Anti-virus/spyware for free?

[fundonny]

Looking for the best protection for my new laptop. Running windows vista. Recommendations? Links?

[Hearzy]

http://free.avg.com/

[314314]

Second that AVG

[Weazl]

AVG here as well.

[rezadue]

AVAST. I like it better than AVG. A bit faster too.

[AndrewMGA]

Microsoft Security Essentials (Microsoft's free antivirus/anti spyware product) will be released in a couple weeks, the Beta is VERY good (very low resources, minimal system hit and so far no false positives). I've been using it for awhile now and have no issues with it. If you don't feel up to running beta software go with AVG free for now but switch when it MSE is released.

[jvincent]

I'm in the Avast camp as well. I used to use AVG but prefer the interface on Avast.

[paperclip]

You want the best? An industrial-strength solution? Try eEye's Blink, it's free for first year, go to this link to download:

http://www.eeye.com/html/consumer/pr...ink/index.html

I have used Blink for about 2 years and nothing gets through, I mean nothing. You don't need anything else (eg Spybot S&D, Ad-Aware, Windows Defender, etc.). Has updates almost daily.

But just in case, you also might want to use Spyware Blaster, also free, which blocks a lot of bad stuff from executing, period, and it's not memory-resident. Has updates 1-2x per month. The link is here:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Let everyone know if you try these!

[Weazl]

As mentioned I use AVG as well but do find it resopurce intensive and it slows down my PC, are one of these other ones better?

[jvincent]

I switched to Avast from AVG a couple of years ago because Avast was much less intrusive. I've never noticed it be a resource hog.

[fundonny]

Getting an error. Will wait and see.

You want the best? An industrial-strength solution? Try eEye's Blink, it's free for first year, go to this link to download:

http://www.eeye.com/html/consumer/pr...ink/index.html

I have used Blink for about 2 years and nothing gets through, I mean nothing. You don't need anything else (eg Spybot S&D, Ad-Aware, Windows Defender, etc.). Has updates almost daily.

But just in case, you also might want to use Spyware Blaster, also free, which blocks a lot of bad stuff from executing, period, and it's not memory-resident. Has updates 1-2x per month. The link is here:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Let everyone know if you try these!

[fundonny]

Microsoft Security Essentials (Microsoft's free antivirus/anti spyware product) will be released in a couple weeks, the Beta is VERY good (very low resources, minimal system hit and so far no false positives). I've been using it for awhile now and have no issues with it. If you don't feel up to running beta software go with AVG free for now but switch when it MSE is released.

This one says that it's not available in Canada....

[justsomeguy]

I also prefer AVAST over AVG. Another one to consider is AVIRA - I've used it at work and it works very well too:

http://www.avira.com/en/download/index.html

[paperclip]

Getting an error. Will wait and see.

Curious. What's the error? Maybe I can help?

[314314]

Microsoft Security Essentials is now available in Canada. I will give it a try...

[mpare]

As of 08:42 this morning, the message I get is that it is not available in Canada.

Microsoft Security Essentials is now available in Canada. I will give it a try...

[lms]

As of 08:42 this morning, the message I get is that it is not available in Canada.

Try this:

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

[mpare]

We have a winner.

Try this:

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

[fundonny]

Put in the microsoft product. Seems to cover everything, so yay!

[jonf]

I've been using AVG for the last year, but having installed version 9, my internet became basically unusable with the link scanner activated. I'm probably going to switch over to Avast, but must say I'm already missing some of the functionality in AVG - scheduled scans etc.

[Weazl]

I switched to AVAST hoping it would be less intrusive and would speed up my PXC but I do not like it. Its not very user friendly, still slow, and just ok in my opinion. I'll be trying something else soon.

[bobblehead]

Just installed Microsoft Security Essentials last night...hope i don't have any issues...

[mpare]

My case may be unique, but I have had no trouble with Microsoft Security Essentials. I have combined it with Counterspy and McAfee Security Centre without difficulty. The latter product was already installed on the computer when it was purchased so I stuck with it. So far it too has worked fine.

Just installed Microsoft Security Essentials last night...hope i don't have any issues...

[Kiwi]

www.avast.com

Cant's say I am a sophisticated user but this works for me. Just have to renew once a year (takes about 2 minutes and done on line after you receive a notification), I get daily (at least) updates and notifications when there is something new to be aware of.

[LBH]

I always install or recommend AVG to family and friends. That said, my home computer is a MAC so no anti-virus or spyware for me.