Got a new comp on the way (cheap) so want to know what people think of free virus etc software.

I've been using AVG, Spybot, Ad-Aware and Desktop Armor on my existing PC.
I find Ad-Aware doesn't so anything that AVG and Spybot don't, so I was going to just download the newest versions of AVG and Spybot and leave it at that.

Any others ppl would suggest (and why are they better than what I have)?

Cheers

AVG & Ad-Aware for me. I just run Ad-Aware from time to time just to double check AVG's anti spyware because one or the other can miss stuff.

As OB said re ram, more ram can't hurt anyway and is cheap

Cheers Bob.

AVG used to be the go but its becoming bloatware. Avast seems to be okay though I haven't had to test it out on a virus infection.

Windows Defender seems reasonable enough anti spyware software though there are a number of well documented cases where what some people consider to be MS spyware is ignored by Defender.

avast
www.avast.com/en-au/index
download their free home version
Perfect been using it for years totally trouble free.

SMG said...


If you want to avoid the virus problem altogether, move away from PC's - Mac's do cost a little more, but they're simply built the right way so you don't have to worry about all the pricks out there trying to destroy your computer!

I'm not trying to start a PC vs Mac war...... so relax PC kids!

I havn't had a virus for years, so no need to change to a Mac as yet
I also have been building my own & mates PC's for years, they run sweet, I only use the latest windows when they're sorted, no probs with Vista

I do know that Avast is recomended all over the net as the g o so if you're up for a change go that way for sure I think all the main players will be ok now days, just stay away from sus sites

Maybe if is was a teen hacker wanting to unleash major havoc ........ I'd write a virus for PC's as most ppl use them. Why bother with a Mac virus?

..... same as I would not write one for C64 or Atari?

Go to the sysinternals site and get StartupMonitor. It's a tiny 260k free application that takes care of all of my antivirus needs and has done for the last 5 years. (disclaimer: I don't run dodgy keygen/crack software, use firefox for web browsing, take some precautions)

All StartupMonitor does is watch the registry for any program that tries to make itself start when the computer boots up. Then it intercepts this change and asks your permission before allowing it. So if you're installing new and trusted software, you click OK. If you're at a dodgy website, or not installing anything (that you know about), you click deny. If unsure, you google the name of the program it gives you and see if it's nasty.

I also use their programs 'Autoruns' and 'Process Explorer'. Very handy, not for beginners though.

i rescently tried comodo internet security it's for free for home users and seems to be pretty reasonable