What's the best FREE virus and spyware program?

[Eternal Rain]

I just got a new computer not long ago and it came with a 90 day free version of Norton. It's about to expire though, so I just want to know, what's the best free software out there for protecting my computer from viruses and spyware (Windows 7 OS)? Preferably a program that won't interfere with other programs like games or Steam.

[GiriOni]

My recommendations are AVG and (maybe) Avira. I only say maybe to Avira 'cause it spams you with ads to upgrade etc. So your best bet would be AVG.

[chris_the_wing]

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[Eternal Rain]

I actually got avast at first, but then I found out they only let you use it for one year before making you pay for it. I uninstalled avast and got AVG instead. Things seem to be working perfectly fine right now, it doesn't effect performance and my computer actually recognizes it as "legitimately helpful anti-virus."

The service from this should do since I'm really only concerned with keeping viruses and spyware off my computer, I don't worry about that "spam filter" and other stuff because either my email already does that for me or I don't do any activities that'd require extra services.

[Irritating Stick]

From my experiences, all free AV software is pretty much the same as far as levels of protection go.

That said, I use AVG Free on my laptop and PC.

[Devil_Rising]

You can get Avast for free and renew the free license every year. It's worked great for me, and updates every day. It's not perfect, and depending on what features you want it to use, it can be a tiny bit of a resource hog...but it beats getting viruses.

[krzysio87]

Kaspersky is a good anti-virus, you can get it for free if you don't mind using a rebate.
http://slickdeals.net/f/5443118-Kaspers ... e-shipping

[Popple]

Been using Microsoft's own Microsoft Security Essentials. It's good enough for me. To be fair, I only use my Windows machine for coding for school (Mac OS X otherwise) so I don't really need an extensive anti-virus but I've heard good things about MSE.

[Triforce of the Gods]

I use Avast. I stay the hell away from AVG ever since the free version told me I had to buy the full version to get rid of a virus that even Spybot: Search & Destroy could get rid of for free (and that's not even an anti-virus software).

[Mako]

I would recommend you use either Avast or AVG. From my experience those are the two best options. Both have worked fine for me over the past few years. I use AVG free for my laptop and Avast Internet Security for my desktop.

[chris_the_wing]

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[shadowbuster]

Try Microsoft Security Essentials or Avast

[chris_the_wing]

Removed by author

[bomblord]

I actually got avast at first, but then I found out they only let you use it for one year before making you pay for it. I uninstalled avast and got AVG instead. Things seem to be working perfectly fine right now, it doesn't effect performance and my computer actually recognizes it as "legitimately helpful anti-virus."

The service from this should do since I'm really only concerned with keeping viruses and spyware off my computer, I don't worry about that "spam filter" and other stuff because either my email already does that for me or I don't do any activities that'd require extra services.

You can renew your license for free every year.

I personally recommend having a cocktail of Avast for antivirus Spybot Search and Destroy for Spyware and Malwarebytes as a backup in case something happens that neither of them can fix. (Only use Avast's real time scanner shut off spybot's teatimer as they can interfere with each other) Run a full spyware and virus scan every month or so just to be safe but in most cases nothing should get through that as long as you keep everything up to date and stay immunized with spybot.

In my personal experience AVG seems to be much more of a resource hog than Avast so I would use that to stay lightweight but I've heard some people claim otherwise. Spybot basically the best antispyware you can get for free everything else is either as good or worse and Malwarebytes is the most powerful scanner and virus removal utility you can get.

[chris_the_wing]

Removed by author

[Serpent_Seed]

I've been using Microsoft Security Essentials. Of course I was recently hit with a virus that made me wipe my system but I think it was because I didn't update it because I felt my drive was running low on space. I partitioned more space this time. I still recommended it but interested in what everyone else is saying.

[thresholdXCI]

I always used AVG free, but it's really slows my computer down when I scan. My brother works in IT and raves about Microsoft Security Essentials so I'm planning on changing to that. Not got round to it yet though.

[Autosaver]

Most of these suggestions are awful and I assure you that you're slowing down your PC with the bloated useless anti-viruses you're using.

MY RECOMMENDATIONS

Microsoft Security Essentials
MalwareBytes

BOTH top rated, top used software out there.

[Triforce of the Gods]

Uh, yeah. Escuse me for not believing that Avast is bloating my computer when it was recommended to me by a certified, ethical hacker.

[bomblord]

Any program that runs in the background "bloats" your computer, however you would have to have an incredibly slow computer to have any noticeable slowdown from avast.

[Autosaver]

There are far superior alternatives to AVAST. And I was specifically talking about the AVG recommendations.

[Triforce of the Gods]

I haven't had a single issue after switching from Microsoft Security Essentials to Avast. But I agree AVG is terrible.

[misswliu81]

my favourite 2 are malwarebytes and smadav which is indonesian but it does the job

http://allsoftdownload.com/anti-virus/s ... nti-virus/

[bomblord]

You'll want to check this out if your considering Microsoft Security Essentials

http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-57 ... t-av-test/