Best FREE Antivirus/Firewall software?

I'm planning on getting rid off McAfee from my system since my subscription has run out, it won't update anymore and I don't care to pay for an upgrade. Besides, I want the resource-hogging thing out of my system asap.
I know some members here use AVG, I was wondering if that still came with the Wordforge seal of approval, or are there better free alternatives?

And since I'll be getting rid off the McAfee security suite I currently have, I'll also be needing a new firewall. Any suggestions?

Thanks

ZoneAlarm used to be pretty good several years ago, but no idea how it is now.

I'd say you don't really need a virus scanner. Make use of the many free, online virus scanners every now and then.

AVG.

Straight up.

I love McAfee, though--haven't had a crash since I installed it, so I'll actually buy this when my subscription runs out.

I'm in agreement with Anna in terms of AVG, but not in her opinion of McAfee. I've seen that take down just as many systems (if not more, if you count how, suddenly, their updates for their older products just started CRASHING 98 INSTALLS FOR FUCK'S SAKE) as Norton.

Here's a question for you. I'm running AVG Free Edition v7.5.448 and it does not play well with Vista at all. I keep having to deal with an "interactive services" dialog box which, when clicked, completely changes the desktop environment just so I can see that AVG is updating or running. It's a right pain in the ass when working, and yes, I've changed the settings for AVG to run when I'm least likely to be working, but it's still a pain in the ass when I am working.

I use AVG and don't have any problems at all. But im not on Vista like Elwood.

I used AVG for a long time a couple of years ago, but after having some problems, found out that it can mess things even though it was fully updated every night. I then moved to panda, which seemed to work okay (although it severely slows boot up).

However, after having more problems where the computer would continually reboot, it was determined that a bad panda update was the problem.

Right now I'm using avast, the free version, as per my computer guy's recommendation, and it appears to work well.

It's one of the reasons why I switched back to XP, with Vista as a dual boot. Eventually, I just erased Vista because it took 30 GB of space I could use for other, more important things, like porn.


J.

I must be lucky then. I had AVG and while it kept out many viruses, the ones that did get by fucked up my computer and wiped out all my files at least five (!) times that I can count. The last time, it ate the files on my external harddrive as well, which included a lot of personal writings that can't be replaced.

I've put McAfee in and haven't had a problem since.

Anna, while I'm sorry for your loss, you've got to look at why those viruses would have the opportunity to infect you in the first place. I mean, I've been running without antivirus for about four years, and I haven't had a single problem.

Is that what I'm recommending? No. Far from it. I'm just recommending keeping a close eye on what you're opening and where you're opening it.

^
Oh, I know full well what I open. It's my brother who fucks the damn thing up, and since he can override any passwords I place on the account, I'm stuck cleaning up his goddamn messes until I buy my own separate computer. Then he can have this one and fuck it up will the hardddrive conks out on his ass from trolling too much on Gaia.

I've installed AVG, so far so good. Is there a way to configure the thing so that updates would download automatically, rather than manually checking/downloading updates?

Also installed Comodo firewall, pretty solid so far!

Should come preconfigured to automatically check for updates. Now, if you want it to automatically fetch them from the internet rather than looking for a folder, just manually run an update, specify the internet option, then check to always use that method, then run an update.

When updating, it will always pop up a window - a behavior that I find somewhat disappointing, but c'est la vie. The window should require no interaction.

While not free, I really like my nod32.

I don't use any active anti-virus on either of my primary computers. I do a scan once a month and never find anything.

Of course, I have a Mac. On my Windows laptop — I use AVG. McAfee is about as effective as throwing your computer off a tall building, in my experience.

Another vote for AVG. Interestingly enough, I also am running with Vista with no problems on an E-Machine. Go figure.

Anyway, I agree AVG should update automatically. Hit the Test Center button and look at the scheduler function.

I have heard good things about Avast, but AVG is working well enough (I guess...who really knows).

You don't really need AV.

On Vista you definitely don't.

Why not?

