Freeware antivirus programs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lee Marsh
  • Start date Start date
(e-mail address removed) (Justin Dustin)
wrote:

Which is best - AntiVir Personal Edition,
AVG, or Avast?
Click to expand...

I used to use AVG alone, however i found out thru research that AntiVir
& F-Prot, used together, was the better Total Anti-Virus system.
this opinion relates only to older 'puters, running Win98SE, IE 6.0, &
OE 6.0

BTW-
Many will agree, you should also use Sypbot-Search & Destroy & Spy
Blaster (free anti-spyware utilities) too.

S_H
 
Jim said:
bassbag wrote on Fri, 26 Sep 2003 14:15:09 GMT



Yep. I am.
Automatic update is nice too.
Click to expand...

I also. Just installed it yesterday. System is a bit faster (1.2 gig
system) in things like redrawing icons than AVG.

GA
 
Peter Cross said:
Why ??

Whats the problem !???
Click to expand...

Because the Freeware licence says it can be used on 1 PC for personal
use only. Who is likely to run Win 2k Server except in a business
network?
 
Peter Cross said:
Why ??

Whats the problem !???
Click to expand...

You could take a look at the free version of eTrust Antivirus 7

Although It's intended for Server 2003 only.

I've seen reports of it working ok on other versions of windows ****

It tended to cause the odd temporary freeze for me using windows 98se
however I've only tried it with of an old win 98 install that badly needs
reinstalling so I can be sure which is the problem.


**** HOWEVER DO NOT enable the NTFS use alternate streams option
as I've read this can cause disk corruption !!!!

http://www3.ca.com/Solutions/Collateral.asp?CID=41370
 
Well as someone who has tried all 3 i do prefer avg 6, simply because ive
had some crash issues with avast in the past , and also system freezing
where i have to physically power off my machine.It mau have been
incompatability issues so im not blaming avast.Antivir i found a bit slow
, and didnt like the shell extension scanner or lack of it compared with
avg.If i remember correctly antivir doesnt have an email scanner either
does it?....AVGs is a waste of space too in my opinion , but if like h-
man you use applications that need an email scanner then avast would be
the choice to make i think.
me
P.S anyone using latest version of avast with w98/se and having no
problems?
tia
me
Click to expand...

I've used Avast since last year, presently dated v4.1.268. Once I
figured out what 'must' run for the complete system to work, I haven't
had any problems. RPCSS used with the virus vault was a poor design
choice, IMHO.

Disregarding effectiveness, which is hard to prove and could be degraded
from one version to the next with 'any' AV, my favorite feature is the
speed of DLing updates, since I'm on a modem. There isn't a faster AV
for updating and def updates are frequent.

I used F-Prot for DOS, AntiVir, and AVG for over a year and discontinued
use of all of them. They are all slow to update, but all seemed to be
effective AVs.

Avast is backup for ET, my primary AV. When the Swen worm first started,
since I never use real-time scanning, I could save a dozen of the atchs
for testing. ET missed one variation, which I forwarded to them. Avast
did not miss 'any'. ET caught every one after their next def update.

BoB
For the duration of Swen, my address is inoperative.
 
BoB said:
I've used Avast since last year, presently dated v4.1.268. Once I
figured out what 'must' run for the complete system to work, I haven't
had any problems. RPCSS used with the virus vault was a poor design
choice, IMHO.

Disregarding effectiveness, which is hard to prove and could be degraded
from one version to the next with 'any' AV, my favorite feature is the
speed of DLing updates, since I'm on a modem. There isn't a faster AV
for updating and def updates are frequent.

I used F-Prot for DOS, AntiVir, and AVG for over a year and discontinued
use of all of them. They are all slow to update, but all seemed to be
effective AVs.

Avast is backup for ET, my primary AV. When the Swen worm first started,
since I never use real-time scanning, I could save a dozen of the atchs
for testing. ET missed one variation, which I forwarded to them. Avast
did not miss 'any'. ET caught every one after their next def update.

BoB
For the duration of Swen, my address is inoperative.
Click to expand...

For Avast, what "must run" and how do you configure it?

I have had one freeze. Opened my tv tuner (card) with browser open and
system froze solid. It appears to be a problem with links loading while
tuner is opening. Did not have a problem with avg and tuner, so might
revert to it.

GA
 
The newer version (not sure which it is...I am at work now) is much faster
than the older versions. The old version seemed to take forever to scan.

YOu are correct that it does not scan e-mail, but since I only receive
text e-mail and scan any attachment I get anyway, this si s a moot point
for me.

Anti-Vir will not allow you to save any attachment that has a virus in it.
I also like the internet update feature. The fact that new defintion
files come out 2-3 times a week is very reassuring.

I guess in the end it comes down to choice. I have never had any problems
with it, either with Win 98SE, Win Me, or Win 2000. It has been a very
good piece of software.
Click to expand...
Thanks for info.Is there some sort of shell extension scanner path with
antivir now? ..for auto scanning of files when downloaded with a download
manager.
tia me
 
I've used Avast since last year, presently dated v4.1.268. Once I
figured out what 'must' run for the complete system to work, I haven't
had any problems. RPCSS used with the virus vault was a poor design
choice, IMHO.

Disregarding effectiveness, which is hard to prove and could be degraded
from one version to the next with 'any' AV, my favorite feature is the
speed of DLing updates, since I'm on a modem. There isn't a faster AV
for updating and def updates are frequent.

I used F-Prot for DOS, AntiVir, and AVG for over a year and discontinued
use of all of them. They are all slow to update, but all seemed to be
effective AVs.

Avast is backup for ET, my primary AV. When the Swen worm first started,
since I never use real-time scanning, I could save a dozen of the atchs
for testing. ET missed one variation, which I forwarded to them. Avast
did not miss 'any'. ET caught every one after their next def update.

BoB
For the duration of Swen, my address is inoperative.
Click to expand...
I found free avg slow to update using the free.grisoft.cz server which is
wahts showing in control centre on the british versions.However the
server can be changed with a bit of tweaking and updates are much faster.
me
 
For Avast, what "must run" and how do you configure it?

I have had one freeze. Opened my tv tuner (card) with browser open and
system froze solid. It appears to be a problem with links loading while
tuner is opening. Did not have a problem with avg and tuner, so might
revert to it.

GA
Click to expand...

I have cable TV on four TV's including one in the room with my
computer so have never had the need to put TV on my computer.
I wouldn't have the foggiest where your problem might be and have
never noticed a thread in any NG mentioning an AV/TV problem.

Since AVG recently changed and now has 'small' updates I will
probably try it again. AVG may be the simplest solution for you.

BoB
For the duration of Swen, my address is inoperative.
 
bassbag said:
Your av will
(heuristically or if its in virus database)detect and stop virus
executing when opening email anyway , so personally i dont see any
advantage in email scanners other than it sounds good.
me
Click to expand...

I agree. And given the performance hit I'd seen with email virus scanners,
I'm content to live without it.
 
Back
Top