Top 5 Free Virus Programs Tested.

Captin

Captin

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Here's a test of the top 5 FREE anti virus programs.

Information was used from AV-Comparatives which is a totally independent anti-virus checking website that have been checking anti-virus programs for years.

In summery, (and confirms my findings that Microshit's free offering is as good as it's price after it let me get infected).

So Which Is Best?

Avira is the technical standout. It has posted excellent scores in recent protection tests and it also ran away from the competition in our performance metrics. The downside is a confusing user interface. I had to explore the software for a few minutes before I understood how to operate it. If Avira could make the software just at tad more intuitive it would have the perfect product.

Avast! may be a better option for users who want to fuss with protection as little as possible. It is nearly as good as Avira in our performance benchmarks and it offers a slick, simple interface. Advertising is kept to a minimum, as well.

Lavasoft and AVG are suitable choices, but both have a catch that may be significant for some users. Lavasoft uses far more resources than the competitors while running in the background and AVG has an unattractive interface loaded with advertisements for the full version and other AVG products. Both offer competent protection, however.

Last, and least, is Microsoft Security Essentials. It was not the slowest in our tests, nor did it eat the most RAM, but protection studies have shown it to be the least effective at stopping threats by a large margin. Missing 5% of recent threats in the AV-Test roundup doesn’t sound like much, but all other competitors missed 2% or less. Going with MSE makes you substantially more vulnerable.
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A Free Anti-Virus Comparison: 5 Popular Choices Go Toe-To-Toe
 
I've been using MSE for a few years now and have been virus free since using it,maybe I'm just careful ;)

Sent from my X10i using Tapatalk 2
 
I've been using avast for a few years now v good 4 free
 
Been using Avast for longer than I can remember. Never felt the need to change.
 
i used Avira for a while - the pop up was well annoying but i think i remember a way to diable it.
 
I have also been using MSE for a few years without any problems, the trick with MSE is to turn off recommendations and let it pounce immediately. You always wonder about these tests I have got rid of virus's off machines that had AVG on and installed MSE after virus removal only to find MSE finds additional stuff that AVG did not pick up.

At the end of the day if your chosen Anti-Virus does it for you then that's all you need.
 
Personally I read independent review sites like AV Comparables they test these things to destruction and find out which is good and which is not. If they say MSE is crap than I, for one, believe them.

Last time I tried MSE, around 6 months ago, from a recommendation, I didn't like it, so after 3 months I replaced it with AVG free and immediately it found at least 30 infected files MSE had let through. then Avira got another 6 after I switched from AVG after having problems with it.

If you have MSE on for years and try nothing else how do you know you don't have a virus MSE has let through? Because unless you use something else you would never know. Infected files don't always present themselves as malicious moving your mouse round the screen deleting files kind of programs, some just sit there very quietly watching.

I make a point of scanning my pc every few months with a different program to that which I currently have installed, and also keep an eye on reviews from sites not affiliated or sponsored by specific programs.

I also live by the rule that every false positive is a potential virus.
 
Captin said:
Personally I read independent review sites like AV Comparables they test these things to destruction and find out which is good and which is not. If they say MSE is crap than I, for one, believe them.

Last time I tried MSE, around 6 months ago, from a recommendation, I didn't like it, so after 3 months I replaced it with AVG free and immediately it found at least 30 infected files MSE had let through. then Avira got another 6 after I switched from AVG after having problems with it.

If you have MSE on for years and try nothing else how do you know you don't have a virus MSE has let through? Because unless you use something else you would never know. Infected files don't always present themselves as malicious moving your mouse round the screen deleting files kind of programs, some just sit there very quietly watching.

I make a point of scanning my pc every few months with a different program to that which I currently have installed, and also keep an eye on reviews from sites not affiliated or sponsored by specific programs.

I also live by the rule that every false positive is a potential virus.
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Like I said whatever you get on with best, if it works for you then all good.

I'm actually an I.T. engineer have been one for about 10 years which includes installing Business Servers so my opinion is built up on experience so I think I'm probably qualified to comment because of my actual experience and not just what of read. Don't get me wrong internet is brilliant for information and reviews and is very helpful and I never knock it, I have in fact found amazing stuff on it. (This site for one)

Anyway it was just my opinion and an experience I had, had.
 
Captin said:
Personally I read independent review sites like AV Comparables they test these things to destruction and find out which is good and which is not. If they say MSE is crap than I, for one, believe them.
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Thats your prerogative m8 :)

Captin said:
Last time I tried MSE, around 6 months ago, from a recommendation, I didn't like it, so after 3 months I replaced it with AVG free and immediately it found at least 30 infected files MSE had let through. then Avira got another 6 after I switched from AVG after having problems with it.
Click to expand...

I find that usually happens when ever you switch AV's,some report more false positives then others,
some consider different files viruses were others don't

Captin said:
If you have MSE on for years and try nothing else how do you know you don't have a virus MSE has let through? Because unless you use something else you would never know.
Click to expand...

Good point but the same can be said of every anti virus program


My original answer was not to doubt what you had posted,it was just my experience with MSE thats all :)
 
I have Avast and the Pro Malwarebytes.

Seems to work for me, or does it lol... would I know, would any of us lol.

Something I have always believed in is if the right (wrong actually lol) wants to get in... they will get in!

But for general protection I agree with the earlier post, what works for you is the best choice!

Mick
 
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