GOOD virus protection needed QUICKLY.

[BethelTraumaRN]

Does anyone know of any good, free virus protection? I'm pretty sure my MacAffee expired....and I'm all worried about getting a virus somehow (my bro supposedly just got one on his computer, which is the SAME exact model as mine, & his hardware froze...Or something) & I want to be protected.
PS, I need user-friendly too. I'm not a computer geek/nerd/person.


Cheers

Amb

[middletree]

First, avoid Norton at all costs.

Secondly, I have found that both AVG (http://free.grisoft.com) Avast (www.avast.com) work for me, and I am a heavy web user with tons of emails and an always-on connection. Of course, you only use one or the other. Whereas you can use multiple anti-spyware programs, you really don't want to use more than one AV program. They tend to see each other as viruses. Virii. Whatever.

Third, if you have any Norton discs, take them outside and shoot them.

[BethelTraumaRN]

Which avast thing d'you pick?

[The Unknown Gomer]

I second a vote for AVG. I've been using it ever since I read in PC World that it did AS good of a job as Norton, if not better, and so far as updates went, surpassed Norton in frequency. Haven't tried Avast (started with AVG and never felt the need to try anything else), but PC World liked them too.

[DareDevil]

You may also think about using either Firefox or Opera if you are not doing so already. This should already suffice to keep you safe from most (not from all!) viruses.

[Jason]

I second a vote for AVG. I've been using it ever since I read in PC World that it did AS good of a job as Norton, if not better, and so far as updates went, surpassed Norton in frequency. Haven't tried Avast (started with AVG and never felt the need to try anything else), but PC World liked them too.

I use AVG from Grisoft also. I like it a lot.

[danbos]

I too use AVG and am very happy with it. I have also found that I was very dissatisfied with McAffee and Norton.

[Sam!]

I had problems with AVG where it would detect viruses but be unable to repair them. Probably, those issues are fixed in newer versions. However, I made the switch to Avast! from some time ago and have not regretted it in the slightest.

You can download Avast Anti-Virus from here at download.com (http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10634953.html?tag=lst-0-2). As a home user, you can get a free registration key from Avast's registration page (http://www.avast.com/i_kat_207.php).

[middletree]

You may also think about using either Firefox or Opera if you are not doing so already. This should already suffice to keep you safe from most (not from all!) viruses.
This is incorrect. Most viruses come through email and shared files (bringing a disk home from school/work). Very few come through web surfing. FF and Opera are more safe from hackers, but hacking and viruses are two different animals.

[BethelTraumaRN]

Ahhhh! My head's exploding!

I think one of ya'll needs to figure out how to get into my room & do it for me.

[Sam!]

Ahhhh! My head's exploding!

I think one of ya'll needs to figure out how to get into my room & do it for me.
1. Go here (http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10634953.html?tag=lst-0-2) and click "download now." Save the file to a place on your computer.

2. While it's downloading, visit this page (http://www.avast.com/i_kat_207.php). You are a home user registering for the first time. Follow the steps and Avast will email you a code and instructions for using it later.

3. When the file from Step 1 is finished, open it up. It is safe to run, despite whatever warnings Windows gives you. Follow the instructions on screen; the default options should be fine.

4. Following the instructions in your email from Avast, plug in your registration key number.

[BethelTraumaRN]

^ *huggles*

I am SO stupid sometimes....Thanks for the help!
"Those who cannot keep themselves alive" That's me....*LOL* Ok, nevermind. Inside joke with my best friend, Panda & I ;)

[middletree]

Ahhhh! My head's exploding!

I think one of ya'll needs to figure out how to get into my room & do it for me.
I've been reading your thoughts on whether or not the Fall of man was God's will, and I'd suggest to you that if you get a virus, it's because God wanted you to.

[middletree]

1. Go here (http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10634953.html?tag=lst-0-2) and click "download now." Save the file to a place on your computer.


Before installing this, you need to uninstall whatever AV software is already on there.

[Debbie]

I had problems with AVG where it would detect viruses but be unable to repair them.

I concur....right down to a new hard drive's worth. Worked great for a while except for non repair of detected viruses. Must have been one of those that got us.

[jumpingmaniac]

First, avoid Norton at all costs.

Third, if you have any Norton discs, take them outside and shoot them.


How come you dont like Norton?

[Aaron]

AVG is awesome. That's all I have to say.

[middletree]

How come you dont like Norton?
Norton used to be a very good company and produced very helpful products. At some point, however, their stuff started getting so deep into the Windows kernel that it caused conflicts. This seemed to begin around the time Windows XP S2 came out.

Because I work with various OS's as part of my job, I have lots of friends who ask me for help with their computers, and I soon came to notice two things occur with increasing frequency:

1. More and more friends' problems were rooted in the presence of Norton on their system.

2. Norton is increasingly difficult to remove completely from a system.

[SmileyFreak1981]

I use Avast, and I like it a lot. They keep virus definitions and the program itself updated pretty often. And it's free!

[larryl]

i use the full norton suite, and have never had any issues, except some setup issues with the firewall, which were easily fixed.....

i have also used mcafee, AVG, and something else.. can't remember....

[larryl]

while i am here....

i have put the free version of norton, from google, on several people's computers, with great results.

[teresaUK]

I have AVG.
It's great so long as you update when it tells you to.

[rossid]

First of all, I'm a novice. With that in mind, I've never heard of AVG or Avast. We use Microsoft Live One Care but have only been on it for about six months. It is not free but I think I got it for half price at $20 with a three year subscription for something like five computers.

[cebrina33]

I have a question. I have AGV antivirus. Do I need anti spyware too?? I don't even know what spyware is.

[SmileyFreak1981]

Spyware is software that can watch and report back what you do on your computer, sometimes without your knowledge. Adware is software (or cookies) from advertising sites, which aren't that big of a deal, usually they're just a nuisance. I run spyware and adware removal every once in a while to get rid of the stuff.

I have two spyware/adware removal programs that I like--AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy. You can find them if you search at http://www.download.com and they're free. :cool:

[cebrina33]

Spyware is software that can watch and report back what you do on your computer, sometimes without your knowledge. Adware is software (or cookies) from advertising sites, which aren't that big of a deal, usually they're just a nuisance. I run spyware and adware removal every once in a while to get rid of the stuff.

I have two spyware/adware removal programs that I like--AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy. You can find them if you search at http://www.download.com and they're free. :cool:

THANKS!

[danbos]

2. Norton is increasingly difficult to remove completely from a system.
I have that problem with McAfee too. I can remove each of the programs, but my computer won't let me remove the..umm...what do you call it?...I'm not sure what to call it, but the program that controls all the little programs. :confused:

[middletree]

Norton leaves a lot of things in the registry. Sometimes, it causes problems with other programs.

[MELSCCFAN4life]

wish that I could help you out Amberle

[rossid]

Well it looks Avast might be a good choice because the other stuff is not working. Anyone use Zone Alarm or Trend Micro's PC-cillin?

We went with BitDefender.