PC anti-virus question...

[Mom2Em]

My subscription to Norton just expired. Is there such a thing as good free anti-virus or does it fall into the category- you get what you pay for?

Thanks!

 

[erincon23]

AVG has an excellent free program. You can upgrade it to a better, paid-for program, but the free one was recommended to me by a rep from Dell and from the guy who repairs my computer. I just looked at avg.com -- you may have to hunt around a little to find the free version, but it does exist.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I was just wondering the same thing. I have used free and paid anti-virus. I still seem to get a virus no matter which I choose.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

AVG free is a good anti virus, do a google search, you should have no trouble finding it. Download it from cnet.com I think.

 

[FireDancer]

AVG, Avast, and MS Security essentials are all good. There is no reason to pay for AV unless you are running it in an enterprise. Also, even if you only have one computer in your home run a router and make sure your Windows firewall is turned on.

 

[LilyWDW]

AVG, Avast, and MS Security essentials are all good. There is no reason to pay for AV unless you are running it in an enterprise. Also, even if you only have one computer in your home run a router and make sure your Windows firewall is turned on.

What he said! LoL

There is 0 reason to pay for anti virus for a personal or work computer. I will never allow Norton or McAfee touch my computer. I have personally seen viruses get through an updated Norton that were stopped by an updated Avast... more then once.

 

[Laura]

We use Microsoft Security Essentials. DH is an "IT Guy" so I'd say he knows what he's doing with that stuff.

 

[Mom2Em]

Thanks so much!!!

 

[SaraJayne]

Best thing I ever did for my computer (re: speed) was get rid of Norton. Ugh, I can't believe how much it junked up my computer!

You will be amazed at how much faster your computer is without Norton.

I use AVG as well as my windows firewall and I've never had a virus.

 

[tvguy]

We use Microsoft Security Essentials. DH is an "IT Guy" so I'd say he knows what he's doing with that stuff.

LOL. My son is finishing up his degree in Computer Science, and is amazed at how no 2 IT guys agree on anything out in the real world. Microsoft is an evil word among his Professors, so not sure they would agree, but THAT is in the academic world, not the real world.
And good lord, don't bring up Firefox, versus IE versus Chrome. My son loves Firefox, the IT guys at my employer and my wife's employer both love Firefox. But the IT guys at corporate...both our employers are owned by huge national corporations...hate Firefox so much, that it is now a firing offense for installing it on a company computer.
And good luck finding an Apple computer at either place.

 

[bicker]

My subscription to Norton just expired. Is there such a thing as good free anti-virus or does it fall into the category- you get what you pay for?

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Microsoft Security Essentials is rock-solid, very light-weight, and free. And you know that there's a lot riding on it doing what it is supposed to, because the last thing Microsoft needs is folks saying that they're not doing a good job with their free anti-virus program.