Budget antivrus/spyware?

[MKCP5]

So I think I have picked up a couple of bugs in my computer (constant vista pop ups regarding bugs in my system and a security breach!) as it is not protected by antivirus right now, because to be honest, I just cannot afford it. However, I also can't afford to ruin my computer, so I'm going to have to pay for it.

Any techs out there who really know what they are talking about who can reccomend the best and most cost effective solution here? There are so many programs on the market, I don't know what to choose. And can I have one program protect both of our laptops?


Thanks so much!!!!

 

[msmayor]

AVG has a great free antivirus out there which I've used on all my computers with no issues.

 

[MKCP5]

AVG has a great free antivirus out there which I've used on all my computers with no issues.

so it is actually free, not one of those that is "free" theninstalls a bug on your system to buy it for infinity?

 

[dawson5]

We've used AVG for years and it's great. A few on here have said Avast is great also (free too). I would use either of them along with something like Spybot search & destroy and adaware. Both of those are free aps and they do a good job of keeping some of the nasties as bay.

There is one more that I'm forgetting though. Key is to use them, if you don't use them, they can't stop stuff.

 

[ColdNorway]

So I think I have picked up a couple of bugs in my computer (constant vista pop ups regarding bugs in my system and a security breach!) as it is not protected by antivirus right now, because to be honest, I just cannot afford it. However, I also can't afford to ruin my computer, so I'm going to have to pay for it.

Any techs out there who really know what they are talking about who can reccomend the best and most cost effective solution here? There are so many programs on the market, I don't know what to choose. And can I have one program protect both of our laptops?


Thanks so much!!!!

Hi. You don´t ever have to bye an Antivirus Program. That is a BIG SCAM. The BEST IS FREE
According to a big test done on 10Nov.2009. These where tested.

Avast Professional Edition 4.8
* AVG Anti-Virus 8.5
* AVIRA AntiVir Premium 9.0
* BitDefender Anti-Virus 2010
* eScan Anti-Virus 10.0
* ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4.0
* F-Secure AntiVirus 2010
* G DATA AntiVirus 2010
* Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010
* Kingsoft AntiVirus 9
* McAfee VirusScan Plus 2009
* Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0
* Norman Antivirus & Anti-Spyware 7.10
* Sophos Anti-Virus 7.6
* Symantec Norton Anti-Virus 2010
* Trustport Antivirus 2009.

There where ONLY 1 antivirus program that manage to remove all the installed bugs. And that ONE IS FREE. It is off-cause from Microsoft.
Hope that will work great for You, but idk,if it works on Mac, but i assume You have a Microsoft Pc.

Link here : http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/support.aspx?mkt=en-us

And yes, the Microsoft one,are relay FREE. No pop up adds,or any other bs.

Roger.

 

[dr_zero]

So I think I have picked up a couple of bugs in my computer (constant vista pop ups regarding bugs in my system and a security breach!) as it is not protected by antivirus right now, because to be honest, I just cannot afford it. However, I also can't afford to ruin my computer, so I'm going to have to pay for it.

Any techs out there who really know what they are talking about who can reccomend the best and most cost effective solution here? There are so many programs on the market, I don't know what to choose. And can I have one program protect both of our laptops?


Thanks so much!!!!

AVG is great and free!

You may also have more though going on than just a virus could be some malware in there causing you some issues. I use 2 different programs that are fast and easy and free to get rid of malware
1.) Malware Bytes good but can miss one on occasion
2.) Superantispyware has proven itself time and time again and there is a free version.

All of these can be downloaded from Filehippo for Free!

http://www.filehippo.com/download_avg_antivirus/

http://www.filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/

http://www.filehippo.com/download_superantispyware/

 

[a1tinkfans]

I swear by AVG for both home and (business upgraded) .
For me, NortonSymantec was a nightmare!
Good Luck.

 

[Princess Tink]

Along the same lines... what does everyone think about Internet Security I do online bill pay, and am currently thinking about doing TurboTax online this year but I dont have Internet Security. I didnt even realize that was something 'I might need' until I got a new laptop with a free year of Micro Trend AnitVirus + Spryware and it I seen on the back on the pkg it didnt include internet security.

 

[secretpantssam]

I always recommend Spybot. It's free and it works well.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

With the above free antivirus programs you should probably also download and install a couple of good anti malware programs.

I recommend:

AdAware by Lavasoft there is a free edition

http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

spybot search and destroy

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

I use Mircosoft Security Essentials as my antivirus protection and love it.

I would never go back to using Nortons or Macafee products, in fact I have not used a paid antivirus for years because I got a serious virus infection when using nortons.

As far as internet security you should have your firewall on at all times.

 

[dr_zero]

Along the same lines... what does everyone think about Internet Security I do online bill pay, and am currently thinking about doing TurboTax online this year but I dont have Internet Security. I didnt even realize that was something 'I might need' until I got a new laptop with a free year of Micro Trend AnitVirus + Spryware and it I seen on the back on the pkg it didnt include internet security.

