# Free AV software... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 23, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715 "2009-06-23T14:23:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/1 "2009-06-23T14:23:59Z")
A friend needs AV software. My eTrust came with my computer & I never have to resubscribe, so I was looking to see if that was available for her. Nope. So I looked for anything that gives lifetime protection. Also, nope. Then I found “free AV software”. CNET has AVG which both CNET and most customers give high ratings to. Even higher ratings for AVAST. And I find that tomorrow Microsoft releases its beta version of Security Essentials. All free. So does anyone have any experience with any of these or other free software programs? And what are your recommendations? ---
**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:** [June 23, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/2 "2009-06-23T15:25:00Z")
AVG and Avast are both fine. I’ve used both and they do as good a job as any of the commercial antivirus software. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/3 "2009-06-23T15:30:09Z")
I use AVG 8.5 free, never had ant issues as long as I’ve kept it updated. Avira also has a free download too if you’re interested in other options. ---
**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:** [June 23, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/4 "2009-06-23T16:29:06Z")
Avast! has been great for me as well. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/5 "2009-06-23T16:54:46Z")
[Avast!](http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html), has a one time\*, on demand\*, complete “scan on boot-up” before Windows loads, slightly hidden in the menu. AIUI that’s even better than scanning in “Safe Mode”. It also has a feature that adds a virus scan to your screen saver when the screen saver is running. AVG used to at least scan the memory on boot-up many versions ago, unless they’ve just hidden the boot scan really well? So, two big features in Avast!'s favor. CMC fnord! \*You have to open the menu and tell Avast! you want to scan on boot-up, it doesn’t scan on boot if you don’t. (Which is good since a full scan EVERY time you boot would make starting you 'puter a VERY long process!) ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/6 "2009-06-23T16:57:16Z")
I’ve used AVG plus Windows Defender (free from Microsoft) together and that’s worked fine for me ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/7 "2009-06-23T17:56:15Z")
AVG is okay but has had some high profile problems (detecting windows system files as viruses, their prefetching controversy, crashes, broken updates, increasing bloat, poor UI, etc). I usually recommend it, but now with MS releasing security essentials, I would try that first. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/8 "2009-06-23T18:07:28Z")
I used to use AVG up until version 8. Then it got rather bloated and annoying so I thought I’d give Avast a try. I’ve been fairly happy with Avast so far. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/9 "2009-06-23T18:14:11Z")
Can I make a plea for people to spell out abbreviations in the title of their posting? For me, the default meaning of “AV” is “audio visual”, and “audio-visual software” makes a certain amount of sense. The [wiki disambiguation page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AV) lists a whole bunch of possible meanings, including “Authorised Version” and “artificial vagina”: I hope that Bible scholars and sex enthusiasts haven’t wandered into this thread by accident. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/10 "2009-06-23T18:23:17Z")
I have used AVG for years and never had any trouble. It might help that I keep my surfing to well known and established sites and never open attachments. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/11 "2009-06-23T18:25:42Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Can I make a plea for people to spell out abbreviations in the title of their posting? For me, the default meaning of “AV” is “audio visual”, and “audio-visual software” makes a certain amount of sense. The [wiki disambiguation page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AV) lists a whole bunch of possible meanings, including “Authorised Version” and “artificial vagina”: I hope that Bible scholars and sex enthusiasts haven’t wandered into this thread by accident. Yes, I at first thought the OP was looking for audiovisual software. Currently running Avast with no problems. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/12 "2009-06-23T19:48:57Z")
I have never run any antivirus on my computer because I prefer to do a web-based test once in a while just to make sure everything is OK but I recently bought a reconditioned laptop which came with **[Avira](http://www.free-av.com/)** and it seems to work fine. The moment I notice it hogging resources out it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/13 "2009-06-23T20:48:30Z")
Another vote for Avast! Also SuperAntiSpyware. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/14 "2009-06-23T20:59:34Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > I hope that Bible scholars and sex enthusiasts haven’t wandered into this thread by accident. Those of us who are both are doubly disappointed. Regards, Shodan PS - is it possible to run both Norton and free AVG? ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/15 "2009-06-23T22:02:19Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Those of us who are both are doubly disappointed. > > Regards, > Shodan > > PS - is it possible to run both Norton and free AVG? You must not have two anti-virus programs. Select one or the other, and my opinion is to use AVG, especially since it is free. If you have more than one, they will be inspecting each other and really slow down your puter. Myglaren: > [@](#): > > Another vote for Avast! > > Also SuperAntiSpyware. SuperAntiSpyware is not an AV. It finds spyware and malware, but not viruses. It is OK to have several of these. I have half a dozen. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/16 "2009-06-23T22:22:31Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > I hope that Bible scholars and sex enthusiasts haven’t wandered into this thread by accident. I, on the other hand, hope they _have_. ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/17 "2009-06-24T03:38:45Z")
Do Avast and AVG do automated background scanning, so if you try to, say, open a zip file or a RAR file that has a virus in it, it alerts you? ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/18 "2009-06-24T06:23:07Z")
AVG is pretty much the ZoneAlarm of antivirus packages. NOD32 is a good solution if you are willing to shell out some money. Avira AntiVir seems to be the latest craze in free suites. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2009, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/19 "2009-06-24T07:43:53Z")
I use AVG and it’s been great. I have Vista SP2 and the only issue I had with AVG was when I first installed it, it was SO slow. I found if I disabled the link scanner it ran fine. AVG was literally scanning each link on every webpage first. This made it way to slow. Disabled link scanner and it runs great. I also use Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware, and I have Spybot Search and Destroy. I use Malwarebytes and AVG constantly and once a month I use Spybot to do an additional search of my computer. So far (knock wood) it’s worked great. If you do try another anti-virus make sure to remove the one you have now as they often conflict with each other. [Revo-Uninstaller](http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/revo-uninstaller/revouninstaller.html) is a great free program to completely remove all of the software from your computer, as the built in software uninstaller of most programs usually misses a lot ---
**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:** [June 24, 2009, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715/20 "2009-06-24T08:59:07Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > Do Avast and AVG do automated background scanning, so if you try to, say, open a zip file or a RAR file that has a virus in it, it alerts you? Yes. Though they will also scan those types of files without you opening them, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-av-software/500715.md?page=2)