# Best anti-virus SW for Windows 98? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 6, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546 "2009-05-06T15:46:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LynnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@LynnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LynnM)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546/1 "2009-05-06T15:46:13Z")
AVG has discontinued support for their anti-virus SW AVG Free 7.5. This means no more updates, which leaves my Windows 98 PC vulnerable. Problem: I can’t upgrade to AVG 8.5, because neither the full nor free versions of AVG 8.5 support Windows 98. My Q: What’s the best still-supported anti-virus SW for a Win98SE machine? It’s an AMD Athlon XP 1500, 256M memory. I’d prefer a quality free pgm, but will pay if necessary. Thx for tips; can’t afford to buy new machine right now; maybe after the 2nd or 3rd service pack for Windows 7? ---
**Author:** ![yelimS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/54ee81/32.png) [@yelimS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yelimS)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546/2 "2009-05-06T15:53:06Z")
what about switching to linux? the computer sound decent enough, so it shouldn’t be a problem. you might need to use partition magic or something to make a harddrive you can format. ---
**Author:** ![redshift](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbce88/32.png) [@redshift](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redshift)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546/3 "2009-05-06T15:57:21Z")
Try avast, I think they might support windows 98 (someone check with me on that): > **[Download Free Antivirus Software | Avast 2023 PC Protection](https://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download)** > > Download free virus protection for Windows PC. Avast offers modern antivirus for today’s complex threats. Fast, simple, and 100% free. Try it today! Although I do support the linux path, you’ll probably find it runs a bit faster too (xubuntu!) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546/4 "2009-05-06T16:14:00Z")
I’m in the same boat, anti-virus-wise, but even one generation worse. F-PROT quit updating their DOS product a while back, so now I’ve got two operating systems that don’t have up-to-date anti-virus. Educate me, folks: what good does switching to Linux do me if the reason I’m still using DOS-Win3.1 and Win98 is because I have applications that only run on those operating systems? ---
**Author:** ![redshift](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbce88/32.png) [@redshift](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redshift)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546/5 "2009-05-06T16:28:33Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I’m in the same boat, anti-virus-wise, but even one generation worse. F-PROT quit updating their DOS product a while back, so now I’ve got two operating systems that don’t have up-to-date anti-virus. > > Educate me, folks: what good does switching to Linux do me if the reason I’m still using DOS-Win3.1 and Win98 is because I have applications that only run on those operating systems? Well if they’re not highly critical programs, I’m pretty sure WINE will take care of that. And it does seem like Avast has back to Windows 95. Don’t think it covers Win3.1 though. ---
**Author:** ![spayced](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@spayced](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spayced)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546/6 "2009-05-06T16:59:35Z")
> [@redshift](#): > > Well if they’re not highly critical programs, I’m pretty sure WINE will take care of that. > > And it does seem like Avast has back to Windows 95. Don’t think it covers Win3.1 though. WINE sometimes doesn’t work, hardware is hit or miss as well sometimes. But I highly recommend Crossover Pro. What kind of software/hardware do you use? You won’t need antivirus running Linux, it just isn’t a target. With the new Ubuntu you can install it just like a regular program without getting rid of windows. However, you may encounter a lot of new software like GIMP, OpenOffice, etc. If you’re slow to learn new software, it might be a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546/7 "2009-05-06T19:49:06Z")
Avira is free for personal use ([free-av.com](http://free-av.com)) and top rated in the June issue of _ConsumerReports_. That issue also lists Eset Smart Security ([eset.com](http://eset.com)), but that is a security suire that costs $90 the first year and renewal fee of $62. However, part of Eset is a stand alone antivirus called Nod 32, which is highly rated by posters at the Microsoft private newsgroup. I don’t know the cost since I use AVG Pro, but am thinking of switching to Nod 32 when my present subscription expires. ---
**Author:** ![LynnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@LynnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LynnM)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546/8 "2009-05-06T20:26:45Z")
Thanks for above recs; will probably go w/Avast–they do support Windows 98. One Q: I assume that probable compatibility problems would prevent running two different antivirus programs. So should I first download new program; then uninstall current program; then run setup for new pgm? ---
**Author:** ![redshift](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbce88/32.png) [@redshift](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redshift)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546/9 "2009-05-06T20:28:40Z")
> [@LynnM](#): > > Thanks for above recs; will probably go w/Avast–they do support Windows 98. > > One Q: I assume that probable compatibility problems would prevent running two different antivirus programs. > > So should I first download new program; then uninstall current program; then run setup for new pgm? In my experience it doesn’t really matter, but yeah your way is probably best. Download the new executable, uninstall your old AV, restart, install your new AV. To barbitu8 – I don’t believe Avira Antivir supports 98. ---
**Author:** ![Discipline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@Discipline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Discipline)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546/10 "2009-05-06T20:31:07Z")
Good job answering the question guys. “Switch to Linux”…ffs. Quick google search came up with this article: [http://techlogg.com/content/view/226/9/](http://techlogg.com/content/view/226/9/). Looks like A-squared and AVAST might be good options. I’ll add one needlessly technical non-answer too, since that seems to be the style these days: If you are hanging onto a ancient OS for just one or two equally ancient programs, have you considered running virtual machines instead? It’s usually fairly simple to setup a VM with whatever OS you want and fire it up any time you actually need to use the old app. You could get away from the old, failure-prone hardware of a 10+ year old machine, too. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546/11 "2009-05-07T07:58:29Z")
If your PC is also old, you may want to run a cost-benefits analysis of running a constantly running antivirus. ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546/12 "2009-05-07T08:09:11Z")
> [@LynnM](#): > > t’s an AMD Athlon XP 1500, 256M memory. Thx for tips; can’t afford to buy new machine right now; Are you kidding me? Athlon XP 1500 with 256MB is a speed demon! Kids these days… Windows XP ran on machines four times as slow when it came out. Disable themes, add some RAM for 30 bucks, and you’re golden. Obvious follow up question: Are there any _viruses_ which support windows 98 these days? ---
**Author:** ![spayced](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@spayced](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spayced)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546/13 "2009-05-07T09:28:48Z")
> [@Alex\_Dubinsky](#): > > Are you kidding me? Athlon XP 1500 with 256MB is a speed demon! Kids these days… Windows XP ran on machines four times as slow when it came out. Disable themes, add some RAM for 30 bucks, and you’re golden. > > Obvious follow up question: Are there any _viruses_ which support windows 98 these days? Yes. XP has received nearly thousands of patches that fix security vulnerabilities. 98 is no longer supported by microsoft, and has not received such protection. If it’s not behind a hardware firewall, it’s a sitting duck. ---
**Author:** ![redshift](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bbce88/32.png) [@redshift](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redshift)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-anti-virus-sw-for-windows-98/495546/14 "2009-05-07T11:05:17Z")
> [@Alex\_Dubinsky](#): > > Are you kidding me? Athlon XP 1500 with 256MB is a speed demon! Kids these days… Windows XP ran on machines four times as slow when it came out. Disable themes, add some RAM for 30 bucks, and you’re golden. > > Obvious follow up question: Are there any _viruses_ which support windows 98 these days? I’d have to double that. I’m running XP on one of my old machines with a PIII 800 mhz proc with 384mb of RAM, and for most basic tasks it runs beautifully (don’t plan on watching flash videos though). It does play starcraft very well!