Look at the posted links up above and try the superantispyware, yeah I know kinda cheesy sounding name but it dug out a bug that was giving me a fit that others missed.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_superantispyware/

AVG has a pay version with more features that I like and if you sign up at Newegg.com for the sales ad's they have the AVG for like $19 for two years on sale occasionally.

 

[ColdNorway]

Along the same lines... what does everyone think about Internet Security I do online bill pay, and am currently thinking about doing TurboTax online this year but I dont have Internet Security. I didnt even realize that was something 'I might need' until I got a new laptop with a free year of Micro Trend AnitVirus + Spryware and it I seen on the back on the pkg it didnt include internet security.

Well. Anyone will tell that you need antivirus,but it depends a bit on how you use the net.
If you only visit pages you know, then you dont need it.
Any page you visit (like the Dis),will install cookies on your pc, and you can remove this with an any spy program, but dont worry about cookies, these are generally used for the cite,to track you last visit,and where you are.

If You download any program,then its another matter.
An antivirus program can scan the program,and see if its ok,before you install it on the pc.
If you install an infected program,well,then your can be in a bad situation.

So, get the FREE & BEST program you can get from http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/support.aspx?mkt=en-us

Better safe than sorry.
Also,make sure you are on a SECURE site,when you type in passwords and personal data.
This can be seen as a LOCK mark,at the top or bottom of the page.
Also the page address will appear as https://....
The s stands for secure.

Roger.

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

Well. Anyone will tell that you need antivirus,but it depends a bit on how you use the net.
If you only visit pages you know, then you dont need it.
Any page you visit (like the Dis),will install cookies on your pc, and you can remove this with an any spy program, but dont worry about cookies, these are generally used for the cite,to track you last visit,and where you are.

If You download any program,then its another matter.
An antivirus program can scan the program,and see if its ok,before you install it on the pc.
If you install an infected program,well,then your can be in a bad situation.

So, get the FREE & BEST program you can get from http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/support.aspx?mkt=en-us

Better safe than sorry.
Also,make sure you are on a SECURE site,when you type in passwords and personal data.
This can be seen as a LOCK mark,at the top or bottom of the page.
Also the page address will appear as https://....
The s stands for secure.

Roger.

I am going to respectfully disagree with you Roger. You do not only get a computer virus from downloading programs.

If your computer connects to the internet it should have a good virus program and a firewall on and running at all times.

 

[branv]

I have had three separate occasions where known websites tried to put a trojan on my system. I'm guessing they themselves had been hacked, and it may shock you as to which they were.

One was a government-run museum when I clicked on the link to the calendar for their exhibits.

Another was Expedia

And another was Cunard, not on the main page, but on one of their pages you click to off the main site.

Expedia must have been caught quickly b/c by the next day I no longer had this issue. But Cunard took about a week. Now perhaps this was actually a fluke in their system that accidentally triggered virus software, and there was no trojan in the system. But just goes to show...

FTR, I use Avast Has been wonderful so far.

 

[PinkRhombus]

Sometimes your internet provider has free ones. Ours is through our cable company, but I don't use it because it's a hog on your resources. I mean, they're all hogs, but this really slowed me down.

 

[MKCP5]

AVG is great and free!

You may also have more though going on than just a virus could be some malware in there causing you some issues. I use 2 different programs that are fast and easy and free to get rid of malware
1.) Malware Bytes good but can miss one on occasion
2.) Superantispyware has proven itself time and time again and there is a free version.

All of these can be downloaded from Filehippo for Free!

http://www.filehippo.com/download_avg_antivirus/

http://www.filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/

http://www.filehippo.com/download_superantispyware/

Well I did the AVG--great! that works wonderfully and is free

I am on w/ spyware doctor now online as they do a free scan but want me to pay 39.95 for the removal of the malware : (

 

[DISdreamin']

AVG is great - we're running it now. I used to use Avast, but I find I like AVG better. It seemed easier to set up routine scans and such.

I ran into a trojan/virus issue that Avast didn't catch and had to do a cleanup. I used malwarebytes and ran striker to get rid of the problem.

I'd also suggest AdAware, as others have mentioned.

Honestly, we download nothing - but still got nabbed by viruses! As someone mentioned, even reliable sites can have issues, and any link can be a potential problem on any given day.

 

[dawson5]

Well I did the AVG--great! that works wonderfully and is free

I am on w/ spyware doctor now online as they do a free scan but want me to pay 39.95 for the removal of the malware : (

There are so many others that have been named or linked, don't pay for that. A lot of these pay-for programs aren't as effective or thorough as the freeware. (*IMHO)

*edit I see that it is listed (on major geeks at least) I do not know why they are asking for $. Did you follow something that was different than basic or is it considered shareware?

 

[mickeygaga]

Our local "computer Doctor" introduced me to AVG, but he just let me know that he has turned to Avast. He said Avast is the best he knows. I had good results with both.

 

[Kies99]

I've been using Avast for over a year now and it's great. Completely free too.