Hi,

 

 

 

Currently I have AVG. It has a scheduled scan every day at noon but I often don't have my computer running at that time. I estimate it runs a full scan about once or twice a week. It almost never comes up with a virus but usually a bunch of ''warnings''. I always delete them all. I also have Spybot Search and Destroy, which I run about once every two weeks. it usually doesn't come up with anything AVG missed. I also have this nifty little program called Crap Cleaner. If I haven't run it for like a month it'll often get rid of like 4gb worth of junk on my computer.

 

 

 

So, what do you guys recommend? Should I keep AVG or switch to another (free) virus scanner? And do you recommend and programs that I don't yet have? Just to remind you, I have AVG, Spybot, and this Crap Cleaner program. (I don't think Crap Cleaner does anything for safety though, or am I wrong here?

 

 

 

Looking forward to your replies.

At the moment AVG is getting a bad rap, but I've not had too much trouble with it myself.

 

Spybot S&D is fine, but again is getting a bad rep.

 

CCleaner just gets rid of junk files and doesn't really protect you at all.

 

 

 

Malwarebytes AntiMalware and SuperAntiSpyware are currently 2 of the best anti mal/spy/ad ware tools available for free.

 

If you want to replace AVG Avast is currently rated one of the best free AV's.

Ok I'll get Avast. Just to try something new lol. Those other programs you mentioned, will they slow my computer down a lot?

Avast is still pretty good but is falling down. AVG has been a bad antivirus for quite some time now. I would suggest Avira Antivir if you want a good free antivirus.

The thing I like about AVG is that they're not really trying to sell their paid version to me too much. If I download Avast or Avira, will I get like annoying pop-ups or reminders to get a subsription or something all the time?

Currently here's what I am using:

 

 

 

Avast (Antivirus)

 

Comodo (Firewall)

 

Ad-Aware (Anti-Spyware)

 

Windows Defender (Anti-Spyware)

 

 

 

That little lot keeps me pretty darned safe.

What is Windows Defender? Is that free? Also, what exactly does a firewall do?

The thing I like about AVG is that they're not really trying to sell their paid version to me too much. If I download Avast or Avira, will I get like annoying pop-ups or reminders to get a subsription or something all the time?

 

 

 

Yes, but you can deactivate it in Avira.

If you aren't lazy a simple Google search will tell you how to deactivate the adverts in Avira. It's much better than AVG, it scans faster (at least I found so) and it picks up more things.

Alright so I'm going for Avira. So if I get me a firewall and maybe some more spyware stuff, am I not leaving any big gaps?

The thing I like about AVG is that they're not really trying to sell their paid version to me too much. If I download Avast or Avira, will I get like annoying pop-ups or reminders to get a subsription or something all the time?

 

 

 

I'm using Avast! and never got pop-ups for the paid version.

 

 

 

So for me it's:

 

 

 

Avast (Anti-Virus)

 

ZoneAlarm (FireWall)

 

Spybot S&D (Anti Spyware)

 

Windows Defender (Anti Spyware)

 

 

 

NEVER got any virus trojan or anything that could mess my comp up since I've been using that combination.

zonealarm is a great firewall

 

but seriously, AVG has never been good. if you want to be safe you gotta pay for sym.

zonealarm is a great firewall

 

but seriously, AVG has never been good. if you want to be safe you gotta pay for sym.

 

 

 

AVG was a very good AV until summer 2008. And no, you don't have to pay for AV software to be protected.

Just because you have to pay money for something doesn't make it better :roll:

 

 

 

Zone Alarm is useful firewall and Ad-Aware is also good as anti-spyware. Tbh I don't think Windows defender is going to help a great deal.

I never understood how you could possibly have all of those eat up resources on your computer. Even when I was using Windows, I only had Avira. Which the only thing it ever noticed were cookies.

I never understood how you could possibly have all of those eat up resources on your computer. Even when I was using Windows, I only had Avira. Which the only thing it ever noticed were cookies.

 

 

 

Spybot:S&D, Ad-aware (and Win defender i think too) don't need to be 24/7 active, rather you just do on demand scans. Having Comodo+Avira active, and the above programs in on-demand doesn't slow a machine down.

Thanks, bought a laptop just now, it will also help me.

Thanks for your replies everyone. I think I know everything I need to know now.

At the moment, I'm using avast! and Windows Firewall.

 

 

 

Dedicated software firewalls annoy the hell out of me.