Best FREE anti-virus and anti-spyware software out there? - Webmaster Forums - Webmaster forum for HTML, PHP, ASP, CSS and more

Slinky · 06-21-2006, 01:48 PM

Hey guys,

Recently, I have been using AVG Free Edition, AdAware SE and Spybot S&D to do all my anti-spyware/malware/adware/virus stuff. I am wondering however, are there free programs out there that do an equally good job, or an even better job than these above mentioned programs?

Another thing I'm wondering about is whether there is a program that automatically detects a virus running, and then shuts it down right away. So you don't need to do a virus scan every time...if the program detects a virus running in your processes it automatically kills the infected process and deletes the virus. Are there any such programs?

Spartan Erik · 07-02-2006, 02:31 PM

AVG free has live detection; i.e. if you visit a site that tries to put a trojan on your computer, AVG will notify you and allow you to take action immediately before the trojan can run

As for using ad-aware, it is a weak program when it comes to severe spyware such as CWS and some 180search spyware; spybot s&d and windows defender beta 2 are the two best free antispyware softwares i've ever used.

If you've got money and you are willing to sacrifice some memory, you can purchase spysweeper; it's what they use at geeksquad

killingprod · 07-08-2006, 09:46 PM

Kaspersky!!! Super best....

knabensopran · 08-06-2006, 06:13 AM

McAfee. That's Ok

iSellJerseyShore · 08-10-2006, 03:27 PM

I second AVG free. On some heavily infected systems I would scan the drive with Norton Antivirus Corporate edition. Sometimes it would either find a virus or would report that nothing was found. When I would scan the same drive with AVG Free, it would find things that Norton did now find.

Enjoy AVG,

-iSellJerseyShore

Thrice · 08-12-2006, 11:40 AM

yeah, I agree with ISellJerseyShore.

i experienced the exact same thing. I would scan with Norton and it would sometimes detect virus' and then refuse to delete them. Sometimes it would just do nothing. But AVG seems to have sorted it all out.

jeremy860 · 08-13-2006, 01:15 AM

I use AVG Free and have never had any problems.

sbho · 08-13-2006, 05:56 PM

Me2. And if you'd like to have a program that really removes that unremovable scum, get Hijackthis. Be careful when using it though, you may remove some important files and crash your system.

areamike · 08-14-2006, 11:58 AM

I second AVG as well.

However, I never install or run ANY spyware programs UNLESS I get spyware, which is very very rare. It's all about being careful. I have yet to see anyone get spyware on their PC without opening a downloaded file or clicking YES to something that pops up.
Careful and smart browsing is the key to keeping your PC free of spyware.

Mong · 08-14-2006, 12:00 PM

I used Norton and Mcafee but ime AVG works pretty well.