# Good inexpensive anti-virus software? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-inexpensive-anti-virus-software/198251 "2003-08-28T19:22:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [August 28, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-inexpensive-anti-virus-software/198251/1 "2003-08-28T19:22:30Z")
I need to set my mom up with some inexpensive anti-virus software. Any cheap recommendations? User-friendliness is a plus, she’s not very computer literate. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-inexpensive-anti-virus-software/198251/2 "2003-08-28T19:44:28Z")
AVG Antivirus is good, and updates automatically. It’s at [http://www.grisoft.com](http://www.grisoft.com) ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-inexpensive-anti-virus-software/198251/3 "2003-08-28T20:18:19Z")
I second the AVG reccomendation - easy to use, automatic updates, and best of all, its free! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nightsong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nightsong/32/3083_2.png) [@Nightsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightsong)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-inexpensive-anti-virus-software/198251/4 "2003-08-28T20:24:44Z")
And yet another reccomendation for AVG. Just set it up to auto-update: if she’s on dial-up make sure to leave her directions to not panic (and, what to click) when it wants to update itself. You can also set it to do a full scan every X amount of time as well. * * * \<\< Wheee! \>\> ---
**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:** [August 28, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-inexpensive-anti-virus-software/198251/5 "2003-08-28T21:44:08Z")
It’s FREE??? Thanks guys! ---
**Author:** ![Svt4Him](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@Svt4Him](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svt4Him)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-inexpensive-anti-virus-software/198251/6 "2003-08-28T21:57:28Z")
AVG is good, and here is another I’ve heard of: > **[Download Security Software for Windows, Mac, Android & iOS | Avira Antivirus](https://www.avira.com)** > > Discover a range of award-winning security, privacy & performance tools for all devices. • Antivirus • VPN • System Speedup • Mobile & more. Download now Both are free I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Salem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Salem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Salem)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-inexpensive-anti-virus-software/198251/7 "2003-08-29T00:42:58Z")
Another vote for AVG. Free and no problems in the year or so I’ve been using it. ---
**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:** [August 29, 2003, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-inexpensive-anti-virus-software/198251/8 "2003-08-29T02:44:47Z")
Thanks also **Svt4Him** , we’ll give that a try if AVG doesn’t work out. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-inexpensive-anti-virus-software/198251/9 "2003-08-29T03:22:07Z")
I wasn’t aware of a free version of AV software. However, after being bitten by a virus several months ago that required reformatting our hard drive, I don’t think you can spend too much on good AV software. ---
**Author:** ![Marlow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Marlow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlow)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2003, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-inexpensive-anti-virus-software/198251/10 "2003-08-29T04:49:52Z")
Hmmm… It turns out that I had a virus. Thanks!