Been using NOD32 but my license is about to expire. Thinking about either Avira or Avast as a free alternative. Anyone have any experience and would you consider the free anti virus as good as the paid one?

AVG

AVIRA (free)

In the latest edition of PC World (October) they tested free antivirus programs. Here is the result summary (you should read the details to get a more nuanced view of course):

Avira AntivVir: 92 Superior

Alwil Avast AntiVirus Home Edition: 91 Superior

AVG 8.5 free: 86 Very Good

Microsft security essentials: 86 Very good

PC Tools antivirus free edition: 69 Fair

Comodo Internet Security: 68 Fair

I used AVG before, but now I changed to Avira to test it out.

Edited September 20, 200916 yr by d0ndela

AVG

I've seen this piece of crap let through so many viruses and worms its not even funny anymore.

The top four in detection rates are:

Eset Nod32

Symantec (Norton)

Kaspersky

Avira Antivir

My personal recommendation is Nod32, especially in Asia because it's outstanding heuristic engine is good at detecting new viruses. Avira scores second, followed by Kaspersky. Symantec has improved but is still quite intrusive on your system.

In the latest edition of PC World (October) they tested free antivirus programs. Here is the result summary (you should read the details to get a more nuanced view of course):

Avira AntivVir: 92 Superior

Alwil Avast AntiVirus Home Edition: 91 Superior

AVG 8.5 free: 86 Very Good

Microsft security essentials: 86 Very good

PC Tools antivirus free edition: 69 Fair

Comodo Internet Security: 68 Fair

I used AVG before, but now I changed to Avira to test it out.

Read lab reports over journalistic reviews. Virusbulletin or AV-Comparatives are among the better known.

Read lab reports over journalistic reviews. Virusbulletin or AV-Comparatives are among the better known.

They made the test together with an AV test lab. In this case av-test.org

Trendmicros Internet security is what I replaced AVG free with as AVG free was too locked down and getting to be a pain

AVIRA (free version)

Been using NOD32 but my license is about to expire. Thinking about either Avira or Avast as a free alternative. Anyone have any experience and would you consider the free anti virus as good as the paid one?

The rankings seem to change every six months – depending on what website you look!

Stick with NOD32.

Avira Free

I am on Avira, the free version.

Any benefits in upgrading to the paid version??

I am on Avira, the free version.

Any benefits in upgrading to the paid version??

Unless the nag screen really bugs you I see little that is really that compelling. The web and email scanning is nice but the AV will still stop any web or email based malware that tries to excecute. The parental controls, faster updates, and better configurability may be of some use.

I am on Avira, the free version.

Any benefits in upgrading to the paid version??

Unless the nag screen really bugs you I see little that is really that compelling. The web and email scanning is nice but the AV will still stop any web or email based malware that tries to excecute. The parental controls, faster updates, and better configurability may be of some use.

I thought the free version of Avira didn't scan email is this incorrect. I am using Avast for this reason only

In the latest edition of PC World (October) they tested free antivirus programs. Here is the result summary (you should read the details to get a more nuanced view of course):

Avira AntivVir: 92 Superior

Alwil Avast AntiVirus Home Edition: 91 Superior

AVG 8.5 free: 86 Very Good

Microsft security essentials: 86 Very good

PC Tools antivirus free edition: 69 Fair

Comodo Internet Security: 68 Fair

I used AVG before, but now I changed to Avira to test it out.

Read lab reports over journalistic reviews. Virusbulletin or AV-Comparatives are among the better known.

Been using AVG Free for 6 yrs now and I'm happy with it. Doesn't slow down the system, I tried Nod 32 but...no thanks.

I thought the free version of Avira didn't scan email is this incorrect. I am using Avast for this reason only

It doesn't scan incoming mail, but the on-access protection would shut down malware that tried to excecute. I still prefer it getting blocked before it gets to the in box but when you look at the 4% of viruses that Avira will get that Avast will miss, I'll go for the higher detection rate.

Been using AVG Free for 6 yrs now and I'm happy with it. Doesn't slow down the system, I tried Nod 32 but...no thanks.

Well, I'm constantly disinfecting AVG "protected" machines, and NOD32 has won more VB100 awards than anyone, but good luck to you, it's your data.

I am on Avira, the free version.

Any benefits in upgrading to the paid version??

Well, I reverted back to free version. Had the paid version running and that caused a lot of trouble for me.

