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Free AntiVirus


SpeedCrazy

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just gona put this out there I never run 1 ever I also dont use a firewall .i'm behind a router and i am sure most are but i would rather do a clean install every year then deal with those things.now i dont have to do a install every year that was just a guess but i have been on the interwebs as long as its been around so i guess i know where its safe to go and how to stay out of trouble. also they always seem to scan my system when i am trying to use it . i have odd hours. and firewalls slow you down.

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Your really not supposed to run more than one Anti-virus program at the same time... they end up conflicting with each other and neither one ends up working properly, and in the end just wasting your system resources. Just use one.

I am really curious about this; does anyone know of any tests run on systems using more than one anti-virus to confirm this? I run both AVG and MSE on my computers (with very little ill effect to performance by the way) and haven't noticed any issues with them conflicting. I have seen tests of single anti-viruses on systems before, for reviews and the like, but never for multiple on one system. Has anyone seen such a test?

Also, what kinds of conflicts, like missing viruses or issues with them thinking each other are viruses or scanning what the other is scanning because it's being accessed, and then slowing the system?

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MSE actually has an option so that it wont run the scan while your using your computer. So if you enable this setting, and the progam is set to scan every day at 2am... and your up playing CoD: Black Ops at 2am, it just wont scan until the next day.

 

But even when the scan is running its barely noticeable. I let it run scans whenever, ive never noticed it even once slowing anything down while it was running.

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I am really curious about this; does anyone know of any tests run on systems using more than one anti-virus to confirm this? I run both AVG and MSE on my computers (with very little ill effect to performance by the way) and haven't noticed any issues with them conflicting. I have seen tests of single anti-viruses on systems before, for reviews and the like, but never for multiple on one system. Has anyone seen such a test?

Also, what kinds of conflicts, like missing viruses or issues with them thinking each other are viruses or scanning what the other is scanning because it's being accessed, and then slowing the system?

 

Meh... AVG and MSE arent very 'controlling' programs. however Norton and McAfee are very invasive and end up prompting you all the time just like User account controls does. When norton asks you every other time if McAfee is allowed to run, and vice versa. Basically neither ends up running. Ive literally seen this happen on my Aunt's computer. It was a few years ago, Maybe its gotten better since then??

 

 

But seriously, if you look at so much porn, that you need TWO Anti-virus programs, im fairly certain your problem lies elsewhere...

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Meh... AVG and MSE arent very 'controlling' programs. however Norton and McAfee are very invasive and end up prompting you all the time just like User account controls does. When norton asks you every other time if McAfee is allowed to run, and vice versa. Basically neither ends up running. Ive literally seen this happen on my Aunt's computer. It was a few years ago, Maybe its gotten better since then??

That's what I've been thinking is the reason; that multiple are an annoyance and/or inconvenience.

 

But seriously, if you look at so much porn, that you need TWO Anti-virus programs, im fairly certain your problem lies elsewhere...

Actually the reason I started running two (I think, it has been years) is that I had installed a new firewall that came with an anti-virus, so I was running both that and McAfee. Then that new av got bad definitions and screwed up my laptop, so I put on AVG. Then when I replaced my desktop I didn't bother with getting another (free through school) copy of McAfee and used AVG and MSE once that came out. Upgraded the laptop and did the same here.

I don't have any need for two (in fact, I don't really even need one; in the past what, nine years or so, I've only ever had one virus. of course I will never run a computer without at least one, but you get the idea) I just don't see a reason not be so protected if my systems can achieve it.

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When I reformatted my laptop, I didn't (and still don't) have an antivirus program on it. That said, there's almost no need for one if you know if you stay on websites you know are good. But +1 to Avast, I can't even tell it's running besides the infamous, "Virus database has been updated." I've had more false positives with it than other programs though.

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When I reformatted my laptop, I didn't (and still don't) have an antivirus program on it. That said, there's almost no need for one if you know if you stay on websites you know are good.

 

NearlyEpic - that is nearly epic miss-direction :)

No one - absolutely no one should be completely unprotected - regardless of how careful you are. Even known good websites can become infected themselves and then infect your pc in kind. Not to mention emails, attachments, things downloaded from the web (even from safe/good sites etc.)

 

IMHO the best free AV available right now for anyone running Vista or Windows 7 is Microsoft Security Essentials. It scored fairly well on independent tests performed by AV-Comparatives Org. You can find it here; http://www.av-comparatives.org/ And considering that it is one of the few "completely free" solutions in the roundup - I consider the relative performance as acceptable.

 

I used to always keep at least one rig with AVG on it as a backup AV solution - but their latest mandatory update is an epic failure in the amount of crap they decided to include.

 

If you decide to go the Pay For route then I can highly recommend Kaspersky, NOD32 or G Data.

Edited by wevsspot

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Microsoft made MSE for windows XP too, its not just for vista and 7... but i dont think they made a 64-bit version for XP if thats your thing though.

Yep, I was aware of that, but couldn't personally vouch for the Win XP experience since I've only used it on Vista and Win 7 builds (32 and 64-bit).

 

My XP server box still uses NOD32 :)

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