Free antivirus software and firewall.

[ironk]

When searching on google, I came upon this site:

http://www.freebyte.com/antivirus/

 

[mindslash]

excellent post -- have to install these on my bro's pc -- maybe he'll stop downloading some of the virus (or rather they will still get downloaded -- they'll just be killed every time)

 

[WarSong]

Link

 

[WarSong]

wow thats actually a pretty good site. Thanks man

 

[hudster]

that Mail Washer program looks pretty cool...I'll definitely be checking that out. thanks.


-hudster

 

[jonnashville]

You gotta be careful with some of those free and not-so-free AV apps. Most aren't updated like the commercial products, and some miss some viruses completely. A complete review is in the June 11 PC Magazine. Norton is still the hands-down winner.

 

[dpm]

hey, nice site! thanks.

i still miss InnoculateIT, though...

 

[ironk]

Most aren't updated like the commercial products, and some miss some viruses completely.

On the contrary, they are updated frequently. Check their websites. Some protection is better than none.

 

[WarSong]

Some protection is better than none.

 

[atsang]

Originally posted by: jonnashville
You gotta be careful with some of those free and not-so-free AV apps. Most aren't updated like the commercial products, and some miss some viruses completely. A complete review is in the June 11 PC Magazine. Norton is still the hands-down winner.

yeah but norton and other comercial av apps cost money; thats what makes people look for these free av apps

 

[mechBgon]

Here's another free antivirus software which some of my IT friends here, such as RaySun2Be, are very pleased with: Grisoft AVG

Thread with more discussion of AVG

Edit: and ZoneAlarm is a "perpetual Hot Deal" on free firewall software too.

 

[unihorn]

yeah but norton and other comercial av apps cost money

Actually Norton and Mcafee are often free after rebate. Lately, there have been quite a few free AR Norton deals.

 

[daveshel]

You had better protection against the recent W32.Klez with an obscure product. It disabled Norton and McAfee (and others).

 

[mechBgon]

You had better protection against the recent W32.Klez with an obscure product. It disabled Norton and McAfee (and others).

It is also a good idea to give your antivirus software a non-default directory. I put mine in C:\Scanner. Viruses/worms/trojans sometimes try to delete files in the default installation directories for major brands of AV software.

 

[Steelwells]

Not only a hot deal, but some good tips as well.

Thanks.

 

[Night201]

Yeah, Staples has a $20 rebate for NAV. So the total is like $20 after rebate. Not sure if that is just Staples, but still a good deal.

 

[msh111]

Great point mechBgon, I didn't think of that.

It is also a good idea to give your antivirus software a non-default directory. I put mine in C:\Scanner. Viruses/worms/trojans sometimes try to delete files in the default installation directories for major brands of AV software.

 

[MegaNerd]

ZoneAlarm is a "perpetual Hot Deal" on free firewall software too.

Actually I think it's the "gold standard" for free firewall software. It always passes the tests at

grc.com with flying colors. It always flags upgrades of IE or Netscape, which keeps the worms from pretending to be a legitimate program.

One of these days I'll get around to buying ZA pro, just to show my appreciation!

MN

 

[h0vic]

Even if Norton is free after MIR, you still have to pay a yearly subscription fee after the first year.

I recommend Tiny Personal Firewall (www.tinysoftware.com) over ZoneAlarm if you want more control.

 

[esquared]

I've been using AVG for 9-10 months now and it's great. They update 2-4 times per month and if there's an outbreak on a new virus, they've been known to update the next day even if they just released an update. If they stated charging, I would pay to stick with Grisoft AVG.

I had it with McAfee and went searching elsewhere. Versions 5 and 6 caused me to format my drive after each installed version. Never again.

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: h0vic
Even if Norton is free after MIR, you still have to pay a yearly subscription fee after the first year.

Yeah, but then you just get another free-after-rebate copy of Norton.

ZoneAlarm rocks!

 

[nekote]

2¢

I've had others.
For +/- a year or so, I've been using free AVG anti-virus from Grisoft and Tiny Personal FireWall (free), as well as an SMC7004BR personal hardware firewall / router.

I believe they all work well and I recommend them all.

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: mechBgon<brIt is also a good idea to give your antivirus software a non-default directory. I put mine in C:\Scanner. Viruses/worms/trojans sometimes try to delete files in the default installation directories for major brands of AV software.

That is an excellent idea, but do viruses that disable the AV software look for a specific directory or a certain set of files? If the latter, then changing the default directory is not going to curb the virus.

 

[FreebieBoy]

BETTER to have some protection than none i am can'ta ffor dto pay 60bucks for NAV or those expensive programs.

 

[randomlinh]

if any of you attend a university, see if they don't offer you some free version of mcafee or NAV.