I think that school of thought is that Vista is much more secure and thus resistant to virus infections. It's also possible that if you're using Windows Firewall and Windows Defender you're probably in pretty good shape. Also if you stay away from sites such as Kazaa and other places known for harboring viruses, malware and spyware that you're probably not at that much risk. Also not opening suspect attachments cuts a lot of risk.

One thing I can say about AV software, you can only tell if it doesn't work. Otherwise, it's like the old joke about dragon repellant (I don't see any dragons...then it must be working)

For myself, I like AVG because 1) it's free 2) it's easy to set up 3) and doesn't seem to bog down my computer's performance. That beats MacAfee and Norton on all three counts.

It's a very dangerous line of thought that just because Vista is more secure that it negates the need for antivirus amongst the general population.

If anything, it just means that whoever does craft a virus for it will probably...maximize the virus' potential, if you catch my drift.

At this point since Vista has a user base about the size of a Mac, it also has security by obscurity going for it.

That won't last forever, but especially if you are using webmail, you are relatively safe from viruses.

Oh and the biggest reason is this: AV programs don't really do anything.

The detection rates for even the worlds BEST AV program at any given time is abysmal... and thats even when tested against threats that are a few weeks old. When pitted against the new viruses (the stuff that is actually likely to get you), your AV software really doesn't stand to do much about stopping you from getting the virus.

All it can do is MAYBE repair the problem a few days after the huge impact is over (when definitions are updateD), and if you are lucky you won't have to lose any files during the repair.

For a consumer PC, you are better off just backing up all your stuff on a medium that is seperate from your box so you can restore when your shit gets fucked up. Oh and backing up is generally good practice anyway.

You can't always tell when its NOT working since it will often say there is no problem when there really is...

AV isn't effective enough against brand-new viruses (The ones that actually get you!) to be worth the cash and speed penalty on your machine.

Firewall is a different story.

As I said above, back up your important stuff.

^^^good points all. thanks for the clarification.

Powaqqatsi is right, It's even easier than ever to back up your files as places like xdrive (5 free GB is pretty good for Word documents), and just about every new model of computer I've seen this year has a DVD-RW drive that comes standard with the computer. APlus, external harddrives don't cost much and can be installed by plugging usb cords together (Although from personal experience, it's probably a good idea to have regular scans on those as well).

Good things to store on permanent dics are uneditable things like mp3s and video files and pictures that you know won't be played around with.

Which leads me to my other rant on personal computer security.

The only people who need software firewalls are those who cannot keep their computer free of security threats that they themselves can prevent. While we'd like to think we're important enough to hack from without, we really aren't. Whatever pittance of personal information we have on our computers isn't worth the time and effort to get through even the basic hardware afforded by high-speed modems and routers. The issue then becomes the security threats from within - stuff that ended up on our computers due to, and I won't mince words here, incompetance at some level. If we can keep our computers virus and spyware free, we won't have an issue at all.

Many will say "Well, I want to prevent applications from dialing home." Quite frankly, those of us who are of a technical competancy to understand what that entails should, once again, not need the firewall for security purposes. In fact, we should really be critically examining the software we're using - if WinAmp dials home, and that bothers us, is it worth the system hit to keep using WinAmp, or is another solution a better match? Better yet, is WinAmp dialing home even serious in the slightest? Short answer - no. Long answer - nooooooooooo.

There's a concept I advocate - skeptical computing. If you think something's iffy, it probably is. If you don't, double-check to make sure, then go right ahead. There is no need for paranoia - this will keep you safe 99% of the time.

Firewall is just around to stop worms.

Oh and if you have a firewall on your router like I do, then you don't need to run one.

I haven't heard anyone mention anything about Norton.

That's because Norton sucks.


J.

I've been using Zone Alarm for several years now, and it seems to do the job. I don't run an anti-virus program as it usually bogs down my computer (and I'm careful on the internet), though AVG is pretty good.

Upgrade to XP.

I like Vista just fine.

You like an OS that was rushed to market, and thus only sometimes works with certain software and hardware?

Suit yourself.



Also, have you tried using the Windows compatibility mode for AVG?