Since AVG Free 7.5 is ending support, I made the migration to 8.0. The program is bloatware, and like so many other "good" programs has decided to to do too much IMO. I've got all these extra processes running, I don't seem to be allowed to have as much control over the features as if I can't be trusted, and just have an uneasy feeling about the whole thing in general. Today I downloaded a WMV file from an e-mail someone sent me. As always before viewing it I right clicked on it and hit the "scan with AVG" option. The usual pop-up window didn't, but I had a blinky in the task bar. I opened that and AVG was doing a full system scan. I ended it, then went in the program interface and used the scan file option. The browse box opened but browsing to the folder that contained the video, AVG couldn't see the file. Well that tears it. I accept too much crap in the mail from friends who I love, but need to scan their offerings before opening any file or attachment. I'm done with this program and am on the hunt for a new freeware program and as usual would like to get feedback on my choices or any other free AV programs you like.

I'm currently looking at the following 4

BitDefender Free Edition 10
Avast
Nod32
Antivir

Any feedback will be deeply appreciated.

Well if you;re worried about extra processes eating up memory then I suggest Avira Antivir since it's only an antivirus without any "bloatware" added and has a superb detecntion rate and malware scanning.

I would have to disagree. NOD32 is a superb AV software, one of the best out there, and it's definitely not bloated. I highly recommend it.

Re: NOD32, I liked the speed of its scanning engine. I did not like how it forces you to use the anti-spyware, anti-this/anti-that features, and if you don't, then it nags you death and gives you yellow/red icons and popups. Annoying as hell.

For that reason alone, I won't use NOD32. I don't want software that's going to treat me like a baby.

http://www.avast.com/

Free. Fast. Lightweight (even compared to AVG).

im using Nod32, works amazing im using the v2.x not the newer 3 which has the problems McFly stated.

McFly said:
Ya that's the crap I'm trying to get away from is those multi faceted this and that. I don't need a link quard or whatever. Just want an AV thats reliable and works good. Oh ya I reinstalled AVG7.5 for the interim. When I went back to that WMV file, it scanned it with no problems.

McFly said: Personally, I leave all of it on. I recently switched from AVG to NOD32, and bought a two year license for it, and I love it. I would prefer to have all of my malware in one bundle from the same company so that I KNOW it's all compatible, and not going to run into each other.

NOD32 for the win.

Edit: You can turn off the notifications if you want.

Does that turn the tray icon back from yellow/red to green?

No. I hide my tray icons, good buddy. I never get notifications, though. I'm running it with the email scanner and anti-spyware turned off at the moment. Ver 3.0.650.0

I think angryhippy said he wanted a free anti-viral application. I don't think NOD32 is freeware despite being an excellent anti-viral option.

Avast is pretty good but I haven't found any problems with AVG 8.0 yet. In fact, the computer I run it on only ever takes up about 100 - 150 MB of RAM.

I used BitDefender 9 for a long time and that was probably my favorite, though Zone Alarm was okay too. I recommend atleast trying BitDefender, seemed to kick ass.

Though, I don't use one anymore, I find it's for computer newbs, sorry lol. After you know what to do and what not to do you don't really need one anymore. I haven't had anything for almost 2 years and I've never got a thing.

Knowing what not to do isn't all it takes anymore. I've had to hit the panic button a couple times already this past weekend when two different forums I frequent got their providers servers hit with this DNS flaw crap and links in my e-mail rediected me to Antivirus2009 one of those malware extortion programs that immediately started running a scan on my system in preparation to download their program. The other tried to redirect me to some crap site I didn't bother to visit either.And even though I'm using ad block and all that pop-up killer crap on Firefox which I finally grudgingly started using, the second one bypassed all that like it wasn't even there. The first one got stopped though. but you can see the e-mail link that redirected it.

http://angryhippy.net/images/attacksite3.jpg

comodo is pretty decent for freeware
http://www.comodo.com/products/free_products.html

Dilbert , you're right NOD32 is trialware and living on $600 a monthdoesn't afford me the use of paid for programs. And I'm reading another article that says AVAST 4 didn't receive the West Coast Labs Checkmark level 1 or 2 or the VB100% so that's off the list too. So for now I'm gonna give BitDefender10 a shot, and maybe check out Antivir later when I've got nothing going on. Thanks for all the replies as usual!

Never seen this Top Ten Reviews site before. I wonder how thorough and unbiased they are? Anyone know anything about it?

http://www.toptenreviews.com/anti-virus-software-review/bitdef...eview.html

BOT Comodo has an excellent free Firewall that I tried out long ago but the frequent pop-ups regarding every action your PC makes bugged the crap out of me, that's why I went back to Zone Alarm free.

I use Avast without problems and i love it.Ive tried a bunch of AV programs and this my favorite
http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/

I am often heavily criticized for this, but I do not personally use any real-time antivirus software on either of two main computers. I got so fed up with antivirus software that I eventually gave up on it all together and decided to just do manual scans with various programs from time to time. I have not been using a real-time antivirus program for about two years now and have not had any problems. I avoid the "bad neighborhoods" of the internet and keep a close eye on what I download onto my system and I have found that to be the best antivirus of all. I have not yet had any serious malware on Vista at all and I have been using it for a good six months or so as my main OS. Besides tracker cookies I really have not gotten anything at all in the past year or so. Sure I wouldn't recommend no antivirus software for a business environment or your family computer, but for a computer that is only used by you it certainly an option to think about. There are plenty of programs to do on-demand scans with that use no memory at all when not running. Just keep your important data backed up regularly and watch what you click on. On top of that I almost never open any email attachments unless I know exactly what they are and I trust that the person who sent it has a clean system.

Adam,
You're in the wrong neighborhood, without knowing when you took the wrong turn...all the maps could be wrong.
THAT IS THE ISSUE with the DNS HACKS that though just publicised, have been around from DAY ONE of the INTERNET.
Just steering clear isn't enough anymore.
Whatever happened to black ICE?

Well Bit Defender10 Free was wonderful. The POS hosed my OS. The only way to get explorer.exe to run was to start with the CD. Otherwise there was just a blank screen with just the background displaying. I could ctrl-alt-delete and bring up the task manager. But it showed explorer to already be running. I couldn't uninstall it or kill the processes, and restore was turned off. So I just said screw it and reinstalled the OS. I now have Avira AntiVir Personal Desktop Free running. A very small footprint. Nice. Now I just have to wait till I do something stupid to see how it really works. Maybe I'll install LimeWire and search for Microsoft key generators. That'll catch something for sure! LOLOLOL

BOT The Komodo looks interesting. I like how they have broken down each feature so you can install just what you want. I'll have to delve into what they offer a bit further. That's the first buffer overflow specific product I have seen.

Michael C said:
Uh, how do you know that?

back on topic: I've used Avast for several years now and the only thing I don't like about it is the voice notifications, they scare the s**t out of me. I just turn all sounds off, though, and I'm set. I find it unobtrusive and effective, and the price is right.