Free antivirus for everyone!
Monday, 21. July 2008, 20:52:44
I've noticed that many users still use either cracked security software or no security software at all.
Now using cracked security software is like relying on locks bought from some strange guy, not running anything today is not that smart even if you are very cautious while browsing. Besides, who ever said you have to pay for anything? Many already know them, others don't. You really can't lose anything, just gain.
Here are three most known antivirus programs that keep milions of users secured online.
I'll make a small description so it'll be easier to decide but feel free to try all three (separately of course) and decide which one fits your needs...
avast! Antivirus Home Edition
One of the oldest antiviruses around, first program to achieve VB100% award, the avast! Antivirus from Czech based ALWIL Software. Their philosophy is to offer security to every home user for free without any catches or detection limitations. What is detected by their payable version is also detected by the free one. Too good to be true? Nah, it's all there!
Quick description:
+ provides protection against all malware types (even against spyware/adware & active rootkits!)
+ fast with small footprint
+ also supports legacy operating systems (like Windows 98)
+ very small and fast fully automatic updates (checks every 4 hours, even 56k friendly!)
+ very good technical support through forums, e-mail and phone
+ very configurable even for free version
+ sound/speech effects for warnings
+ strong self-defense
+ update servers are the same as the ones for payable users (over 80 hi-speed servers!)
- no scan/task scheduler
- detection is not the best (though it's not that bad as it might sound, they're improving it fast)
- requires free registration every 14 months
AVG Antivirus Free Edition
Thats correct, another Czech based antivirus company called Grisoft. Their antivirus has been known for very low footprint and good compatibility in the past. With acquisition of Ewido Networks they've gained quiet some technology which greatly reflects in their detection rates in their latest versions of their antivirus. Investments from Intel Corporation also help them greatlly i assume...
Quick description:
+ offers malware and spyware/adware detection
+ quiet fast
+ very good detection
+ easy to use (not all that configurable)
- does not support legacy operating systems anymore (like WIndows 98)
- does not protect from active rootkits
- checks for updates only once per 24 hours (thats bad)
- uses special a bit slower free servers
- tech support limited to forums only
AVIRA AntiVir Personal Free
Formerly known as H+BEDV with their flagship product AntiVir. They've renamed their company to AVIRA some time ago and since then, it's getting better and better...
This one used to be the ugly duckling in the past with rather mediocre detection, ugly interface, huge and slow updates. Something no one would really want to use. German engineers changed all that in just 2 years. Today, AntiVir is one of the most highly rated antiviruses there is, with brutal detection in all fronts, nice interface, incrimental and very frequent updates. But free version has its downsides...
Quick description:
+ very configurable even for free version
+ very high detection
+ very high scan speed
+ very frequent almost hourly released updates
+ offers Scheduler to schedule scans or update checks
- does not support legacy operating systems anymore (like Windows 98)
- offers only malware detection (no spyware/adware detection)
- does not protect from active rootkits
- uses special a bit slower free servers
- checks for updates only once per 24 hours (thats bad)
- displays advertising popup for their Premium version after each virus definition update
- tech support limited to forums only
Each has it's own limitations and bonuses so don't look just at minuses... Check the list and decide what you need the most. Or simply try each of these three and decide then. I'm quiet sure anyone would find something useful for himself/herself. Better safe than sorry!
Surf the net in a safe way!
Now using cracked security software is like relying on locks bought from some strange guy, not running anything today is not that smart even if you are very cautious while browsing. Besides, who ever said you have to pay for anything? Many already know them, others don't. You really can't lose anything, just gain.
Here are three most known antivirus programs that keep milions of users secured online.
I'll make a small description so it'll be easier to decide but feel free to try all three (separately of course) and decide which one fits your needs...
avast! Antivirus Home Edition
One of the oldest antiviruses around, first program to achieve VB100% award, the avast! Antivirus from Czech based ALWIL Software. Their philosophy is to offer security to every home user for free without any catches or detection limitations. What is detected by their payable version is also detected by the free one. Too good to be true? Nah, it's all there!
Quick description:
+ provides protection against all malware types (even against spyware/adware & active rootkits!)
+ fast with small footprint
+ also supports legacy operating systems (like Windows 98)
+ very small and fast fully automatic updates (checks every 4 hours, even 56k friendly!)
+ very good technical support through forums, e-mail and phone
+ very configurable even for free version
+ sound/speech effects for warnings
+ strong self-defense
+ update servers are the same as the ones for payable users (over 80 hi-speed servers!)
- no scan/task scheduler
- detection is not the best (though it's not that bad as it might sound, they're improving it fast)
- requires free registration every 14 months
AVG Antivirus Free Edition
Thats correct, another Czech based antivirus company called Grisoft. Their antivirus has been known for very low footprint and good compatibility in the past. With acquisition of Ewido Networks they've gained quiet some technology which greatly reflects in their detection rates in their latest versions of their antivirus. Investments from Intel Corporation also help them greatlly i assume...
