Which is the best free antivirus software- Avira/AVG or Avast or norton, bitdefender, mcafee…?

2 responses so far ↓

• 1 rtobyr // Apr 1, 2009

  All antivirus do just as well at detecting viruses. To get the actual comparisons of how every anti-virus program compares with the competition, go to the following link check out their comparative tests:
  http://www.av-comparatives.org/

  So the best antivirus is a free one. Here are three free ones that you can choose from:

  AVG Free Edition: http://free.grisoft.com
  Avast 4 Home: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
  Avira Antivir Personal: http://www.free-av.com/en/download/1/avira_antivir_personal__free_antivirus.html

  Lastly, I also recommend installing Site Advisor. This free product will pop-up a red balloon if you go to any web sites that have malware. It will also put green, yellow, and red icons next to your Google and Yahoo search results. http://www.siteadvisor.com/

• 2 Rudra // Apr 1, 2009

  Please read this: http://www.pcworld.com/article/158157/top_internet_security_suites_paying_for_protection.html

  According to the review: SYMANTEC> BITDEFENDER>PANDA>MCAFEE etc…

  Of course most of these are paid while Kaspersky is free for a month, Avast for an year (and then can be renewed), AVG has a free version etc..I find that Kaspersky is most efficient and Avast stands up with it. AVG is good too but the antispyware is not the best there. I have AVG, Avast and Symantec on each of my computers. None of them had problems with viruses in the last 3+ years. I believe the secret is patching up all the OS updates.

  To summarize my answer to your specific question, while Norton is good (although NOT free), Avast and AVG are both fine. Mcafee would be my least favorable choice.

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