Free Anti-virus/anti-spyware *reviewed/recommended*

[Disk_Contented]

The focus of the "recommendation" is the Google pack, which is mainly cut down commercial soft, with the obligatory FF thrown in.
The Google pack comprises:
Spyware Doctor Starter Edition Read, crippled, cut down from the paid for product.
Don't get me wrong, Spyware doctor is a well respected tool, but cut down versions point to the hope you will upgrade to the full product, don't they? Plus you miss out on the real power. Like a trial version.

MOZILLA FIREFOX Less said the better. Don't fall for the hype, but make your own choice.

Avira AntiVir Personal Edition Classic Again, not really free, but a crippled cut down commercial version. Never one of my considered AV apps. I use Nod 32.

Right! The very fact it pushes Firefox means I have to take issue.

annoying redirect..... Sigh
Sharkyshark...... Are you getting paid for this?

It basically starts by saying something like... Spybot can't keep up with modern spyware etc, So use the Google pack.
You must be jesting! The affiliations that Google have and the past concerns over privacy of the Google desktop, for one.

Use the Firefox browser....
Change the record, please. I have used Three incarnations of Firefox, so I do have a background to speak from, but basically....
The past performance clearly shows it is no better than IE. In fact, It's worse. At least people know IE is crap.
All I'm saying is don't get fooled into a sense of false security.
FF has in the past infected IE.

My recomendation that I spew everywhere, including this board too......

Spybot, SpywareBlaster and a decent host file replacement as another layer. personally, not one problem in at least 5 years. No contest.

A decent browser based on tests of different ones. Maxthon. Problem wise, see above.
Described by some as a skin for IE Poor devils.

For a true free Av, you could have a look at Comodo. They now cover many bases, including firewall antispy......

Any other recommendations from people? Properly done, this would be a good thread.

[fritzi93]

I'm in substantial agreement with D_C. Although I like and use FF, it's no panacea, it has had numerous vulnerabilities.

A good deal depends on one's own behavior and awareness. Reasonable browser settings, read the damn stuff before you click through a series of yes boxes, blah blah. It helps to have layers of protection, reliance on one single thing is unwise. A properly set up router is an example, providing a degree of protection.

For antispyware: AdAware, Spybot, SpywareBlaster. The last mentioned prevents most spyware from getting a foothold in your computer in the first place. The definitions file has at present 9511 entries. The first two provide a useful check on each other.

For antivirus, I've used a number of free offerings. Haven't had a virus or trojan for a few years, so it's hard to judge the effectiveness of the antivirus programs I've used. However, all the below give the expected false alarms, for example if one has Panda activescan definitions files on one's computer, they will get flagged. Anyway:

Avira: detest the nag screens, otherwise okay I guess.

ClamWin: shows promise, rather slow, used to be incredibly slow. Presently on my wife's web surfing box, no complaints.

Comodo: okay I guess, previous versions were a real bastard to uninstall, it left behind startup services and numerous erroneous registry entries. Probably fixed now, I dunno. But that's by-the-by.

AVG: unobtrusive, popular.

Avast: probably my favorite, fast scanning, boot scan option is nice.

It will be interesting to read others' opinions.

[fritzi93]

Clarification: One should NOT have multiple antivirus software and/or firewalls on one's computer. Don't do it, they will conflict.

Might as well say something about firewalls:

Windows firewall: a good deal better than nothing.

Kerio: pretty good, configurable. Dunno about later versions since Sunbelt took it over. Older versions can still be found.

Outpost: good, very configurable.

Tiny Personal Firewall: This is the one you want if you don't want to be bothered with settings and permissions. Small footprint.

ZoneAlarm: never liked it, too clunky and obtrusive.

Sygate: is this one still around? It's okay,

[Monty007]

Have to agree with both posts all good choices. When I go to customers I down load Super-Antispyware.
http://www.superantispyware.com/
The only downside it does not include real time blocking on the free edition.

[malikor]

Your opinion about Firefox may be changed once you try the new Firefox 3, still in Beta. Download the Beta release and see what you think. The changelog can be viewed here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozilla...ox#Version_3.0

[malikor]

Sorry for the lack of links, but Google is your friend

Anti-Spyware
AVG Anti-Spyware
Bazooka Anti-Spyware
Arovax Anti-Spyware
Ad-Aware Personal
Spybot Search & Destroy
SpywareBlaster
SpywareGuard
Super Anti-Spyware
A-Squared Anti-Spyware
Spyware Terminator
SpyCatcher
Windows Defender
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
Prevx CSI Anti-Spyware

Anti-Virus
AntiVir Anti-Virus
Avast! Anti-Virus
AVG Anti-Virus
BitDefender Anti-Virus
ClamWin Anti-Virus
Kaspersky Anti-Virus
McAfee VirusScan
NOD32 Anti-Virus
Norton Anti-Virus

Firewalls and Security
AxCrypt
Comodo Firewall
KeePass
Outpost Firewall
Password Safe
PeerGuardian
Sunbelt Kerio Firewall
TrueCrypt
ZoneAlarm Firewall

[snooker]

Hi . I like the following as for now >> pay version anti-virus >> NOD32
free version >> AVAST

For malware/spyware >> It used to be Ad Aware & Spybot
but now I use >> Superantispyware, Malwarebytes and Spywareblaster

Not to forget I like using Kaspersky online scanner

Firewall I have try out >>> ZoneAlarm , Now Comodo .

Though I love the backup feature in this software
Acronis True Image 11

[malikor]

Best free security software:

Firewall -> Sunbelt Kerio
Anti-Virus -> Avira AntiVir
Anti-Spyware -> Spyware Terminator
Malware Detection -> Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D
Malware Protection -> SpywareGuard, SpywareBlaster