Is there a decent FREE Antivirus software?

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maradcliff

Is there a decent FREE Antivirus software?

I dont normally run AV software, and I have all my email set up to
ONLY receive TEXT messages and never allow attachments. So, I feel
pretty safe. I used to have an old win95 version of Norton AV
installed (this is Win98SE). For some reason that Norton AV kept
freezing up my computer, so I finally got rid of it.

With these latest viruses, I'd like to install some sort of AV
software again. I am not able to BUY anything at the moment, and
would not get Norton again, anyhow.

I do know there are others. What can I download?
(I DO NOT want McAfee, that thing has caused me problems in the past
too).

I know there are some online websites that will scan our computers
too, but I am not sure if that is the best idea. Is it really safe?

Thanks

Mark
 
Is there a decent FREE Antivirus software?

I dont normally run AV software, and I have all my email set up to
ONLY receive TEXT messages and never allow attachments. So, I feel
pretty safe. I used to have an old win95 version of Norton AV
installed (this is Win98SE). For some reason that Norton AV kept
freezing up my computer, so I finally got rid of it.

With these latest viruses, I'd like to install some sort of AV
software again. I am not able to BUY anything at the moment, and
would not get Norton again, anyhow.

I do know there are others. What can I download?
(I DO NOT want McAfee, that thing has caused me problems in the past
too).

I know there are some online websites that will scan our computers
too, but I am not sure if that is the best idea. Is it really safe?

Thanks

Mark
Click to expand...

Hi Mark,
One, which I have just installed, has a very good name and gets
good reviews in most PC magazines is AGV Free. It is available for
download from
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
It is possible to use an enhanced version but that will need paying
for.
The downloaded version will only scan e-mails using Microsoft
Outlook or Outlook Express. It is possible to set up a scanner for
other e-mailers by downloading from
http://www.grisoft.cz/beta/avgemc/avgemc_en.htm
but you may find it a bit of a fag. The instructions are not
particularly clear and in fact can mislead. If you do install and need
help I will be pleased to pass on what I have discovered.
Reg
 
Is there a decent FREE Antivirus software?

I dont normally run AV software, and I have all my email set up to
ONLY receive TEXT messages and never allow attachments. So, I feel
pretty safe. I used to have an old win95 version of Norton AV
installed (this is Win98SE). For some reason that Norton AV kept
freezing up my computer, so I finally got rid of it.

With these latest viruses, I'd like to install some sort of AV
software again. I am not able to BUY anything at the moment, and
would not get Norton again, anyhow.

I do know there are others. What can I download?
(I DO NOT want McAfee, that thing has caused me problems in the past
too).

I know there are some online websites that will scan our computers
too, but I am not sure if that is the best idea. Is it really safe?
Click to expand...

Don't use those. See my web site for suggestions. Use F-Prot for DOS
and Antidote to scan your drive(s) once in awhile. And practice safe
hex:

http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html


Art
http://www.epix.net/~artnpeg
 
Is there a decent FREE Antivirus software?

I dont normally run AV software, and I have all my email set up to
ONLY receive TEXT messages and never allow attachments. So, I feel
pretty safe. I used to have an old win95 version of Norton AV
installed (this is Win98SE). For some reason that Norton AV kept
freezing up my computer, so I finally got rid of it.

With these latest viruses, I'd like to install some sort of AV
software again. I am not able to BUY anything at the moment, and
would not get Norton again, anyhow.

I do know there are others. What can I download?
(I DO NOT want McAfee, that thing has caused me problems in the past
too).

I know there are some online websites that will scan our computers
too, but I am not sure if that is the best idea. Is it really safe?

Thanks

Mark
Click to expand...

AVG free
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
Is what I use and also what I recommend to all my customers. It is
very reliable, does not hog resources like Norton and the updates are
free and automatic.

Online scan sites from Mcaffee or Symantec are safe and good, but they
are only for a cure after the event, they will not stop a virus from
getting into your machine.

Adaware Trojan scan
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/
Another free program is well worth getting also. This will clean out
spyware and backdoor trojans from the machine.

And to stop most spyware and malware from getting there in the first
place, Zone Alarm
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp
A free firewall that will not allow any program from accessing the
internet without your permission, or any program to gain access to
your computer from outside.
All of this may sound like overkill, and a few years ago it would have
been, but not any more.

Good luck
Taff.......................



www.sounds-pa.com | www.thecomputerworkshop.com
 
Don't use those. See my web site for suggestions. Use F-Prot for DOS
and Antidote to scan your drive(s) once in awhile. And practice safe
hex:

http://www.claymania.com/safe-hex.html


Art
http://www.epix.net/~artnpeg
Click to expand...

I felt uneasy about using those online scanners too. Actually any of
that online stuff seems pretty senseless. Like online organizers
(to-do lists). Whats the point? And, if their system is infected,
how could they scan my computer????

Thanks for the info. I run lots of dos apps anyhow. I go back to
when computers only had dos.