Quick description:
+ offers malware and spyware/adware detection
+ quiet fast
+ very good detection
+ easy to use (not all that configurable)
- does not support legacy operating systems anymore (like WIndows 98)
- does not protect from active rootkits
- checks for updates only once per 24 hours (thats bad)
- uses special a bit slower free servers
- tech support limited to forums only
AVIRA AntiVir Personal Free
Formerly known as H+BEDV with their flagship product AntiVir. They've renamed their company to AVIRA some time ago and since then, it's getting better and better...
This one used to be the ugly duckling in the past with rather mediocre detection, ugly interface, huge and slow updates. Something no one would really want to use. German engineers changed all that in just 2 years. Today, AntiVir is one of the most highly rated antiviruses there is, with brutal detection in all fronts, nice interface, incrimental and very frequent updates. But free version has its downsides...
Quick description:
+ very configurable even for free version
+ very high detection
+ very high scan speed
+ very frequent almost hourly released updates
+ offers Scheduler to schedule scans or update checks
- does not support legacy operating systems anymore (like Windows 98)
- offers only malware detection (no spyware/adware detection)
- does not protect from active rootkits
- uses special a bit slower free servers
- checks for updates only once per 24 hours (thats bad)
- displays advertising popup for their Premium version after each virus definition update
- tech support limited to forums only
Each has it's own limitations and bonuses so don't look just at minuses... Check the list and decide what you need the most. Or simply try each of these three and decide then. I'm quiet sure anyone would find something useful for himself/herself. Better safe than sorry!
Surf the net in a safe way!
WIDGETIZE
Anonymous # 26. July 2008, 19:43
Disable the Avira Antivir PE Classic avnotify nag screen
Avira free: you can manualy schedule more updates per day.
RejZoR # 27. July 2008, 17:21
But i agree, when this is done, it's much more pleasent to use this program.
I also forgot to mention it has a scheduler. Will fix this right away...
Anonymous # 20. September 2008, 10:28
avast! Antivirus
- detection is not the best (though it's not that bad as it might sound, they're improving it fast)
*******************************
What about latest rating from av-comparatives, virusbtn, and "maybe" virusinfo.info ?? Or we will have to wait for the Retrospective/ProActive Test to make some suggestion as "recommended"?
Do you use Avast! at the moment and which version free or paid?
If not, what do use most commonly(i mean as yours main AV) of the AV software(multiple choice available )?
Do you recommend Avast!, let's say as for an substitute for NOD32 or maybe KAV, Bitdefender, followed with another good Firewall, antispyware, behavior blocker and etc.( or depends on surfing habits and etc.)
RejZoR # 20. September 2008, 17:34
It always scored well and even improved in on-demand tests but was somehow mediocre in proactive tests. It did well but there is room for improvements. When avast! 5 will hit the streets we'll see that too.
But may take a while for that.
Yeah, i'm using free edition of avast!. I've tried pretty much all antiviruses there is but i just kept on coming back to avast!.
Probably because i have a tight connection with ALWIL proggrammers and team itself. We're almost like a small family, even though we've never seen eachother in person. Plus the software is really well coded and they also listen to users. Lots of features in avast! are actually my ideas.
Like option to stop spinning the "a" ball. Or the scanned data size units in context scanner (it auto converts from smaller units to bigger one as they reach the limit like 1024KB and then the unit jumps to MB and value starts at number 1). Small thing but they implimented it just because i recommended that. Isn't that great? No other AV gave me that kind of chance. So i'm sticking with it. Been protecting me great and whatever i notice wrong with it, i can talk with programmers right away on solving the problem. No need to wait for generic tech support that usually doesn't work at all...
But if i'd have to select some other AV, it would most probably be AVIRA. They are doing it extremelly well, too bad their free version is too cripled. avast! isn't in any way, another reason why i'm sticking with it.
If you have bought the license for NOD32 or KAV, use it till it expires.
But then use avast!. It's no worse, yet completely free.
As for the firewall, Comodo Firewall Pro is my best bet. Very powerful firewall, much better than most of paybale ones and also free.
You can't miss with it.
Anonymous # 31. October 2008, 18:31
1st time user
Anonymous # 31. October 2008, 18:32
1st time user
Anonymous # 16. November 2008, 08:35
Hi RejZoR...
Thought I would take a peek at your site having seen the link for it on your posts at the avast forum, nice work! :)
You mentioned under your description that Avira does not offer any rootkit detection in their free version. I don't think that's true anymore. A while back after upgrading a copy of it, I was asked if I wanted to enable rootkit detection. I found this page here to confirm my experience, under "Here are some key features of "Avira AntiVir Personal - Free Antivirus"...
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/AntiVir-Personal-Edition.shtml
Is there a difference between this and detection of "active rootkits?"
Thanks!
May God Bless you :)
RejZoR # 16. November 2008, 11:35
The antirootkit scanner is on-demand only, while the one in avast! will automatically check for potential rootkit threats at system startup (even on x64).
Maybe i should write down the info about it in a different way...
Anonymous # 17. November 2008, 00:55
Hi RejZoR...
I'm using Avira myself and had no idea I was not protected for rootkits. :( Thank you for the heads up!
I guess I will have to download another copy of Blacklight and use it on occasion....
May God Bless you!
ard
Anonymous # 7. December 2008, 01:12
theres always money involved,is there anyone who can do something for free.
Anonymous # 7. December 2008, 01:13
i just did.