Free AntiVirus

Firstly, I have to say, I don't understand why so many people recommend MSE when there are far better alternatives. MSE ranks middle of the road at best, hardly top of the range.
The other thing I wanted to say is that I can't believe that people are still worried about their AV software using RAM. I have 8gigs! If my AV needs 50megs to protect me then it's welcome to it. 4GB is becoming standard these days but people still complain that AV software "hogs resources". If you are so concerned about your system resources, you have bigger problems than which AV to use.

SevenNerd said:

I also love MSE.. but has any1 used the new norton antivirus 2011? It's absolutely insane... Installs under 1 minute and only uses 20MB of ram on idle! MSE uses about 75-80!

NIS is very good.
The only downside is that is a subscription based AV solution, but does have a lot more extra features for those who want them.

I love it and it has kept my PCs clean and trouble free. IMHO, its worth the cost.
Even the little things it does such as remove all tracking cookies when the PC is at idle.
While they aren't actually a threat, I do not want them there, and neither does NIS.

Although not all will agree.


However, as many have said and will say around here, no AV solution is 100% foolproof. The User still needs to be cautious of where they go and what they download/instal.

While some may defend better than others, they can not stop something specifically allowed by the user.



I too am in the same camp that, If you are worried about how much RAM your AV or OS is using (Aside for apps with obvious memory leaks), its likely time for a Hardware Upgrade.

tw33k said:

Firstly, I have to say, I don't understand why so many people recommend MSE when there are far better alternatives. MSE ranks middle of the road at best, hardly top of the range.
The other thing I wanted to say is that I can't believe that people are still worried about their AV software using RAM. I have 8gigs! If my AV needs 50megs to protect me then it's welcome to it. 4GB is becoming standard these days but people still complain that AV software "hogs resources". If you are so concerned about your system resources, you have bigger problems than which AV to use.

I will try to answer that for you. Many third party antivirus programs, free and paid, cause BOSD's on some, not all Win 7 systems. My experience with BSOD analysis is that MSE causes almost zero problems. Avast is next. All of the third party AV programs have caused and do cause problems with the possible exception of Avast. Based on my experience I recommend MSE or Avast.

There are valid reasons for this. It has to do with Win 7's increased security. Here is JC Griffith's, MS MVP and noted expert on Window's OS's, theory. He is a member here. Note that this applies mainly to security suites; but carries over to stand alone security programs.

My theory revolves around the enhanced security that came about in Vista when the user tokens were split. A "user-admin" account in Vista & Windows 7 runs with a single user token. When full admin rights are needed, elevation occurs via consent.exe (UAC) and the 2nd token is obtained for the particular function requiring full admin permission. Only the single Hidden Admin user account (SID = x-500) runs with both user tokens in Vista & Windows 7.

Certain system services run under the "Local Account". The firewall drivers run in kernel mode under NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM and can block local NETBIOS ports used by system services, resulting in APPHANGs, which after 30000ms, becomes an APPCRASH.
- Windows Explorer or IE8 screen background fading white
- small blue circle spinning endlessly
- The phrase "..Not Responding..." appears
- WERCON screen appears and asks about reporting, close program, check online for solution, restart the crashing app, etc...

In XP, all admin accounts run with 2 user tokens = full admin rights; hence the reason Zone Alarm, NIS, KIS, MIS, N360, et al., do not have problems. Only 1 level of security to deal with.

I have always held that the differing levels of security in Vista/ Windows 7 make it extremely difficult for Internet Security Suites to function normally (as in XP).

Food for thought!
J. C. Griffith

Virtually every security suite out there, including the latest versions, has caused problems with some Win 7 systems. Some are worse than others.

This apples to third party firewalls, too. Some are worst than others. In my experience, ZA is the worst followed by McAfee. I have seen no problems caused by Windows Firewall and almost none by Comodo and PC Tools firewalls.

This is my experience in working with BSOD's. It is not scientific nor have I researched it. It is certainly not based on protection level reports (which I pay very little attention to).

Madtownidiot
I excuse you and some others from the following. Your PC couldnt catch anything in a Bubonic Plague epidemic.
I am clueless to your HIPS etc. I'm glad you figured it all out for yourself.
Please don't explain it all here for me I know where it is posted.
Mike

HIPS and some of the other advanced secutity options make absolutely no sense to me.
Read the stuff several times and it is just over my head. The more I read the more confused.

So I run MSE and Avast 5.
They both love each other on Windows 7 and XP.

They like each other so much they got married on my PC.

I drag out the Malwarebytes once a week to run a scan.
Malwarebytes has NEVER found a thing on my sytem.

So MSE and Avast 5 are blocking EVERYTHING!

Why run two compatible AV's you may ask? Because it works!
No BSODS no hangs it just works

Those of you who say just run MSE. Guess what it won't catch everything.

Those against MSE. Guess what your suggestions won't catch everything either.

No one AV will detect everything. Go Google the tests if they aren't already listed in this thread.

Cover your butt and it won't get bit!!!!

MSE and Avast are the exceptions to the rule about never running to AV programs simultaneously. Avast was was programmed to be compatible with MSE.

I'm not saying everyone should run both.

If you want the extra protection it is available.....AND it is easy to use.


Comodo and HIPS seems to work great but the majority of people would be as lost as I am trying to use them.

MSE plus Avast5 makes the best compromise for the majority of people who are clueless on the advanced security such as HIPS.


MY 2 cents.

Mike

...and EAM noted by Hackerman.

All this arguing is fine between all you gurus.

It is totally confusing for the new people posting and the non-subscribers trying to learn something.
You want to have a AV/Security debate start a thread in the VIP section.
Not here on the main forum.

Tacky doing this once or twice a week.

My 2 cents again.
Mike