speaking of viruses...

Ha Ha I am OK · Sat 14/03/2009 19:00:43

I haven't had an anti-virus program installed on my computer for about six or seven months now. I've been putting off getting a new one until I have the money, but now I'm getting worried. I think I might have gotten a virus of some sort because my computer has been acting up. Does anyone know of a good free anti-virus program I can get?

jetxl · Sat 14/03/2009 19:13:28

I use clamwin after avg kept spamming me to update to their new resources eating version.

Ghost · Sat 14/03/2009 19:41:19

Avira AntiVir is available for free. I'd say it's very good, try it out.
http://www.free-av.com/

BOYD1981 · Sat 14/03/2009 20:04:45

Quote from: jetxl on Sat 14/03/2009 19:13:28
I use clamwin after avg kept spamming me to update to their new resources eating version.

I use AVG but i always disable everything so it isn't eating up resources, and then if i want to update or scan i just re-enable them all or just reinstall it.

LUniqueDan · Sat 14/03/2009 20:21:10

Avira is pretty good and reliable. And it's LITE. My compter double its speed after I removed Norton and switch to Avira.

The bad news it's that you'll going to received a pop-up windows one in a while (mostly during updates). But honest. It worths it.

At least there's Avast and AVG but I always had issues with them. Maybe that's just a badluck.

Gregjazz · Sat 14/03/2009 20:48:53

Avira is much, much better than Avast and AVG, IMO. Also, get Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware, which is also excellent (it only runs when you tell it to).

Domino · Sat 14/03/2009 21:48:04

I was using AVG 7.5 but had to upgrade to AVG 8.5 last night. It does seem resource hungry as I can tell by looking at my task manager, but I am pretty sure my computer can handle it.

I have been using AVG for years now and it has not let me down.....yet!

Ghost · Sat 14/03/2009 21:52:15

Speaking of which, has any of your antivirus programs ever managed to track down that nasty Windows Vista virus? It's teh evulz!

LUniqueDan · Sat 14/03/2009 21:56:17

Nah, Ghost : Win Vista is not a Virus.

It's just the biggest ressource-pumping Spyware ever created by mankind. 11!1!

LGM · Sat 14/03/2009 23:17:23

i haven't used an antivirus program in 5 years...

DeviantGent · Mon 16/03/2009 17:57:22

U CANT HACK OR NUTHIN

I GOT NORTON

Tuomas · Mon 16/03/2009 22:07:21

I've had a lot of problems updating AVG, and then with the Resident shield being inactive. It's irritating getting all the warning notices all the time and then having no idea why or when they just go away and fix themselves.

InCreator · Mon 16/03/2009 22:14:45

Quote from: LGM on Sat 14/03/2009 23:17:23
i haven't used an antivirus program in 5 years...

Me neither. Mozilla & Noscript add-on keeps heavy majority of adware away Also, I Spybot: Search & Destroy in every 3 or 4 months and mop up what got through. It results in 3-4 titles of annoying, but invisible and harmless viruses/whateverware.
Destructive viruses went outta fashion long time ago and actually, about 95% of security comes from surfing habits, link clicking and program execution. It's also good to sometimes check your msconfig: to ensure nothing starts on reboot that shouldn't.

I haven't had any virus trouble LONG time.

sergiocornaga · Wed 18/03/2009 07:30:14

I heavily advise against AVG! Recently, it started deciding that files and games associated with another piece of game development software, Multimedia Fusion, were viruses. People I know had years and years of games in progress deleted in an instant due to AVG.

If anyone is running AVG, it is best to have it set to the notify mode rather than the automatically delete mode. Heed my warning, for AGS could be next!

Jhumjhum · Fri 20/03/2009 09:35:20

Avast is quite good. Gets rid of many annoying spyware too.

http://www.avast.com/

I'm happy with it since the last 2-3 years. It is free too.

rbaleksandar · Fri 20/03/2009 12:18:11

Do the following:

+Avast/Avira Pro latest version (both don't take that much resources as AVG and you have good results)
+SpyBot Search&Destroy (best free program for searching and removing spyware; very low resource-cosumption in background)
+Comodo Firewall (till now I think that's the best free firewall; i'm not with the latest version, 'cause it's buggy

)
+[optional]HijackThis

But you can spare this by using Linux-distribution

It's not bulletproof but since Windows is much much more popular the probability to catch something by using Win is greater than by using Linux-distro.
To avoid cr*p on you PC don't visit sites that you don't know anything about (or those that have "XXX" in them

) + don't download any warez or somthing like this because as we all know - nothing paid is for free (unless the company declares it) and since warez-software is paid software etc. for free you should get the thought that there's a catch

One very secure way to enjoy more or less careless using of a PC is to install a VM (virtual machine). Sun offers a good virtualization and it's for free

When you want to install something, install it in the virtual OS and test it for some time (depends on what you're installing). Virtualisation is not only good for testing but also when you install something on you virtual OS it's like installing it on a different computer. Of course there are viruses that can penatrate the virtual casing and eat your real OS for breakfast too, but they are rare. Good thing is to make it a portable application (lots of free software that can convert a normal application into portable) since portable apps don't poke on your registry and are wrapped in a "suit" that will prevent (sometime) cr*p to pour in your OS and make it unusable.

Most secure thing to do - don't use internet

InCreator · Fri 20/03/2009 14:41:34

I suggest not to do the previous.
Unless you like slow computer and long loading times.
Who puts on 10 condoms?

You don't need all this crap.

Simply, learn some common sense, use safer browser and avoid cracks/serials/porn sites. It's that simple.
Unless you're some kind of idiotic american housewife or really green computer user, to whom (I think) all the adware and viruses are targetted at.

rbaleksandar · Fri 20/03/2009 17:13:35

Quote from: InCreator on Fri 20/03/2009 14:41:34
I suggest not to do the previous.
Unless you like slow computer and long loading times.

Depends on the machine.

Oliwerko · Fri 20/03/2009 19:08:53

InC said it all.

Anyway, most problems you'll encounter (which result in a format/OS reinstall) are not viruses nor spyware or any other offensive bullshit - in most cases they are failures of the OS itself (well, if you have Windows - it's like that most of the time).

LimpingFish · Fri 20/03/2009 20:03:48

One (free) anti-virus program, one (free) firewall, and one (free) spyware/malware thingy, and you're covered.

Avira/Avast/Avg all have free versions that work fine. ZoneAlarm Personal Firewall is as good a firewall as any. SpybotS+D and/or AdAware will keep out everything else. If you have Vista installed, chances are you're already running Windows Defender as well.

With the possible exception of NOD32, commercial anti-virus/firewall/spyware programs are superfluous to requirements, and usually cause more system stability problems then they fix.