I'd like to mention I was refunded the money for the paid version immediately (within the 30d refund time limit) without asking any questions.

BTW the nag screen in free version can be disabled. Google is your friend...

I thought the free version of Avira didn't scan email is this incorrect. I am using Avast for this reason only

It doesn't scan incoming mail, but the on-access protection would shut down malware that tried to excecute. I still prefer it getting blocked before it gets to the in box but when you look at the 4% of viruses that Avira will get that Avast will miss, I'll go for the higher detection rate.

Been using AVG Free for 6 yrs now and I'm happy with it. Doesn't slow down the system, I tried Nod 32 but...no thanks.

Well, I'm constantly disinfecting AVG "protected" machines, and NOD32 has won more VB100 awards than anyone, but good luck to you, it's your data.

Thank you thats deserves serious concideration

And I am equally constantly disinfecting Avira/Avast/Nod32 "protected" machines. It's all down to the user. If the user is particularly clueless with regard to how to browsing the internet securely they will get infected regardless of AV used. I used AVG for years, never had an infection. My Thai staff use whatever is the AV brand of the day, and regularly get infected anyway.

There's a lot of pirated Nod32 copies in Thailand that never get the proper updates. But you are right, a smart user is always the best defence.

Unless the nag screen really bugs you I see little that is really that compelling. The web and email scanning is nice but the AV will still stop any web or email based malware that tries to excecute. The parental controls, faster updates, and better configurability may be of some use.

To disable notifier, simply follow these directions:

For XP and Vista Users:

1. Start-> Control Panel

2. Administrative tools-> Local security policy

3. Click on Software Restriction Policy-> Action (at the top)-> create new restriction policies

4. Right-click additional rules (on the right side)-> new path rule

5. Click Browse and navigate to C:\Program Files\(Avira)\AntiVir Desktop\ and double-click avnotify.exe

6. Set the security level to Disallowed-> apply-> ok

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disable the notifier splash screen in Windows 7.

Find the folder where Avira is stored - Program Files

Open the folder.

In this folder, you should have another folder called Antivir Desktop (open it).

Scroll down to Avnotify.exe and right click.

Click on Properties.

Click on the Security tab.

Click on Edit.

Make sure “System” is highlighted.

Check the “Read and Execute” and “Read” box in the Deny column.

I had to remove Avira as just to many false positives. May have been able to turn it down but replaced with Kaspersky. As the Thai price forf Kaspersky is very competitive and it seems to be working well on several computers believe will stay with it. Had used Nod32 but when renewal came due the price seemed a bit excessive for a home computer.

There are places in Pranthip that sell what appears to be legal, licensed software.

Some are selling BitDefender with license for app. 100b.

Anyone know if this is a legitimate license?

Here's the BD website

http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/

I'm wondering if they sell different licenses to different countries.

I've been using Avast for a few years, and a few times some crud has gotten through (though not lately). Maybe I'm just behaving myself

Edited November 18, 200916 yr by bendejo

Speaking of protection, any Firewall recommendations?

In partucular, I would like to hear about PC Tools Firewall Plus, is it any good?

Currently I'm using Comodo, but lately, it integrated its Firewall with Antivirus. So, I'm looking for a replacement (preferably free), since am merrily using Nod32.

........ am merrily using Nod32.

I was merrily using NOD32 as well until I decided to upgrade my CounterSpy program.

Sunbeltsoftware introduced Vipre, an anti-virus program and incorporated it into CounterSpy.

I deleted NOD32 from my system and immediately noticed a huge improvement in speed.

Sunbelt also have their own firewall software. I haven't tried it but friends who have are completely happy with it.

AVG , its the best free Antivirus and Antispyware program on the market.

I had it for 5 years now and the new version 9 is the best so far.

You can download it from here:

free.avg.com

Edited November 18, 200916 yr by balo

I threw out free AVG and bought Kaspersky Internet security, 1780B for 3 PC's, renewal costs 1100B.

AVG got too bloated much like Norton did and tries to take over your machine.

Avira is good, but has a problem on some machines--mine included--with continually accessing the floppy drive.

So Avast is the next best free choice. However, you have to register it. No big deal.

I threw out free AVG and bought Kaspersky Internet security, 1780B for 3 PC's, renewal costs 1100B.

Yes, Kaspersky is really good & thats a good price too

I'm experimenting with the (don't scoff) Microsoft Security Essentials (basically, M$ new free antivirus). But I usually use Avira.

Don't use AVG...its bad.