Dependable Free Anti-Virus Programs

[rickyjo]

I 2nd Avira. It has the highest detection percentage in the industry in many studies I have read and is quite lightweight. Avast is a good one also, the pre-boot removal method is superior to most AV programs I have used. AVG would be OK but the free version is crippled and a bit resource heavy (I'm not sure if the intentional crippling is still in effect in version 9).

Incidentally, the only program worse than Norton is Mcafee! They do cause problems, they are not worth the poor computer performance they cause. I get many people who cannot connect to the internet because of these two programs. In the most recent study I read Norton had a 96% detection and Mcafee had a 94% while AVG had a 96%, avast was a bit better, and Avira was at 99% if I'm not mistaken. I'll try to find this study, I think it was PCStats or somebody.

A few words on spybot, I find it is a bit obsolete. Superantispyware seems to do a better job, work faster, and complete more often; however, spybot can edit your HOSTS file which is great! Everybody should edit their HOSTS file! Also spybot also runs in safemode which is really important. And for the love of all holy things, do not install tea-timer. If you are advanced enough to know how to use it you are advanced enough not to need it.