15 replies to this topic

[blueblood1995]

Can anyone suggest a not-so resource hungry free anti-virus program for Windows.

I recently installed Windows on a newly created iMac Bootcamp partition in order to improve gameplay.

This has worked well but thinking I need some form of PC protection.

I have a short(ish) list from Google (e.g. AVG, Avast, Bit Defender appear to be well regarded) but would like to see what others recommend.

Looking forward to some replies!

Thanks in advance

BB 

 

P.S. Pardon my PC tech ignorance but I have ClamXav installed on OS X where I run the odd scan and this seems to work well but assuming this will not work protect when using Windows. Is this correct?

[RobV]

Take a look at Microsoft Security Essentials.   Its free and works relatively well.   Other than that, I was going to suggest Avast, AVG, etc. 

[Barry]

I've used Bitdefender for the last 2 years, Have a look at this site http://www.av-test.o...s/home-windows/

It's not just anti virus in the list there's lots of internet security software and lots of them do free versions or free trials.

I went months one year just using the month free trials on top rated products

[BionicWolf]

MSE for me and the also free Malware bytes- Both pretty much non-taxing and best of all free.

[Barry]

MSE for me and the also free Malware bytes- Both pretty much non-taxing and best of all free.

I'd take a look at how MSE does protection wise in that list

[Acrilix]

My brother gets Kaspersky free every year for using Barclays online banking service here in the UK. It even allows for 3 different computer installs so I get it too!   

 

http://www.barclays.co.uk/Helpsupport/FreeInternetSecuritySoftwarefromKasperskyBarclays/P1242557966961/P1242557966961

[NoPutt]

I use Avast Premium, Rehit recommended it years ago

and I haven't had the first hiccup. They also have a 

free version that I use on all my mobile devices.

Well worth the money IMO, never to have to

even think about any type of nasty infectious varmits.

[Mulligan]

Always had way too many false positives with Avast.

Bitdefender seems lightweight and probably works.

Probably you say? We're all guessing, you do realize this don't you?

 

Also, Any files that arouse suspicion I send to https://www.virustotal.com.  They also have a shell extension you can install to make this easier:

https://www.virustot...stotal-uploader

[Armand]

Lately, I've been undecided as to whether I need to run a virus program.  Maybe I've been fortunate, but I haven't had anything come up using Avast and Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) in a long, long time (touch wood!).  I used AVG (free) a long time ago, but then changed to Avast for a year or so and have been running MSE for the past year.  I sometimes turn it off completely and run "unprotected" through the internet!   

 

However, I don't really visit many sites other than ones I know and trust (like this one!), so I don't feel I'm a risky browser. 

[axe360]

I have been running MSE and Malwarebytes (free version) for several years now. What MSE doesn't catch, MB does...No problems...

[blueblood1995]

Interesting. How does an anti virus program not offer ANY protection whatsoever? This is the way I read it unless I'm missing something?

is this Microsofts way of screwing the consumer again?

[blueblood1995]

Noticed Norton rated the highest across all x3 categories. This surprises me as I rarely hear anything good about their anti virus product/s. From experience very resource hungry and they appear to be the Microsoft of anti virus, i.e. big on hype, not so much on performance. Stand to be corrected though...

[WayneH]

I have lost count of how many Norton installs I have removed for clients to get rid of problems. I HATE it with a passion.

 

I have used AVAST free for about 5 years and never had a single problem. 

Trend Micro is on the kids machines and I recommend it to my clients, as it does a much better job overall when the user does not know much about the web and how to navigate it safely.

[Dazmaniac]

Echo Wayne's comments about Norton. I know a lot of folks who had it installed with new PC's as standard and ended up removing it and installing something else. It's also a resource hog if memory serves.

 

I used to use AVG Free on my old PC but got fed up with too many false positives. It often used to see the .exe for Links 2003 as a threat, lol.

 

Have used Microsoft Security Essentials with current PC, which I got in Oct 2010. Another laptop in the house we have Kaspersky installed and on my phone I use Avast.

[Crusher]

I would suggest Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows 7 and Vista.  It has gone back to it's old name Windows Defender in Windows 8/10. I also suggest using Malwarebytes Free version for scans about 3 times a week (manually).  Frankly speaking I would pay the 20 dollars a year for Malwarebytes Premium.  Both MBAM and MSE work wonderfully in tandem.

[Mulligan]

I would suggest Microsoft Security Essentials for Windows 7 and Vista.  It has gone back to it's old name Windows Defender in Windows 8/10. I also suggest using Malwarebytes Free version for scans about 3 times a week (manually).  Frankly speaking I would pay the 20 dollars a year for Malwarebytes Premium.  Both MBAM and MSE work wonderfully in tandem.

 

How do we know?