Which is the best Free available Anti Virus for Vista?

[Fahad Khan]

I want to download the Free anti virus for my Vista, but im wondering which is the best?

 

[Barman58]

Hi Fahad Khan

A lot of members here are using Avast avast! - Download antivirus software for spyware and virus protection with good results - others are available of course. The avast requires you to register for a free key for home use - the key lasts one year but can be updated for free also

 

[rive0108]

Actually according to recent November 2008 Av-comparative testing http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse/report20.pdf
NOD32 and Avira are the best on the market right now.
Best Free Antivirus: ESET! Try free antivirus programs for 30 days.
Free
http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/
Free antivirus - Avira AntiVir

for further Antivirus performance info:http://www.vistax64.com/system-security/172321-vista-sp1-antivirus-performance.html

 

[nsbjsn]

Ok, Ive read all the posts I can on this subject and I still need some advice. Im new to computers in general, this is my first in 10 yrs. Ive been using Norton 360 for the last year with no problems. However, I was unaware of its large "footprint". Would getting rid of it make everything else faster? and or free up enough space that its beneficial? Also the $65 a year kind of sucks. Ive heard on this forum that there are free antiviruses that work as well or better? Can I get a few more recomendations please?

Thanks

 

[dk70]

Dont think you will have problems with any AV on your computer, 4gb and x64 hint computer is fast enough.

Free protection has been optional for many years, nothing new in that. Especially passive prevention like thinking before you click has never cost a penny

If you want some highly active free protection check out Comodo Free Firewall Antivirus Software Download by ComodoAntivirus part is not really super yet Ive been told but you can just untick during install. Use Avast, Avira instead. If you ask me it is insane for a normal private user. Fun to play with and probably good medicine for paranoia. But then again I dont see much point in 2 way firewall either. There is a lot more you can do to exclude world, check this A light best of freeware breed HIPS do it yourself setup - Wilders Security Forumsor dont turn on computer... Browsers can be also be crippled to reach some higher level of surfing, Firefox has loads of extensions to protect you. Like NoScript - also above my head like in waste of time

If you dont want all that stuff running and spend so much time configuring then improve passive security. Think about where risk come from, 99% chance you can avoid (or check better) with free higher awareness, and use of free services like OpenDNS (block Adware and phishing categories in Dashboard), WOT Internet Security | WOT Web of Trust Along with Windows Defender and AV you should be "safe enough". Regardless of UAC setting. WOT can be faster than SiteAdvisor, Norton etc. in warning against the typical malware domains or simply block stuff they dont know about. Is an extra layer of security if there is any risk you fall for such offerings. Dont rely on stupid AV to work. Doubtful you get same warning even if you paid for it. Find a site with bad domains and check with LinkExtend Screenshots - LinkExtend - The Ultimate Browsing Tool see shot with safety.

Should you want to run a keygen.exe you dont before it has been send off to VirusTotal Does this happen often then install their handy uploader, you can rightclick file and use send-to menu. This also will make you wonder of what to pay for. ESET will ignore what Norton and Avira catches or is it really a False Positive? VirusTotal shows why whatever product is nothing more than a safety belt and how much advertising lies.

Norton 360 has tons of features but only thing unique which you might find it hard to find free alternative for is "Norton™ Identity Safe" - your Norton Account checking input in forms right? If you even use it. May be free version of RoboForm can help - or stop the online nanny thinking and use Keepass

Dont forget Microsoft will release free AV this year so more reason to consider new subscription, not just for Norton. Cant buy 100% safety anyway and if you are one of those asking for trouble, you will get it no matter what you buy. Comodo package can lock you down though but really not for everyone.

Forgot about Malwarebytes - install from here http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php make a batch file and a new entry in task scheduler. Let it run weekly, daily or what you prefer. Windows Defender has build in scheduler so that you already have set up.

eh.. something like below should work, if I remember correctly it can have problem with just 1 mbam.exe line and too many switches. Copy lines into a mbamscan.bat file and place in mbam program folder - then make entry in scheduler. MBAM will only popup in your face if it finds something, else it goes to sleep. Point of this is yet another very passive layer, not needed perhaps but nm. MBAM is better than most AV with what it targets, this and a few other programs live high on the crappy state of AV products "Useful supplement" if very polite. Cost nothing.

@echo off
start /WAIT mbam.exe /runupdate
start mbam.exe /minimized /quickscanterminate
exit

 

[rive0108]

Here is a list of all free software downloads/online scanners (good for double checking against currently installed programs), and internet security tools:
http://www.vistax64.com/system-security/162362-antivirus-scanners-internet-security-tools.html

 

[dk70]

No lack of options. But take it easy with scanners - be aware of what false positive means. As a starting point only let online scanners report findings. Yesterday I ran Bitdefenders scanner and because of my lack of sleep I let have its way. Seems most stuff from Nirsoft is considered infections by Bitdefender - not so or yes but no, some of his stuff can be mistaken as being evil. You should be "on top of things", "in control" "know what you are doing" when using online scanners and be sure to save reports/results. Cool option but not without risk. They are no more foolproof than normal AV installations and options of repair/restoring any mistakes are just not there due to the nature of online scanner. There is a reason quarantine stuff is the way to go compared to auto-fix/delete. Tough for online scanner but take note of what it finds.

I kind of like how Kaspersky does it - their scanner does not remove anything, only reports.