# Good, preferably free, anti-computer virus software **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 22, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428 "2004-09-22T02:31:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/1 "2004-09-22T02:31:08Z")
My Norton subscription is going to expire next month so I need new software. I may just go to ebay and get another norton systemswork as that is alot cheaper than subscribing but are there any really cheap or free anti-virus programs I should look at instead of Norton? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/2 "2004-09-22T02:46:59Z")
Avast home addition. I actually have a licensed copy of Norton but I took it off and put Avast on because I look it much better. [http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239-10285256.html?tag=lst-0-1](http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239-10285256.html?tag=lst-0-1) ---
**Author:** ![da\_pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@da\_pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/da_pope)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/3 "2004-09-22T02:54:17Z")
I’ve been pretty impressed by AVG: > **[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:** ![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:** [September 22, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/4 "2004-09-22T03:01:28Z")
AVG has worked well for me. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/5 "2004-09-22T03:09:39Z")
I thought _all_ virus software was anti-computer. 😛 Seriously, I too recommend AVG. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2004, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/6 "2004-09-22T03:20:27Z")
Heh, I didn’t even notice that in the title. ---
**Author:** ![Call\_me\_Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Call\_me\_Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Call_me_Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/7 "2004-09-22T03:29:25Z")
'nother AVG vote, here. ---
**Author:** ![zoltar7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b38774/32.png) [@zoltar7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoltar7)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/8 "2004-09-22T05:04:07Z")
[Anti-vir](http://free-av.com/) works for me. I’ve also used AVG in the past and been happy with it. One thing I prefer about AntiVir is that you don’t have to register and get the key via email. [Pricelessware](http://pricelessware.org/thelist/sec.htm) has a great list. Don’t forget a spyware blocker. ---
**Author:** ![Lynwood\_Slim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Lynwood\_Slim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynwood_Slim)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/9 "2004-09-22T15:11:46Z")
I have the free version of AVG, plus I bought Pest Patrol, which caught some things that AVG did not. Norton did measure up, I am sad to say. ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/10 "2004-09-22T16:21:36Z")
I have had good experiences with both AVG and Avast. Stay away from Norton & Mccaffe; I rarely see a machine with either of those two installed that worked correctly; hell, they are worse than most viruses. ---
**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 22, 2004, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/11 "2004-09-22T17:53:12Z")
I use [Disinfectant](http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macos/1252) and [WormGuard](http://hyperarchive.lcs.mit.edu/HyperArchive/Abstracts/vir/worm-guard-102.hqx.txt). ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/12 "2004-09-22T18:04:20Z")
Another vote for Avast. That’s what I installed on my mom’s computer when her Norton subscription ran out, and I haven’t gotten any problem calls from her yet. And it’s her first computer. ---
**Author:** ![My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/My_Darn_Snake_Legs)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/13 "2004-09-22T18:56:51Z")
AVG is what I had before I got Norton. Norton works well and I like the fire wall, but I have a problem with one of the features. Not that it causes a problem, it just doesn’t work. Anyway, for free go AVG. ---
**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 23, 2004, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/14 "2004-09-23T02:39:17Z")
Here is another vote for AVG AntiVirus. I use it both at work and at home. It has helped me fix more than a couple of computers. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-preferably-free-anti-computer-virus-software/265428/15 "2004-09-23T04:14:47Z")
[www.nonags.com](http://www.nonags.com) is your friend. I’ll put in another vote for AntiVir. It has served me well for nearly two years. nonags also has AVG, I believe. Worth checking out, actually. Their people actually test and rate all the software, and they have about the best freeware catalog I’ve seen compiled at one website.