Dependable Free Anti-Virus Programs

[CLEP101]

Since we have a thread about hard drive problems, I thought about starting this one. Can the computer gurus here share what are some of the best dependable free Anti-Virus programs for our computers?

I use AVG Free Antivirus on two of my laptops, Symantic Antivirus on two others, and McAfee on the other two.

[Ruddigore]

Since we have a thread about hard drive problems, I thought about starting this one. Can the computer gurus here share what are some of the best dependable free Anti-Virus programs for our computers?

I use AVG Free Antivirus on two of my laptops, Symantic Antivirus on two others, and McAfee on the other two.

(Not a computer geek by any means, though I have a fair bit of exposure to geeks.)

My only set policy on Anitvirus programs is avoid Norton like the plague. That evil program caused me nothing but trouble while I had it (internet connectivity problems, clogging my CPU, etc.) until I found a Norton Remove Tool to rid me of it -- for as you know, Norton will not allow itself to be deleted unless you happen to have some special something-or-other account. I have heard good things about avast!, which I have used on occasion to make sure my computers are clean. I don't like AVG because of the way it messes with Google searches.

Personally, I don't use any antivirus software, as the most dangerous thing I download is the 1953 D'Oyly Carte recording of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Sorcerer. If I ever have to hook up to an unsecured network for a long period of time, however, avast! will most likely become my antivirus software of choice.

[dark_dan]

I've been happy for the past few years using avast.

And adaware and malwarebytes mixed with ccleaner.

[TMW2010]

Though I use AVG on my main computer (simply because I've been kind of lazy) and am forced to use Norton at work & on our clients computers, I will second the nomination for Avast! I use it on my secondary computer and my munchkin's computer, and it does a pretty decent job.

I've also heard good things about Microsoft's Security Essentials.

*edit* Make that third, Dan beat me to the second.. Heh

[Ruddigore]

Oh, and a good word for Spybot - Search & Destroy. It's technically an adware program, not an antivirus program, but it is a fine program the use of which I have enjoyed for over a year now.

[Lindagerr]

Or I should say my computer geek husband does. I also run spybot once in a while to check up on adware. I try to stay away from unknown sites too.

[BrandeX]

I concur, with the above comment that all the ones mentioned in the OP are junk. Use avast! and you will never have a virus issue most likely.

[JanusthePhoenix]

I swear by Trend Micro Internet Security. It is not free, but they do offer a remote virus and malware scan called House Call.

HouseCall - Free Antivirus Scan

That is free for everyone to use whenever, but cannot actively protect your computer like their commercial software. If I couldn't afford the software anymore, I would use a free anti-virus (:ack: ) and scan with House Call every week or so.

[TMW2010]

For some reason, I can never get House Call to work on any of my machines, so I gave up on it.

[dharmachic]

I've used all of the above, and I've found AVG can be too resource heavy. Avast is ok, but I like and am using Avira, which pleases me so far because of its effectiveness.

Helen