Need new AV program...

[S3NTYN3L]

Well, Symantec finally outmoded my version of NAVCE.
It was bound to happen sooner or later, the version I've been using was almost six years old.

I went to update it the other day and they said they will no longer be providing updates (via liveupdate or manual download) for the software or virus defs... I'm not wanting to give Symantec more money for another program.

I thought I'd ask you guys where some quality FREE antivirus programs could be found. (Maybe give me some pros/cons of the software?)

I'm running Spybot/S&D, Ad-Aware and ZoneAlarm already and have been for a long time...


Thanks for the input!

(I would just hunt through this sub-forum but I'm on my way out the door to work, so...)

[GroundZero3]

For home use try out AVG

pro:

free
scans email
live update
Found stuff Norton doesnt

con:

it scans the whole drive every single day at a certain time. To disable this or change the time you have to get the full paid verison

[laylow]

You can disable the daily scan in the scheduler of AVG free edition.
Just highlight the task, click edit schedule and uncheck where it says Periodically start scheduled anti virus test

[washe]

there is also avast.... Its a little heavier than AVG on memory usage but it has some good features I liked.

www.avast.com

[dzee]

Im always hearing great things bout the free AVG. i personally use Sophos. id say either of the two.

[digby0668]

con:

it scans the whole drive every single day at a certain time. To disable this or change the time you have to get the full paid verison

Use Windows task Scheduler and specify the command to run:
"C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Free\avgw.exe" /test="Complete Test"

Then schedule AVG to run whenever you want.

[S3NTYN3L]

I went with AVG.
I couldn't find a free version of Sophos, if one exists...

Thanks for the help!

[radio1_mike]

I'd recommend Avast over AVG.

Simply because Avast free has realtime protection, where AVG free does not... But then again, you can schedule scans in AVG free, but not in Avast free.

Both AVG and Avast update their definitions and virus engines almost everyday.

[Friedchicken100]

Yeah GZ I turned off the automatic scans in the free edition. I love AVG. It's powerful and easy to use.

[SeanC]

Avast for sure.

The last time I tried AVG (last year) I didn't like the fact that it couldn't update the virus signature as soon as I logon to my computer. It had to be scheduled.

I don't know if that's changed because I haven't used AVG since last year.

Sean

[digby0668]

Can avast be setup with windows scheduler?

[SeanC]

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?boa...;threadid=3796

Here's the text:


(NOTE: These instructions are for Windows XP and assume Windows is set up to use "single click" to open items. I would assume the steps would be similar for other versions of Windows.)

* Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scheduled Tasks
* Click (or double-click) on Add Scheduled Task
* In the wizard that appears click Next - a list of programs will appear
* Click Browse and navigate to C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4 (or whatever folder in which you installed avast!)
* Click (or double-click) on the file ashQuick.exe
* On the next screen give the task a name of your choice and choose how often you want it to run and click on Next
* On the next screen choose the appropriate scheduling options and click on Next
* On the next screen enter the user name and password for the Windows user you want the task to run as, then click on Next
* On the next screen check the box for the option "Open advanced properties for this task when I click Finish", and then click Finish
* On the next screen, in the "Run" field you will see the path for the ashQuick.exe program. After the closing quote enter a space and type in the path(s) that you want scanned. Multiple paths must be separated by a space and any paths that include a space in the path name must be in quotes. Here are a couple of examples:

"C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashQuick.exe" C: E: - this will scan the entire contents of the C: and E: drives
"C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashQuick.exe" "C:Program Files" Eownloads - this will scan the contents of the Program Files folder on the C: drive and the Downloads folder on the E: drive, including all subfolders (Note the first path is in quotes due to the space in the folder name "Program Files")
* Click OK
* In the Scheduled Tasks window, from the menu, click on Advanced and choose "Start Using Task Scheduler"
* To test your newly created task, from the Scheduled Tasks window, right-click on the task's icon and choose "Run" from the popup menu. If the scan doesn't begin correctly you'll get an error message. The problem is most likely in the scan path (missing quotes or something like that.)
* Close the Scheduled Tasks window

[paul9]

X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*


Copy and paste that into a new text file to give your virus scanner a quick test. You will soon see a virus warning if your AV has realtime protection. AVG detects a virus as soon as you run the eicar.com test program, but does not register the text file version as a virus when you just save the file. It does, therefore, have some degree of realtime protection. More versions and information can be found at http://www.eicar.org/anti_virus_test_file.htm

[SeanC]

Not too many AV programs would pick up the eicar virus as a text file, in their default config because they don't scan text files by default only executable type files and files that can have macros like MS Office document files.

Sean

[paul9]

I was wondering if it was because of a default configuration. Thanks Sean, that saves me having to experiment more to find out.

[S3NTYN3L]

How come when I install Avast, it says it's a demo version that will expire in 60days?

I downloaded the "free" version like three times. Always with the same result...

[SeanC]

You have to go through a free registration process then you get the key in email. It takes a couple minutes of your time.

Sean

[S3NTYN3L]

You have to go through a free registration process then you get the key in email. It takes a couple minutes of your time.

Sean

I figured it out...

Spybot was not letting it update the registry. I had to shut S&D down then install Avast. After that, it said to register for the free version and got rid of the demo thing...

As for AVG: I have it set up to download updates as soon as an internet connection is available. In my case the connection is always on. So basically, it checks for updates as soon as the NIC "boots"...

AVG didn't catch the text file virus test. Avast did... Both versions I have come with a resident shields (realtime protection/whatever) on by default.

[darick]

i'm stil wondering why no 1 mention Kaspersky. is it just the East side of the world that uses it? ^^;

[radio1_mike]

i'm stil wondering why no 1 mention Kaspersky. is it just the East side of the world that uses it? ^^;

S3NTYN3L asked about free AV proggies in his initial post... I think if we expanded to commercial software, certainly Kapersky and Panda would be mentioned as well as the usual suspects...