I assume they are at f-prot.com

I am not worried about email viruses. I use Eudora 3.x. That thing
only gets TEXT messages. No html. I have all attachments disabled,
and have to accept them manually. I only accept pictures, and only
from people I know well.

I mainly want to scan things I download, which actually is not very
much. I just want to perform a complete scan once a week, and scan
individual downloads. I used to only scan once a month, but with all
these latest viruses, I will scan more often.

I dont know what killed Norton AV, but it sure got messed up. I
reinstalled it over the top of the old one, but it still locked up.
So, I deleted it.

Thanks for the help

Mark
 
I do know there are others.
What can I download?
Click to expand...
<snippage>

AVG www.grisoft.com

Avast http://www.avast.com

AVPE http://www.free-av.com

all the above are free and come with real time scan
the AVPE is the less demanding one in terms of CPU
so if you don't have an hi-powered machine go for it
uh ... and btw all three have online updates; the list
above is in no particular order, just browse the sites
and search a little about the three or just download
them and find the one you like more

Hope it helps
 
Reg Mouatt said:
Hi Mark,
One, which I have just installed, has a very good name and gets
good reviews in most PC magazines is AGV Free. It is available for
download from
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
Click to expand...

IMO, Avast! is dramatically better than AVG. Having used AVG for a year and
now Avast! for 6 months, Avast! is way better. It automatically checks for
and downloads the updates when I establish a dial-up connection (instead of
scheduling this check at some predetermined time), its scanning of incoming
e-mail is dramatically better (it actually stops the e-mail before it is
downloaded), and it maintains a restore database so you can restore damaged
system files of a virus does hose up some of your files. It also has 5
separate tools that you can turn on or off for the virus scanning you really
need (resident scanner, POP e-mail, Exchange mail, P2P and IM.)

http://www.avast.com/

Gregg C.
 
Gregg Cattanach said:
IMO, Avast! is dramatically better than AVG. Having used AVG for a year and
now Avast! for 6 months, Avast! is way better. It automatically checks for
and downloads the updates when I establish a dial-up connection (instead of
scheduling this check at some predetermined time), its scanning of incoming
e-mail is dramatically better (it actually stops the e-mail before it is
downloaded), and it maintains a restore database so you can restore damaged
system files of a virus does hose up some of your files. It also has 5
separate tools that you can turn on or off for the virus scanning you really
need (resident scanner, POP e-mail, Exchange mail, P2P and IM.)
Click to expand...

Yes, but it's NOT free!
 
i also use avast and mine was free
-max

--
'When you have a degree-you don't know everything-just a degree'-Dr Miles
Munroe
This message is virus free as far I can tell
Change nomail.afraid.org to hotmail.com so you can reply
(nomail.afraid.org has been set up specifically for
use in Usenet. Feel free to use it yourself.)
 
Nomad said:
Avast is only free for a period of 60 days, then it's pay-time.
Click to expand...

Wrong. It's a demo for 60 days. You must register (free) to continue
receiving updates after that.
 
AVG free
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
Is what I use and also what I recommend to all my customers. It is
very reliable, does not hog resources like Norton and the updates are
free and automatic.

Online scan sites from Mcaffee or Symantec are safe and good, but they
are only for a cure after the event, they will not stop a virus from
getting into your machine.

Adaware Trojan scan
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/
Another free program is well worth getting also. This will clean out
spyware and backdoor trojans from the machine.

And to stop most spyware and malware from getting there in the first
place, Zone Alarm
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp
A free firewall that will not allow any program from accessing the
internet without your permission, or any program to gain access to
your computer from outside.
All of this may sound like overkill, and a few years ago it would have
been, but not any more.

Good luck
Taff.......................
Click to expand...

Good recommendations, but that zone alarm is a royal pain in the ass
to use. I would not recommend that thing to anyone. I tried it, it
made it very difficult to access almost everything on the web, and the
instructions are only understood by someone that is a total computer
geek. I am no expert, but I have used computers longer than most
people, and that thing had me totally confused. I removed it after a
week or so.

Ad Aware, however is EXCELLENT !!!! I'd recommend it to anyone.

Just my 2 cents...

Mark
 
Nomad said:
You are soooo correct. My mistake.
Click to expand...
Well - in the case of virus scanners, the difference between a time
limited free version and a demo version may be essential:
In many cases, demos do not allow for the continuous updating of virus
definitions during the demo period! Such a demo is without any value.
Soooo...;-)

Roy
 
Good recommendations, but that zone alarm is a royal pain in the ass
to use. I would not recommend that thing to anyone. I tried it, it
made it very difficult to access almost everything on the web, and the
instructions are only understood by someone that is a total computer
geek. I am no expert, but I have used computers longer than most
people, and that thing had me totally confused. I removed it after a
week or so.

Ad Aware, however is EXCELLENT !!!! I'd recommend it to anyone.

Just my 2 cents...

Mark
Click to expand...

I agree that Ad-Aware is excellent and ZoneAlarm tricky at times.

Today, I have deleted my ZoneAlarm and started to use the free
version of the Outpost Personal firewall from http://www.agnitum.com
which looks quite promising.

Rgds,
Kim
 
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