Anti-virus costs

[GREENBACK]

You're welcome. Happy to give the advice. That will be $74.89, please.

LOL. Check's in the mail.

[frito833]

Ex AVG user here. I love Microsoft's Security Essentials because it is free and has a light foot print. Only requirement is a legit copy of Windows. Here's the link for it. http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

[poundwise]

Also check Avast! Home (free) for anti-virus and Spywareblaster (free) for additional spyware/adware protection.

[cicy33]

I use AVG. It is free and I've never had a problem. I know many, many other people who use it also. I would not spend $75/year for Norton.

I used AVG for several years with no issues and then about 6 months ago I got a trojan that AVG did not catch. I decided it was time to get a little better virus protector. so be aware that AVG is free but not perfect. I don't frequent places like facebook, music download sites, stuff like that. I do go to myspace but only to view mine and my families pictures and stuff. I don't chat with people so pretty much I am very careful.

[skylog]

i have been using kaspersky anti-virus (not the suite product they offer) for 4 years now, and i love the product. the product usually lists anywhere from $30-60, which is a little more than i want to spend, but the first time i bought it was over 'black friday' for $50 but they had a free after rebate deal. i went for it and got the refund with no issue.

that said, rebates are rebates. i would rather avoid them. the following year, at black friday, i noticed it was 9.99 at best buy for three users. i bought two, as their policy is if you have a vaild code you can just put it in when the other is done and you can always update to their newest software. so, now i have a year of service "in the bank" knowing i can just update to the newest software when it is offered. each year, i just buy another year keeping myself "ahead" one year.

it is not free as some of the other suggestions here, but i love the product and $9.99 is a fair price for me for a year of protection. i should add that i have found that the software is often on sale, just not over black friday.

[DC Metro Crab]

Ex AVG user here. I love Microsoft's Security Essentials because it is free and has a light foot print. Only requirement is a legit copy of Windows. Here's the link for it. http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

Just read in Gizmodo that the anti malware test group AV-Comparatives.org cited MSE as one of the best performing free antivirus programs out there. I've been using avast! for 5+ years and am eager to move to MSE. While avast! does a great job blocking infections, it also slows down your OS tremendously. Norton and McAfee in comparison, is non-detectable in everyday use which is how I'm hoping MSE will perform like.

[poundwise]

While avast! does a great job blocking infections, it also slows down your OS tremendously. Norton and McAfee in comparison, is non-detectable in everyday use which is how I'm hoping MSE will perform like.

I would disagree strongly that Norton and McAfee are non-detectable. They are each resource hogs and will drag down virtually any system. McAfee, in particular, will devour available memory.

avast! will as well if you use the standard settings and enable all of the modules. (avast! uses a series of modules to provide protection; each can be enabled/disabled or uninstalled if not needed.) I recommend avast! with only the Web Shield and Internet Mail modules installed and active. (Unless you use IM or P2P software, then I suggest activating those modules as well.) This means any site you go to, anything you download (wittingly or otherwise), any e-mail attachment, etc. is monitored and you are protected. Other things, like plugging in an USB drive, etc. will not be scanned automatically but can be manually scanned. This provides solid protection while affecting the speed of a computer minimally. Constant scanning of each file accessed is what slows down avast!, Norton, McAfee, and all other virus programs.

MSE may be a good all around option; I don't know much about it yet. Even if so, I would likely still install Spyware Blaster as well.

[Saving_spree]

Panda cloud anti virus and AVG anti virus are providing free editions.. It is really good and I don't have any problems..