decent free anti-virus software

[ste2425]

hey guys i think ma xp's mashed. I keep geetin allot of error messages saying programs have failed to initialize then a code and it says click of to terminate, and another common one is services.exe has stoped working sorry for the inconvience send error report or dont send message. Im using windows defender and AVG and to be honest for many years ive had this setup with no problems what soever and as this is a fresh install of xp im guessing its viruses so can anyone recomend decent free software?
cheers

[oli_ramsay]

I got fed up with AVG's update issues and switched to avast! a while ago. Great AV IMO.

http://www.avast.com/eng/home-registration.php

[alexp999]

+1 Avast has to be the best free anti-virus IMO, I always put it on newly built PC's.

[Kursah]

I've used Avast for years, it's treated me extremely well on multiple PC's, for a free AV imo you can't get any better! I've used it in 2000, XP x64, x86, Vista x64, x86 and W7 x64, x86 all without issues. Doesn't seem to affect gaming, as I said I've used it for years and am very content.

[ste2425]

ok cheers its just every 5 mins a little box pops up saying avg has found a trogen when ive done a full scan it come sup with jack so ill try avast cheers guys

[russianboy]

There's always avast, then there is one not too many have heard of.

I don't care how many people have or have not heard of it, though. It got rid of my virtumonde when everything else failed, and one of the few antiviruses that can get rid of that bugger. Good stuff. Malwarebyte's antimalware.

[Kursah]

Yep I primarily use Avast for AV, Spybot S&D and Malwarebytes for the malware part of it, I let Windows Defender do it's daily scan at like 3AM...I've been sitting very solid and safe for a very long period of time, I can't remember the last time I've been hit hard by a virus or malware attack, doesn't mean it can't happen still...as we all know the safest route is power off or unplug the internet connection. But these free programs do a good job of bringing peace of mind for those of us that want to enjoy our Pc's and our internet!

[russianboy]

Originally Posted by Kursah

Yep I primarily use Avast for AV, Spybot S&D and Malwarebytes for the malware part of it, I let Windows Defender do it's daily scan at like 3AM...I've been sitting very solid and safe for a very long period of time, I can't remember the last time I've been hit hard by a virus or malware attack, doesn't mean it can't happen still...as we all know the safest route is power off or unplug the internet connection. But these free programs do a good job of bringing peace of mind for those of us that want to enjoy our Pc's and our internet!

Or you could forgo limewire and porn sites.

Wouldn't be all that fun then.

[technicks]

I use AVG Free but with a key to activate it.
I never have any problems with it and rarely have the update error.

[KieranD]

Spybot S&D and Malwarebytes and avira antivir personal edition (free)

used to use like avg years ago but scrapped that for avast but even i got fed up with that and use avira antivir


avg is bloated and uses a lot of system juice, avast is okay but i think avira is the best free one, the best paid for is nod32 nothing gets past that

dont go on pirate sites and download nod32 tho just use a free one

nod32 is good if you have a lot of data and for networks and servers but free stuff is good for home pcs

spybot and malwarebytes are the best nothing beats them, firewalls are annoying i just use the windows stuff, if you wanted max security a firewall would be the route to go but you need to add exceptions and ports argh to much hassle when a good combo of anti virus and anti spyware does ME FINE(may be different for other set ups)

[EviLZeD]

I also stopped using AVG and went avast for a good while now no issues at all uses little resources, it also has a convenient settings where it checks for any full screen application like games before it pops up with update messages etc.

[PVTCaboose1337]

I use nod32 no doubt!

Can you spot it!



Anyway, NOD32 has never done me wrong, but for freebies on my other machines I use Avast. NOD32 if you are super serious, and it is worth it, Avast if you don't want to buy.

[LittleLizard]

avast, avira or avg 7.

the new avg sucks monkey balls

[paulm]

Avast for free, Avira Antivir for paid.

NOD32 doesn't do crap against anything.

[ste2425]

well ive avg 8 an its been fine on other installs but i recently went from 7 to xp an now every five min the box at the bottom opops up saying its found a trogen but i scan completally with windows defender and avg an they dont find out. Ill give all the stuff you mentioned a try when i get back from college cheers guys

[Dice]

set avast to do a boot scan, always worked for me.

[hat]

bit defender online scanner. just make sure you set it to notify only so you'll at least know what/where they are and nuke em in safe mode. I've had it delete trainers for video games before

[CheetoLover]

currently using symantek endpoint protection but

free antiviruses i trust.

Avira AntiVir this is the best of the bunch according to http://www.av-comparatives.org/ less faulse positives and better detect rate(last i checked)

Avast

Comodo this includes a very good firewall, and is 100% free

those are the best FREE av's, Nod32, Kav(kaspersky) and norton2009/symantek endpoint protection are the best pay av's, I also like f-prot(good price for 5 licences if u check their site)

also theres http://www.clamwin.com/ it dosnt have a real time protector but its handy, and its helped me clean off 2 systems that where infected.

[ste2425]

what/where they are and nuke em in safe mode

i aint the most competant person on a computer how would i do that?

[PVTCaboose1337]

Originally Posted by paulm

Avast for free, Avira Antivir for paid.

NOD32 doesn't do crap against anything.

NOD32 is amazing! How long did you use it for? You probably downloaded the uber pirated copy and failed it hard. Go out and buy the software like a good person, and see how it works then! Very good AV.

[CheetoLover]

Originally Posted by PVTCaboose1337

NOD32 is amazing! How long did you use it for? You probably downloaded the uber pirated copy and failed it hard. Go out and buy the software like a good person, and see how it works then! Very good AV.

it is a good/great AV software, and u can get free trials, he probbly got a hacked pirated copy and is blaming nod32 for his mistake.

I will testify that after alot of testing symantec/norton have pulled one out of their hat thanks to MS forcing them to rebuild their engine from the ground up(for vista) it works every bit as well as nod32/kav but has very little performance impact on the system(same or less then nod32)

i even setup SEP on an old duron 900 system thats using pc133 ram and it had no perf impact!!!

[ste2425]

well guys heres the latest, i got avast an it asked me to do a scan upon boot after i restarted which i did an it scanned my whole comp before it would let me log on, im guessing thats the scan in safe mode?, well anyway it found a load of stuff everything else missed an half of it was in my windows folder, me bein dumb clicked delete so when i loaded it up it wouldnt load properly an i tried to use my windows repair disk but dont no how to use the commands so reinstalled windows, bugger. But i no avast, it all works an is all good. I gues my system was buggered before i even asked for help. Now im fully re-installed got avast and everythings running beautifully, would avast be good enough to use on its own tho?

[spearman914]

avg is crap, it's just popular. Avast/AVIRA.

[DRDNA]

I use Avast ...I use to use AVG but it was having issues....I combat with Malwarebytes and CCleaner and Unlocker and several root kit detectors.....I have never in my home been beatin by a virus of any kind..... worse case scenario I slave it and clean it ...but yes Avast is really good for a free app.

[The Haunted]

Have been using Avira Antivir for quite some time and i can say its one of the best.
It have a very small footprint on the system performance and one of the best performer (if not the best) on av-comparatives.org