives me warm fuzzy feelings"....

Yeppers......now /that/ I can relate to........ ;-))

Jan

 

[William W. Plummer]

Jan Il wrote:
[snip]

Not to sure about the warm and fuzzy part myself. Putting MS and warm and
fuzzy in the same sentence is a bit of a stretch, for me anyway.

no stretch here...

"ms roasting on an open fire gives me warm fuzzy feelings"....

Yeppers......now /that/ I can relate to........ ;-))

MS controls the computer market. It's not a democracy and you don't have a
vote. Sooner or later you will learn that you can't fight city hall. But
you can minimize the effort required to keep your computers working by using
only MS parts.

 

[Roy Coorne]

William W. Plummer wrote:

....

MS controls the computer market. It's not a democracy and you don't have a
vote. Sooner or later you will learn that you can't fight city hall.

Yes, Sir.

But
you can minimize the effort required to keep your computers working by using
only MS parts.

No, Sir! E.g., I keep my PC working by using Mozilla instead of IE/OE.
And e.g. Photoshop is superior to MS Paint;-)

Roy

 

[Heather]

Not to sure about the warm and fuzzy part myself. Putting MS and warm and
fuzzy in the same sentence is a bit of a stretch, for me anyway. <vbg>
However, that MS seems to promote it means that it is at the least
compatible with their various software versions, unlike a lot of others. Not
all of them play nice together. As I understand, the EZ Trust Firewall *is*
Zone Alarm.

Hi there Ms. Jan......

Just to sort you out. EZ Trust has a deal both with Microsoft and one I
could find you a link for.......but you get the antivirus free and also
version 3.xxx of Zone Alarm.

I pay for EZ Trust and have used it for some 4 years......since way back
when it was the freebie InoculateIT PE. I have used both the free ZA and
ZAPro.....and wouldn't be without any of the above. I just updated ZAPro to
4.5.58 something or other......I don't bother keeping track. I find I have
to turn off some of the protection tho.

I also use F-Prot for a manual backup and have used that for some 7 or 8
years.......thanks to people on here who taught me a lot (a.c.v. actually).
And once Fridrik gets the new update working right, I will redownload it.

So if Microsoft is backing EZ Trust, that says a lot. I have no quarrel
with that because I KNOW how good it is. I just think they should give ME a
free year for being such a loyal customer!! (VBG) And I think I will write
and tell them that......

I won't tell the MS boys what you said.......heh heh.

Best.....Heather

 

[Jan Il]

Hi there Ms. Jan......

Just to sort you out. EZ Trust has a deal both with Microsoft and one I
could find you a link for.......but you get the antivirus free and also
version 3.xxx of Zone Alarm.

I pay for EZ Trust and have used it for some 4 years......since way back
when it was the freebie InoculateIT PE. I have used both the free ZA and
ZAPro.....and wouldn't be without any of the above. I just updated ZAPro to
4.5.58 something or other......I don't bother keeping track. I find I have
to turn off some of the protection tho.

I also use F-Prot for a manual backup and have used that for some 7 or 8
years.......thanks to people on here who taught me a lot (a.c.v. actually).
And once Fridrik gets the new update working right, I will redownload it.

So if Microsoft is backing EZ Trust, that says a lot. I have no quarrel
with that because I KNOW how good it is. I just think they should give ME a
free year for being such a loyal customer!! (VBG) And I think I will write
and tell them that......

Thanks for the additional info, Heather. I do think it speaks well of the
product, but, seems MS has had their fingers in a lot of pies lately, and
tested the sugar level in some others, not sure if they have acquired the
software or just promoting. I remember when I tried the free offer or free
trial (don't remember which now) for the new EZ Trust Firewall version
several months ago, which I saw here on this ng, only to find that it was
just ZA by another name, which I had already been using for the last year or
more thanks to *you*. <G> A friend of mine argued with me for two days
that it wasn't, until they came over to my house and saw the ZA I had and
then admitted they were the same. People who have never used Zone Alarm
don't know that is what they are getting, just with a different name. Good
luck getting your free year with EZ Trust. I hope you do! )

I won't tell the MS boys what you said.......heh heh.

Lol! Most of them already know how I feel. They're the ones who taught
*me*. <VBG>

Cheers!

Jan

 

[John Brock]

The updates seem ok when using the modified url.ini described elsehwhere in
these groups.
It does fix a virus but only after you scan the whole drive, alternative is
just to manually delete since it does identify the errant file. In the event
you should need the deleted file, well, that's a good reason to keep
backups, just don't wait until you need them.

I don't understand. What does the user actually need to do if AVG6
detects a virus, and how is the procedure different from most other
AV products (in particular Avast!)?

It sounds like you are saying that if AVG6 is only scanning a single
file or directory it offers no remedy for an infected file other
than for the user to delete it by hand, but that if you run a full
disk scan then AVG6 at the end of the scan will fix up all infected
files. Is that accurate?

BTW, can AVG6 actually "fix" an infected executable (i.e., make it
safe to run)?

Remember, the eventual user for this is technically unsophisticated,
so the confusion factor needs to be as small as possible.

 

[Jan Il]

I don't understand. What does the user actually need to do if AVG6
detects a virus, and how is the procedure different from most other
AV products (in particular Avast!)?

It sounds like you are saying that if AVG6 is only scanning a single
file or directory it offers no remedy for an infected file other
than for the user to delete it by hand, but that if you run a full
disk scan then AVG6 at the end of the scan will fix up all infected
files. Is that accurate?

BTW, can AVG6 actually "fix" an infected executable (i.e., make it
safe to run)?

Remember, the eventual user for this is technically unsophisticated,
so the confusion factor needs to be as small as possible.

Sorry about the delay in my reply, I just saw your response. As far as I
know, and my experience using the AVG6, when the scan is complete, the
viruses found during the scan are neutralized and placed in the Virus Vault.
Then the user has the opportunity to check the list for and either delete it
Heal it or Restore it.

Here is the description of the Virus Vault and how it works from the AVG6
Help files. Perhaps this will answer your questions;

The AVG Virus Vault:

When AVG detects a virus that cannot be removed by healing, it uses a
special way of deleting the infected file - AVG moves it to the AVG Virus
Vault.

What is the AVG Virus Vault?

The AVG Virus Vault is a special directory that stores infected files. The
name of the files are changed and their content is encrypted so they cannot
be used and virus infection cannot spread. It is almost the same as ordinary
deleting techniques; however, the AVG Virus Vault gives you the ability to
restore the files, if necessary.

· Delete File – deletes – finally removes the file. It cannot be restored
later.

· The AVG Virus Vault has its own automatic maintenance - files stored in
the AVG Virus Vault are deleted automatically depending on the parameters
set.

· File Restore - runs the function providing File Restore - the file is
moved back to its original directory under its original name. It is
important to realize that the file is still infected.

HTH

Jan