Replacement for AVG Free?

[sonoferu]

So many years ago, I started using AVG Free for antivirus, because at the time lots of people on this forum said it was really good. I have never had a virus, and it stopped dozens of them over the years. I always got a new version when it came along, and was always careful to keep it at Free. So I've been satisfied

Now AVG has added frequent systray popups asking if I want to sign up for this or upgrade to that. When they come up they take focus, and I have to stop and close them. Big PITA.

I googled about it and apparently it's a settled business decision, and there is no setting to turn them off, and I have tried several tricks that were supposed to disable them, with no luck. So I'm thinking of changing to something else.

Just looking for quick suggestions as to which ones are recommendable these days. I just want to set it and forget it

thanks

 

[vailr]

Avira Free AV also includes similar pop-ups, but there's a free 3rd-party pop-up blocker specifically for Avira, called "BGPKiller". Avira Free AV can be downloaded at: avira.com
The installation involves 2 separate softwares: the Avira Launcher is installed first, then the actual AV is downloaded via the Avira Launcher. Avira also includes a browser add-on, which is auto installed. I don't personally recommend enabling the browser add-on, however.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I run zonealarm free and it's been pretty good for me replacing a paid for Kaspersky subscription. To be fair though almost all free services have pop ups advertising for their pay for services.

 

[John Connor]

I used them all. I think Bitdefender Free is proabbly the best out there in terms of detection and weight of the program. It's cloud-based too so no havinbg to update it and stuff. It will want your E-mail, but I have never got spammed or anything. And I use my log in info. for my aunt's computer and three other computers. Bitdefender Free will mess with debugging. So if you use game hacks or game addons that use debugging then that will be an issue. But blocking debugging is a very good thing! Bitdefender Free will also stop you from visting an infected website.

If that's not something you want to use, then there's Immunet. This is very light weight and I use it on my netbook.

But I should mention that a definition based anti-virus isn't 100% effective. You should also use some kind of sandbox like Sandboxie for your browser or Voodoo Shiled for the whole computer. There's also Shadow Defender and a whole host of other programs out there. http://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/appguard-4-x-32-64-bit.355206/

 

[John Connor]

I run zonealarm free and it's been pretty good for me replacing a paid for Kaspersky subscription. To be fair though almost all free services have pop ups advertising for their pay for services.

Never seen a pop up in Bitdefender Free.

 

[DigDog]

i have Avast and all notifications can be turned off. free ofc.

 

[coffeemonster]

I use malwarebytes and spybot, but not the active scanners. I like that they don't send their roots so deep into your system. I've been without an active scanner for 2 years. Every month or so I run full scans but have yet to find any infections.
adblockers and smart surfing is the majority of the battle.

 

[bruceb]

I also use Avast Free and you can not disable all the ads in the free version. Only in the paid version.

 

[shimpster]

I have been using 360 Total Security Essentials for over a year.
Not 360 All In One!
No pop-ups/adz
Incorporates 3 av's,bitdefender, avira, and 360
it is the best, lite on resources, easy interface

 

[PeckingOrder]

if you're just a bit experienced,

- chrome x64 + updated windows + virustotal if in doubt
- regular MBAM and HitmanPro scans

should be good enough

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I just use Windows Defender. *shrug*

For browsing I use NoScript / Ghostery and also an "adblocker" hosts file.

 

[brian_nyc]

Panda Free is really solid. I had Bitdefender Free, but didn't like that there was no option to deal with quarantined files.

 

[lxskllr]

Putting this out there for everyone's consideration...

https://www.secureaplus.com/

Haven't tried it, but I'm considering it for the secretary's machine at work. What I like about it is it should be light, and the free version is ok(100% legal) for business use. Currently using Defender. Not that good, but not that disruptive either, and I don't have much faith in av in general.

If anyone tries it, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. I don't use Windows, so it isn't as easy for me to test it, but I suppose I could load up a vm with Windows, and give it a try :^/

 

[Shamrock]

I used them all. I think Bitdefender Free is proabbly the best out there in terms of detection and weight of the program. It's cloud-based too so no havinbg to update it and stuff. It will want your E-mail, but I have never got spammed or anything. And I use my log in info. for my aunt's computer and three other computers. Bitdefender Free will mess with debugging. So if you use game hacks or game addons that use debugging then that will be an issue. But blocking debugging is a very good thing! Bitdefender Free will also stop you from visting an infected website.

If that's not something you want to use, then there's Immunet. This is very light weight and I use it on my netbook.

But I should mention that a definition based anti-virus isn't 100% effective. You should also use some kind of sandbox like Sandboxie for your browser or Voodoo Shiled for the whole computer. There's also Shadow Defender and a whole host of other programs out there. http://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/appguard-4-x-32-64-bit.355206/

Another vote here, Bit Defender is excellent. No ads, no spam. You just have to "sign up" for free.

 

[DigDog]

I also use Avast Free and you can not disable all the ads in the free version. Only in the paid version.

yes, yes you can. the only time avast pops up with an ad is once a year when the license is about to expire.

 

[xgsound]

I used them all. I think Bitdefender Free is proabbly the best out there in terms of detection and weight of the program.

I installed Bitdefender free (I think ? John Conner may have suggested it) on my machine about 2/ 3 years ago. It is free and does not expire ever. It is very light and has needed NO intervention by me after I logged in and answered the first verify email adress.
Since then I have added it to around 12 of the relatives' machines with the same results. I verify no more than 5 machines on each email account. I use the same password on each one in case a reinstall comes up.

Light weight, no interaction needed, and never expires. Perfect for me and the relatives.

Jim

 

[John Connor]

Panda Free is really solid. I had Bitdefender Free, but didn't like that there was no option to deal with quarantined files.

 

[John Connor]

Putting this out there for everyone's consideration...

https://www.secureaplus.com/

Haven't tried it, but I'm considering it for the secretary's machine at work. What I like about it is it should be light, and the free version is ok(100% legal) for business use. Currently using Defender. Not that good, but not that disruptive either, and I don't have much faith in av in general.

If anyone tries it, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. I don't use Windows, so it isn't as easy for me to test it, but I suppose I could load up a vm with Windows, and give it a try :^/

Looks interesting, but it's only free for the first year.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I registered with secureaplus and downloaded the software but haven't done anything with it.

 

[sonoferu]

Thanks all, I will take it from here

-- sonoferu

 

[lxskllr]

Looks interesting, but it's only free for the first year.

I don't know. Avast (used to?)works on one year contracts. You got to use it for a year, but you could renew when it was up. Maybe this is the same?

 

[brian_nyc]

Do you ever run into any issues where you can't retrieve a file? Maybe they've changed some things since I last used it then. But I ran into this: https://forum.bitdefender.com/index.php?showtopic=57506 and was not pleased. I liked it otherwise though, I'd go back to it probably if that's all good now.

 

[John Connor]

Ah, yeah, I think I had that problem before. In my case it was a game hack or injector. I haven't had it happen since. Maybe the definitions are different now.

If it does happen, this may be a viable soltion from a poster on that page you linked.

Log on to Windows in Safe mode via F8. BDF in this mode will not work. Rename the file extension is locked .gzquar to the original. Then copy the file to a USB flash drive. Immediately, you can send the file to the lab with a diagnosis of "false positive" and wait for it will bring to the exceptions. In the case of confidential data it certainly should not.

 

[williamsbarbara]

I'm open to suggestions. Maybe the definitions are different now.

 

[TeknoBug]

Been hearing good things about Panda.