# Best type of free anti virus for on-line gaming? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 29, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-type-of-free-anti-virus-for-on-line-gaming/474961 "2008-11-29T19:29:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bit24sh0cker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@bit24sh0cker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bit24sh0cker)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-type-of-free-anti-virus-for-on-line-gaming/474961/1 "2008-11-29T19:29:15Z")
I just got a new computer, and I want to put some anti-virus protection on it. I am just starting to get into gaming, and I want to do more on-line gaming, so I am looking for anti-virus that dosen’t interfere with that or make a problem or slow it down. There are several free anti-virus programs like SuperAntiVirus, PC Tools and Cyberdefender and others. I know free means pop-ups or other annoying things that try to get you to upgrade to the paid version. If the free version will take care of my anti-virus, malware and trojan protection, then I could deal with some pop-ups, and if I really like it, then I might just pay for the upgrade. A friend of mine told me that it might be best using something from a company that is a public company if possible since a public company would probably have a more legitimate product and they would some accountability. The only one of the free anti-virus programs that I looked at that is public is Cyberdefender (NASDAQ), but which I also think has more features then the others I looked at. Am I wrong to only want to go with a public company? Can anyone recommend other free anti-virus software as good as Cyberdefender that I should look at? Does anyone know if it will make a problem with on-line gaming? Can anyone give me feedback on Cyberdefender? ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-type-of-free-anti-virus-for-on-line-gaming/474961/2 "2008-11-29T20:24:55Z")
I like avast. Free for home use and no popups ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-type-of-free-anti-virus-for-on-line-gaming/474961/3 "2008-11-29T20:26:53Z")
I use AVG, and also have a free firewall from ZoneAlarm. Both seem to do the job reasonably well. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-type-of-free-anti-virus-for-on-line-gaming/474961/4 "2008-11-29T20:38:07Z")
Another vote for AVG. If you want Free, AVG has a toned-down free version which does the job… > **[AVG Free Antivirus Download | Virus Protection Software](https://www.avg.com/en-us/free-antivirus-download)** > > Download FREE AVG antivirus software. Get protection against viruses, malware and spyware. Easy-to-use virus scanner for PC, Mac & mobile. Download TODAY. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-type-of-free-anti-virus-for-on-line-gaming/474961/5 "2008-11-29T21:14:38Z")
AVG has served me well for years. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-type-of-free-anti-virus-for-on-line-gaming/474961/6 "2008-11-29T21:55:18Z")
AVG hands down. That said. Online gaming like world of warcraft is pretty much a threat free environment (just watch out for some of the UI mods). If you are not using any of the mods or helper programs running AV stuff will slow you down while you are not being exposed to any significant threat. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-type-of-free-anti-virus-for-on-line-gaming/474961/7 "2008-11-29T21:58:15Z")
AVG ---
**Author:** ![Viscera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/258eb7/32.png) [@Viscera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Viscera)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2008, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-type-of-free-anti-virus-for-on-line-gaming/474961/8 "2008-11-30T06:17:57Z")
AVG for anti-virus and ZoneAlarm for firewall here. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-type-of-free-anti-virus-for-on-line-gaming/474961/9 "2008-11-30T06:30:20Z")
I started having problems with AVG not updating and switched to Avira. I haven’t had any problems with that one. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2008, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-type-of-free-anti-virus-for-on-line-gaming/474961/10 "2008-11-30T06:46:29Z")
> [@Viscera](#): > > AVG for anti-virus and ZoneAlarm for firewall here. Same combo for years now. Both free. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2008, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-type-of-free-anti-virus-for-on-line-gaming/474961/11 "2008-11-30T08:24:48Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Same combo for years now. Both free. Ditto, with Spyware: Search & Destroy for the occasional active search.