26 Feb 2015

A question about : Free Anti Virus Software

With a new Internet worm in the news this week. Decided I should do something about updating my anti-virus software but didn't want to pay for it. Decided to start with a trawl using Google and the key words Anti Virus.

A sponsored link from OpiStat (https://www.opistat.com/mp/registrati...amp;country=30)immediately caught my eye as it promised free AV software and updates ("worth Ј41&quottitle=Wink for completing a survey. The software is from a company called Norman which I wasn't familiar with although they claim to have 12 M customers. Checked out how successful the software was at detecting virus's at https://www.virusbtn.com/index.xml and it seems ok when compared with other suppliers.

You're "invited" to fill in a questionnaire while the software downloads but there weren't that many questions and I'd completed it by the time the software downloaded.

Slightly worried about how much spam I'll get (but that's why I used a throw away e-mail address). Suspect you could use a false name and postal address too if you're concerned about junk mail as there didn't seem to be a check on valid address/postcode.

There must be other places to get free anti-virus software too but some of them will be limited to 30 day free trials. The Halifax will also give it to you free if you have an internet account with them (but when I last checked they didn't supply software compatible with Windows XP).

The very good news is that I scanned my machine and didn't find any virus/worm ;D

Best answers:

  • First, Halifax anti-virus software (PC-Cillin 2000 by Trend) does work with Windows XP. We have both XP and Win 98 at home (different machines) and the virus checker works fine on both, downloading updates every day or two automatically, so we always have the latest virus definitions. You have to download the XP version from a particular place, but I know that the Halifax programme does work with Win XP.
    Second, Optistat can be described as spyware. True, you don't pay any money for it, but read this from their website:
    Quote:
  • Hi people
    As a network and systems administrator I would strongly reccomend AVG by Grisoft. This is an excellent peice of AV s/w.
    The s/w is free for personal (non commercial) use, sure if has a few of the advanced features disabled but if you want some genuinely FREE, reliable, tried & tested s/w you wont go wrong with this.
    Check out https://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
    Ben
  • Thanks for the link to Grisoft !!! Any idea how often they update their virus definitions though ???
  • I use Grisoft, found it to be excellent, virus datadase updated every 3-4 days on average.
    Dean
  • Me too. Its really good as long as you remember to keep updating it (ahem) :-[
  • I use AVG (Grisoft) too and have sent it out as a previous money tip (its in the archives.) !In fact its in my list of ones to resend out again.
    Martin
  • Sadly Grisofts AVG Free edition is coming to the end of its life. The new paid for edition (version 7) has been launched and theres no plans to make a free version.
    Not sure how long they will keep sending out updates, but another free AV is free-av.com only difference is you have to manually update it.
    Hope thats of some use
  • Hi,
    I am student teacher (ahem...mature, of course !), who will 'specialise in ICT' and so I have built up a few 'contacts' here and there...here are a few 'freebies' re software for viruses and other software that can help to eliminate spyware (ad's, pop-ups and the like carry all sorts!!):
    [list][*] AVG from Grisoft is a more than adequate virus scanner:
    https://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php
    [list][*] This one cleans your pc (of many of the most common viruses) and can sit alongside any other checker but is quick and easy to use:
    https://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/
    [list][*] SPYBOT SEARCH AND DESTROY - A relatively easy and free download. This software, detects all offending pop-ups and ads that are placed on to your PC (you will be suprised what you have got on there you dont know about) :
    https://download.com.com/3000-2144-10194058.html
    [list][*] A free firewall - essentail these days. Zone Alarm from Zone Labs :
    https://download.com.com/3000-2092-10...amp;!!!!!button
  • Spyware Blaster. Prevents installation of many of the spyware programs set up by advertisers - (have a look at the site, it will explain better. I was shocked when I saw exactly what just browsing on the internet picks up!):
    https://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
    [move]All free!![/move]
    Happy tekking
    :P
  • Wonderful post! thank you
  • ;D
    Brilliant! Thanks.
