Best Anti virus

[minimoose]

I currently have Norton, because I got it free with Comcast, but I wanted to know if there was a better program that was more lightweight.  No paid programs please.

[consoleconvergence2pc]

eww norton, but then again you got it for free

go download avast free and malwarebytes, probably the best package which the majority of people here run

[minimoose]

Thank you!  I know Norton is bad, but as you said I got it free.

[DudeWazap]

Malwarebytes and AVG free is pretty good.

 

Norton is heavy on resources but I understand that you got it for free.

[MellowCream]

Avast is the best!

[legend8887]

For paid I recommend ESET but for free I recommend Avast!

[Moosie]

I currently have Norton, because I got it free with Comcast, but I wanted to know if there was a better program that was more lightweight.  No paid programs please.

As Consoleconvergence said, Avast! Free and Malawarebytes. Norton is super heavy, doesn't work too well, and is almost impossible to completely remove. Avast! is lighter, and is has better detection rates than AVG.

 

Anti-virus is kind of a joke on Windows. It's really more for dealing with problems that are already there than defending against potential threats (since there are so many viruses that change so often for the platform). There are things like sandbox modes (which avast! has) that can help protect you, but safe browsing habits are more important. Because of this, it's almost never worth it to pay for antivirus software. The free stuff is pretty much as good when it comes down to it.

[minimoose]

I installed Avast, is it lighter on resources?

[consoleconvergence2pc]

I installed Avast, is it lighter on resources?

yup alot less than norton

also pick up malwarebytes 

[Moosie]

I installed Avast, is it lighter on resources?

Yes. And here's a tip: in the options, turn on Silent/Gaming mode. That way you won't get the audio and popup telling you "the virus database has been updated" every fifteen minutes.

[minimoose]

I just did!

[macpro622776]

Yes. And here's a tip: in the options, turn on Silent/Gaming mode. That way you won't get the audio and popup telling you "the virus database has been updated" every fifteen minutes.

 

Or you could just turn it off in the settings, and still get important notifications.

[minimoose]

And... Malwarebytes picked two things up!  However it seems kind of taxing on my computer, am I wrong about that?

[Almercenary]

I use Microsoft Security Essentials and malwarebytes.  The latter is better.

[Almercenary]

And... Malwarebytes picked two things up!  However it seems kind of taxing on my computer, am I wrong about that?

No, the scans are sort of taxing on mine to. Mostly CPU and HDD.

[Moosie]

Or you could just turn it off in the settings, and still get important notifications.

Perhaps it was from a few updates ago, but I had a problem where it was popping up anyway. And it can still give a notification if a threat is detected, it just doesn't force it into the foreground if something is full screened (which has a bad habit of breaking things). Plus, if you have automated scans and updating, who cares? As I said, virus protection in windows isn't armor as much as it's medicine if you do get infected. I don't need it sounding an alarm and asking every time I launch an .exe it doesn't recognize, that's what UAC is for. If you're worried, just set it up to sandbox that ish and you'll be fine.

[minimoose]

But it's not scanning all the time, and it seems to be slow all the time

[Boxoizoi]

Avast! and Malwarebytes should be adequate for everyday use. Both got free verisons available for download.

[Moosie]

But it's not scanning all the time, and it seems to be slow all the time

I don't have malwarebytes running all the time. It's one of those things that I keep updated and go to if I need it. The active protection in avast! is pretty sufficient.

[PsychoticEpisode]

As Consoleconvergence said, Avast! Free and Malawarebytes. Norton is super heavy, doesn't work too well, and is almost impossible to completely remove. Avast! is lighter, and is has better detection rates than AVG.

 

Anti-virus is kind of a joke on Windows. It's really more for dealing with problems that are already there than defending against potential threats (since there are so many viruses that change so often for the platform). There are things like sandbox modes (which avast! has) that can help protect you, but safe browsing habits are more important. Because of this, it's almost never worth it to pay for antivirus software. The free stuff is pretty much as good when it comes down to it.

Yea but I tried out Avast and it was messing with my modem on my mobo, I could not use the internet until i removed avast. I use AVG and  Malawarebytes now and have not had problems.

[macpro622776]

Perhaps it was from a few updates ago, but I had a problem where it was popping up anyway. And it can still give a notification if a threat is detected, it just doesn't force it into the foreground if something is full screened (which has a bad habit of breaking things). Plus, if you have automated scans and updating, who cares? As I said, virus protection in windows isn't armor as much as it's medicine if you do get infected. I don't need it sounding an alarm and asking every time I launch an .exe it doesn't recognize, that's what UAC is for. If you're worried, just set it up to sandbox that ish and you'll be fine.

 

Well actually that's what I was talking about when I referred to the important notifications. Gaming mode is automatically started whenever it detects a fullscreen application running in the foreground.

[Moosie]

Well actually that's what I was talking about when I referred to the important notifications. Gaming mode is automatically started whenever it detects a fullscreen application running in the foreground.

Again, I've had it just not work too many times. If I had a nickle for every time I got killed in counterstrike because avast! decided I needed to know some inane thing, I would have lots of nickles. And if it doesn't really matter (as explained it doesn't), I'd much rather not be bothered with something than have to deal with it.

[Cwazywazy]

The best way to avoid any viruses is to disconnect your computer from the internet.

 

 

Really though, I prefer Avast or Microsoft Security Essentials.

[Analog]

AVG Internet Security 2014 is the best. I upgraded to it yesterday from my standard AVG Antivirus and I am really happy. For only a couple of bucks more you get a better firewall and your e-mail checked form spam and viruses. 

[Fasic]

www.noAntiVirus.com
best practice: if you dont use eBanking, and stuff like that, use Google Chrome and no AntiVirusSoftware
 

ps. i didn't saw any virus for years now...