# Best Free Anti-Virus? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 5, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983 "2009-09-05T19:18:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/1 "2009-09-05T19:18:54Z")
When I bought this PC back in December, it had 6 months of Norton. Now that has expired, and I’m much more interested in a free anti-virus software. I know of Avast, and AVG. Does anyone know of any others? Please provide pro’s and cons. I know I could google up info, but I trust the words of my fellow dopers over some possibly biased reviews. Thanks all! ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/2 "2009-09-05T23:27:01Z")
I’ve used both AVG and Avast and they are excellent, but I want to mention that you may have a hard time getting that #_%@_ Norton off your computer. Before you try Control Panel’s Add & Remove Programs, I suggest you get the free Revo Uninstaller. It not only deletes the program, but all mentions of it in the Registry and all folders and files. Norton tends to insinuate itself all through your system, and is hard to get rid of completely. Some will soon sign in with other suggested free antivirus programs. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/3 "2009-09-05T23:31:06Z")
I’ve used AVG for years, with nary a virus (though my surfing habits are pretty mundane). Upon buying a new computer recently, my nerdiest friend suggested to me that AVG may no longer be the best free antivirus software out there, but it’s still solid. I’ll probably stick with it just for the convenience. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/4 "2009-09-05T23:33:11Z")
I’ve used Symantec (Norton) and McAfee in corporate environments, and AVG and Avast at home. I’m 100% happy with Avast. Small footprint. Automatic updates. Not a hint of intrusion since I’ve been using it. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/5 "2009-09-05T23:37:32Z")
AVG and Avast are similar enough so that either one is OK. The key is to keep updating whichever one you choose on a daily basis. If you don’t update, which unfortunately people often fail to do, no anti-virus program will help I use AVG 'cause it’s a bit quicker for me with Vista. I found AVG runs fine as long as you disable the email and link checker, 'cause otherwise AVG will be checking each link on every webpage before it lets you see it. I also agree with the poster who recommended Revo Uninstaller, this is a must. My suggestion is to try them both for a month and see which one is better suited to your needs. Always use Revo Uninstaller to uninstall the one you don’t want. Revo Uninstaller is great at getting most if not all, of the program off your computer. Whichever one you choose you should augment it with Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware which has a free version and perhaps Spybot as well. Between Avast/AVG and Spybot/Malwarebytes, as long as you keep them updated there is little they’ll miss. Also keep windows defender on too. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/6 "2009-09-06T00:27:07Z")
I like and use [Revo Uninstaller](http://www.revouninstaller.com/), too, but just wanted to note it’s probably worth running Symantec’s own [Norton Removal Tool](http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039) (which I have also used in the past). On topic, I’ve used Norton 360, ZoneAlarm, and PC Tools’ Internet Security at various times, and I’ve found AVG Anti-Virus to be the most PC-friendly (low or no drag on resources, does what it says, operates silently and efficiently, etc.). The folks over at Lifehacker [seem to agree](http://lifehacker.com/395046/five-best-antivirus-applications) as well, for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/7 "2009-09-06T00:28:44Z")
> [@KlondikeGeoff](#): > > I’ve used both AVG and Avast and they are excellent, but I want to mention that you may have a hard time getting that #_%@_ Norton off your computer. > > Before you try Control Panel’s Add & Remove Programs, I suggest you get the free Revo Uninstaller. It not only deletes the program, but all mentions of it in the Registry and all folders and files. No opinion on free anti-virus programs, but I want to suggest doing a web search for “Norton Removal Tool” as this is the program that Symantec provides to remove its programs. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/8 "2009-09-06T16:05:47Z")
Check out [TechsupportAlert.com](http://TechsupportAlert.com). They have a great section on the [best free Anti-Virus software.](http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-anti-virus-software.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/9 "2009-09-06T17:32:22Z")
I’ve had Avast! for a long time and love it. Quick question, though. Is there anyway to make it not tell me with that pop up message that it has updated? I hate that thing! ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/10 "2009-09-06T18:45:08Z")
I like Avast. One of the best features is the audio warning when it detects a virus. This is especially useful to keep you from getting fooled by the fake antivirus warnings. If you don’t hear “Virus has been detected,” then it’s not your antivirus. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/11 "2009-09-07T02:48:10Z")
I use Avast and really like it, but Trend Micro’s Housecall is pretty good, too. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/12 "2009-09-07T22:31:59Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Quick question, though. Is there anyway to make it not tell me with that pop up message that it has updated? I hate that thing! I could not find any way, but if you go to Settings and Sounds, at least you can turn off that annoying voice informing you what it is doing. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Awesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Captain\_Awesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Awesome)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/13 "2009-09-07T22:43:28Z")
I use [Comodo Internet Security](http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/download_firewall.html), which has an excellent firewall and comparatively good anti-virus. Some users find the firewall and security dialogues can be a little too ‘talkative’, depending upon the configuration, but it has many useful and novel features for a free application. It’s also incredibly light on resources (typically \<3MB of RAM) which is something rarely managed by most of its paid-for competitors. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/14 "2009-09-07T23:16:26Z")
I prefer Avast over AVG simply because the updates can happen transparently and behind the scenes, not as a big popup dialog occupying half my screen for a freaking auto-update. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/15 "2009-09-08T02:07:58Z")
> [@KlondikeGeoff](#): > > I could not find any way, but if you go to Settings and Sounds, at least you can turn off that annoying voice informing you what it is doing. That, I have done. Why oh why did they not make a way to turn off the announcements? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/16 "2009-09-08T03:21:23Z")
Last antivirus package I needed was named [“Disinfectant”](http://ftp.univie.ac.at/systems/mac/info-mac/vir/a-toast-to-disinfectant.txt). ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/17 "2009-09-08T09:22:08Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > That, I have done. Why oh why did they not make a way to turn off the announcements? They did, actually. Go to Settings -\> Update (Basic) -\> Details -\> Set Running Mode to Silent and uncheck the “Show sliding box after automatic update” box and the “Show update progress” box. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/18 "2009-09-08T15:46:56Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > They did, actually. Go to Settings -\> Update (Basic) -\> Details -\> Set Running Mode to Silent and uncheck the “Show sliding box after automatic update” box and the “Show update progress” box. Thanks! I owe you one big time! ---
**Author:** ![TheMadHun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@TheMadHun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMadHun)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/19 "2009-09-08T15:49:39Z")
I’m using Advanced SystemCare. Seems to do the job. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983/20 "2009-09-08T20:37:35Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Thanks! I owe you one big time! Welcome 🙂 This alone was the reason I switched over from AVG. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-free-anti-virus/508983.md?page=2)