# Free antivirus program? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 24, 2007, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-antivirus-program/405423 "2007-05-24T22:55:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-antivirus-program/405423/1 "2007-05-24T22:55:53Z")
It seems that AVG is free no longer. Are there any other decent, free, antivirus programs available that work in Windows Vista? ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-antivirus-program/405423/2 "2007-05-24T22:58:52Z")
AVG is still free. But they have made it harder to find the free version. [Free Antivirus Download for PC | AVG Virus Protection Software](http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1) then rummage. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-antivirus-program/405423/3 "2007-05-24T23:08:23Z")
You want AVAST now which is better than AVG ever was. It is still designed to be free and is possibly the best antivirus program I have ever used. I work in IT and I have used them all for significant periods of time. I was bummed when AVG made things difficult for me on my home computers but thrilled when I saw how good AVAST has gotten. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-antivirus-program/405423/4 "2007-05-25T00:11:47Z")
AVG is free and I tried some other ones a couple months ago. I tried Avast for three days and uninstalled it, because it hogged way to many resources. Tweeking couldn’t speed it up enough. I still recomend AVG. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-antivirus-program/405423/5 "2007-05-25T00:49:22Z")
I use the paid version of AVG (self-employed, need my computer to pay the mortgage), but several geeks whose opinions I trust have recommended BitDefender. ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-antivirus-program/405423/6 "2007-05-25T12:56:52Z")
Another vote for Avast! ---
**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:** [May 25, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-antivirus-program/405423/7 "2007-05-25T21:06:02Z")
Yet another vote for Avast! It’s perfect! ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2007, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-antivirus-program/405423/8 "2007-05-25T21:38:18Z")
I’ve run Windows XP with the built in firewall and AVG antivirus for several years, and never had any issues security or stability wise. I’m sure there are things better, but AVG has done the job for me, as well as the built in firewall. Both are good enough for home users.