    It is disgraceful how much you find on your PC that has been put there by these companies. ALL companies, and EVERY site too, even without your knowledge! I think it is about time some rules were laid down about this >
    It's great that all these site / downloads are free though. I have certainly had my eyes opened.
    Peter
  • Running on XP you get pop-ups unless you make a few simple changes to your computer.
    Companies send pop-ups and entice you into buying expensive software to stop it.
    All I did to stop pop-ups was type in "endads" into google, in there a guy has highlighted this scam and in his own way tells anyone how to easily STOP POP-UPS FOREVER.
    It was Microsofts way of opening up the internet to all, they didn't think about the "ne'er do wells" who want to make a quick buck out of us all.
    Best regards
    Frankkk
  • Sophos antivirus is also spyware free. The "beta" version is free - see www.sophos.com. You can subscribe for email updates, which Sophos seems to issue pretty promptly.
  • A lot of people dont realise the damage that can be caused to their PCs and just what level of spying capability companies have - some can even access your passwords etc by installing undesirable system invaders on your hard drive from you simply surfing on the net! In fact, your every action can be 'recorded' by these companies and they also have the potential for giving you a nasty virus without even opening an email !
    Most of the best spyware / pop-up destroyers can block adware servers from your computer as well as
    blocking spyware/tracking cookies and potential dial-up servers.
    And, dont think it is only those 'nasty' sites that do this...even your common or garden ones do it to some degree. For more info have a look at...
    https://www.spyware.co.uk/
    Happy surfin' ;D
    Jazz :-*
  • ???
    Not being very computer compatible i just typed Popups into the Google search engine. Up came lots of Popup blasters such as Ziller for example - but they were all demanding $29 - but at the bottom of the page Google has it's own answer - the Google tool bar. By installing it following their easy instructions it has blocked 41 popup ads in a couple of days - I know because it tells you on the tool bar.
  • There is also another thread on free popup blockers in the anything else folder
    https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi...num=1061226707
  • thanks everyone - especially Jazzeeee. have duly downloaded as much of the stuff as my PC will allow - don;t have administrator priveliges. now i know the viruses i'm dealing with i can hand it back to them to sort out!
    thanks again - Rach.
  • On the subject of ant-virus, there is a site where you can check your pc online https://housecall.trendmicro.com/hous...start_corp.asp
    It's not designed to replace progs' installed on your pc, but I know of one case where it found a virus, the fully updated anti-virus software has missed. I run it about once a month as a back-up.
  • Today`s Times
    Re: virus. A threat to your PC or licence to print money?
    By Anthony Browne
    COMPUTER software companies have been accused of failing to stamp out viruses because they make so much money selling programmes to combat them.
    Companies that sell antivirus programmes were also accused of choosing catchy names for the viruses, so they get more publicity.
    The row, which reflects the millennium bug furore, when computer experts were accused of hyping the problem to generate work, has erupted after the SoBig.F virus was declared the biggest ever, with e-mail inboxes clogged up around the world. The internet provider AOL said it had stopped more than 23 million copies of the virus.
    BT, Britain’s biggest phone company, was yesterday warning internet service providers that its fast internet broadband network was “suffering intermittent degradation of service” because of the extra traffic the virus had generated.
    Yesterday Nick Scales, chief executive of software company Avecho, which also makes anti-virus programmes, said the industry had a vested commercial interest in letting the virus attacks continue: “It’s complacent, silly and I’d even go so far as to say there is a cartel there. There is a triangle between the virus writers who get the kudos, the anti-virus software companies and the technical writers who write about it.”
    The commercial director of Avecho, Simon Copeland, said that people in other anti-virus companies had told him they chose deliberately provocative names in order to get publicity. “They think its not bad to get some publicity because it scares everyone into buying their product.”
    But the claims were denied by other software companies. Simon Conant, of Microsoft, said: “That’s like saying that fire departments want fires.”
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