Best Paid OR Free Antivirus

if you are running windows, then i would suggest Microsoft Security Essentials (its free!)

It's free is good - it works well and is unobtrusive is even better. I can't understand why anyone pays for antivirus/anti-malware. It's like paying for a web browser (once upon a time people did).

So Microsoft Security Essentials beats out Norton (or is equal to, I guess). I really don't mind paying if there's something better out there.

Honestly, for me, I don't care for Norton. Seems to usually be too much on system resources, and a some techs I've talked to complain that Norton seems to get broken as well. I also am not a big fan of Mcafee for the same reasons.

Personally what I used to recommend is AVG, seems stable and does it's job, but lately I've been using/recommending Avast Antivirus. Both free. Also, in conjuction with that, the other free program I use is PC tools Firewall Plus. Again, free program. But both of those programs give real time scanning, then the firewall gives you a little more protection I think than the standard Windows firewall, because you have to teach it, and it will alert you typically when things are trying to run on your pc.

Microsoft Security Essentials. Hmm. Maybe. But how much do you trust Microsoft's failed antivirus that they couldn't sell so they started giving it away? I guess that's my only thing there.

Paid: KIS. Although the latest build of KIS 2011 sucks big time. The .400 one.

Free: Avira. No match!

Avast and Microsoft Security Essentials are my top two recommendations. They are free, light on resources, offer real time updates, and very good protection.

Free would be Comodo and Avast, one and two in that order.
I do like the feature in Avast that lets you do a boot-scan before Windows loads.
Not saying that Comodo doesn't do that, I just don't know.
I have used the Avast before and would have went with Avast again,
but after trying this Comodo Internet Security with it's networking features leaves me feeling secure about my rig.

Avira or Avast, both have free versions but I'd go with the medium package for both, the Premium one has too much heuristics and a crappy firewall. Get the middle Avira with PC Tools for a firewall. Avira is like $26 and PC Tools is free. Although Avira's free version is not too bad either. freeav.com has all versions.

  What's wrong with the latest build of KIS 2011?

I dont see mention of AVG here
the free version is fairly good.
The paid version is cheap and offers further protection

AVG is a bit of a resource hog, and lets too many infections through.

I used to use AVG free myself, but Avast seems to be good and has a couple of other features I like too

I'm pretty sure ZenOK Free Antivirus is an absolute must. It is easy to use, and gets updated every hour

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey