Good free anti virus software?

[EChondo]

I use MSE and Malwarebytes personally.

[Flynn]

Microsoft Security Essentials is a great anti virus and completely free! ;)

I just use microsoft's built in protection as well, I've never had a problem. It's about what you download and your behavior that puts you at risk. Virus's don't just arbitrarily get on a computer, you invite them (unless you are a target for some reason, and no individual usually would be, unless you seriously pissed someone off).

Do what I do, I have a massive honeypot, anyone that decides to hop on my network is going to hate themselves because I'll ruin their computer.

[eTheBlack]

Anti-Viruses are pretty useless, so I don't recommend any. Just install Firefox/Chrome with AdBlock Plus and don't click on any "fishy" urls and rather download pr0n from TPB than watching on any youtube parody sites. You don't need anything else.

[Reconciliasion]

Microsoft Security Essentials

[Jozi]

I use avast on my pc and galaxy s3.

[Oisin Maguire]

there are many good free anti virus programs but the two that i like the most are AVG and Avast because the are not heavy on the system unlike Norton

AVG

http://free.avg.com/ca-en/homepage

Avast

http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

Id still be using Avast even if Norton gave that to me for free

[GrimmyG]

Common Sense and MSE have never steered me wrong.

[RyanC]

Security Essentials is just terrible now. Avast and Malwarebytes is the way to go.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/17/3885962/microsoft-security-essentials-fails-anti-virus-certification-test

[mgsstar]

Using Avira as my antivirus. No problems so far! :)

[R3SISTOR]

Can't go wrong with Microsoft Security Essentials. It doesn't perform the best in virus detention "benchmarks" (lack of a better term), but it still performs well, and doesn't take much resources. You need a legitimate version of Windows to install it though.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/secu...urity/mse.aspx

Been using MSE for a while now, used AVG beforehand but became unsatisfied with it. I would recommend MSE.

[Helepolis]

Going to join the Avast! bandwagon, been using it for years and it's always rated very well for being top notch and most notibley free. I install on fresh systems as if it were a muscle memory.

[s0nrise]

Avast is the best one around, just go with it.

[cxz]

I like avast but check this link out http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-3667_7-57564385/microsoft-bombs-another-security-test/?ttag=gpwl

[GoodBytes]

MSE / Windows Defender (in Windows 8.. renamed MSE and embedded into Windows 8. It has nothing to do with the old Windows Defender in Win7 and Vista)

MSE is a good anti-virus, in the sense that:

-> It is non-intrusive.

-> You don't feel it running and doesn't bug you with non-sense.

-> It doesn't make Windows boot process take forever to load

-> Does slow down your computer

-> Detect a majority of viruses and popular malware just fine.

The problem that MSE has (and Windows Defender in 8 (same thing)), is the popularity. The more popular an A/V is, the less godo it starts to become. This was true with AVG, Avast, McAfee, Norton (not in order) and now MSE is starting. When an A/V solution becomes popular, virus makers, will obviously make sure that their virus is not detectable by it.

That is why A/V companies continuously update and even change their entire algorithm every new versions to try and be 1 step ahead of new viruses, all by detecting old ones.

MSE and Windows Defender, in the case of Win8. Aren't the end all of A/V solution. You want maximum protection, expect to always change anti-virus program between the big players every now and then. Basically as soon as it gets popular, picks something else... then the currently popular won't be popular anymore as it won't detect viruses as well anymore, and then it will be great again. Microsoft knows this. The reason why Microsoft made and provide an Anti-virus to users, is because most users have the trial or 1 year subscription A/V that came with their computer, and never updated their subscription or purchase it, resulting in having a disabled A/V. So Microsoft offering should be seen as (especially with Windows 8 in a year or two): better than nothing A/V solution.

If you want some level of protection but don't care about getting the best: Then its simple: MSE, and SAFE web surfing. If you are smart, and you know what you are downloading and opening, then that is a perfectly fine solution for home users.

[Blade of Grass]

Comodo Anti-virus

Avast!

AVG

MSE

[ERSCreeper]

I too recommend MSE, but I use Kaspersky Internet Security 2013

[Ethan]

MSE is the general recommendation, but as stated, it didn't do terribly well in the last 2 months of testing.

I've always found Avast to be very heavy on the system. It doesn't use much memory, but just things like file access times are slower, which is ultimately worse.

Avira is good for tech-savvy people, because it's light and has a great detection rate, but tends to find false positives and shows an ad when you update. Those are fine for us, but enough to avoid installing it on a family member's PC.

I'd probably say, for your own PC, try out both Avira and MSE and see which suits you.

[Ethan]

Forum deleted my post. Summary below:

Avira is good. Has ad during update that you can close and gets occasional false positives - both are fine if you're tech savvy, but don't install on family members' PCs.

MSE is great and light, but has a lower detection rate as of the last tests.

Avast is really heavy on file access, which can slow non-SSD systems to a crawl in many cases.

Personally, I use Kaspersky Internet Security for my system, but that's a paid AV. You can, however, get very cheap OEM licenses for Kaspersky/Norton and other major AVs, though. You don't have to pay the obscene retail pricing.

[LimeDk]

i use Avast and AVG

[floppy disk]

I am using AVG 2013 (feeling strange now) :D

You are not alone. I am using it too :D

[urworstnit3m3r]

I use avast and have yet to have a virus/malware