Free anti virus/spyware: Are they any good and where are they?

[Nattie]

I use AVG cos its free but is it any good? Is there free anti spyware packages out there? I am a complete dumb ass when it comes to this and as someone has just told me that I should learn, so, please be gentle with me cos this subject is one where you guys need to teach me something. Thank you.

[Turboman]

Re: Free anti virus/spyware: Are they any good and where are they?

Have a read here by Rambo---a lot of discussion that Avast is better than AVG http://www.mypag.co.uk/forum/viewtop...27&hilit=avast

You also should look at Spybot and Adware

[Paule]

Re: Free anti virus/spyware: Are they any good and where are they?

or here Securing Your Web Browser - Legal Beagles

[Turboman]

Re: Free anti virus/spyware: Are they any good and where are they?

Many apologies Pkea--I knew you had done something---I couldn't find the Link.

[Nattie]

Re: Free anti virus/spyware: Are they any good and where are they?

what do you think of the avanti v. avg debate?
what do you think the the shield guard scan thing? It has shown up a weakness in my puter so am slightly wondering, WHAT DO I DO?

EDIT: I am going blind

[Turboman]

Re: Free anti virus/spyware: Are they any good and where are they?

Don't know myself--I'm more Applications Techie (Corporate Stuff) and not into these things.--but others in my Turbocad forum are split between AVG & Avast.

Most of em dont like McFee & Norton cos it draind resources which they need for their hungry CAD programs.

The ComputerActive site is a good one for free stuff.- and info

[TANZARELLI]

Re: Free anti virus/spyware: Are they any good and where are they?

what do you think of the avanti v. avg debate?
what do you think the the shield guard scan thing? It has shown up a weakness in my puter so am slightly wondering, WHAT DO I DO?

EDIT: I am going blind

Nattie Aqua has replied to your post here: http://www.mypag.co.uk/forum/viewtop...p=30241#p30241

Regards

Tanz

[Jester]

Re: Free anti virus/spyware: Are they any good and where are they?

I keep seeing this debate about which Anti-Virus is best and so on and so forth. But the truth of the matter is that they ALL get the virus information from the same source.

e.g.

Symantec recognise a new virus signature during their scans. Because they (like all AV Vendors) are members of the worldwide CERT, they are obliged to publish all the information they have discovered into the CERT database. The moment they do that, then ALL of the other AV vendors now have access to that information and can therefore adjust their products (via updated signature files) to recognise and deal with that virus.

How quick each of those vendors make updated signature files available to the public depends on how easy it is for each of them to adjust their software to detect it. But as a general rule of thumb they will all make updates available in quick time and in very close timescales to each other.

How do I know this ? Because I have done work with the CERT in the past as well as having had close working relationships with many of the leading AV Vendors.

So their effectiveness is on an equal level.

Which one is best all depends on how easy you find their software to use. All of the vendors will have fans of their particular product. It's just a matter of choosing which one you feel most comfortable with (rather like deciding which clothes you prefer - we are all different in our fashion sense !!)

For the record, I also use the Free AVG software at home. I find it excellent, secure and very easy to use. The only downside is that because it is free you have no technical support (though you can get even that by using their user forums).



Hope this helps.