Best free Anti-Virus

**minimarko** · January 3rd, 2006, 11:51 AM

Hey everyone, happy new year.

I've recently decided I"ve had enough with Norton Anti-Virus's subscription prices (costs almost the same to renew your subscription for virus updates as it does to pay for the program), and have decided to look somewhere else.

Now I realize "Using Norton Anti-Virus, you suck!", but that's not the point now is it.

So, I'm looking into free anti-virus because from what I've read they are just as good, if not better then alot of the pay-for-programs.

I just need some opinions: What is the best free Anti-Virus program? So far I've read that Nod32, AVG Free, Avast, and AntiVir Personal are the top rated.

**Auggie2k** · January 3rd, 2006, 11:59 AM

Absolutely go with NOD32. It's a great program, very quick and reliable, easy to understand and NOT a memory hog like Norton.

**mountain_rage** · January 3rd, 2006, 12:19 PM

Nod32 is the leader, but its not technically free. If you want free virus scanner I would say go with avg and after that avast.

**lifehacker** · January 3rd, 2006, 12:24 PM

NOD32 is by far the best

**Andrew110** · January 3rd, 2006, 01:20 PM

I use the free Avast and it hasn't let me down yet.

**Potato** · January 3rd, 2006, 01:23 PM

I went through hell and back with Nod32, but maybe it was just me.

**tackdaddy** · January 3rd, 2006, 01:24 PM

avast is really good, here is a link..........http://www.avast.com/
download the free home version.

**Malakai1911** · January 3rd, 2006, 01:53 PM

Wow this is the first time in a long time I've seen a thread where everyone agrees.

Best AV: Nod32
Best free AV: Avast!

You can get nod32 for free by getting the 30 day trial and finding "nod32fix" (search google).

**shawners** · January 3rd, 2006, 02:24 PM

I use norton.. Download***** and it has a kEYGEN, a serial if you will. ITS FREE.. and you get over 2200 days.. ANd upgrade til new release comes out in 3 years. =)
Why do people miss the obvious? Its a file sharing site, free stuff is scattered through the whole web.

Shame on you, Shawners!!

**Excrement_Cranium** · January 3rd, 2006, 02:44 PM

I haven't even heard of NOD32... I use AVG... and used to use Anti-Vir.

AVG has kept me clean for about a year.

**mcovey** · January 3rd, 2006, 03:10 PM

I use AVG as well. Works great!

**Omyn** · January 3rd, 2006, 03:28 PM

AVG is good, but I give credit where credit is due...

I put down hard cash for my 1 Yr subscription for NOD32 just because it wipes the floor with anything out there, no AV is better than it.

**condorloco** · January 3rd, 2006, 04:41 PM

Clamwin free antivirus in my opinion is the best and is absolutely free. Daily updates too
http://www.clamwin.com/

**RACKnRAIL** · January 3rd, 2006, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by condorloco

Clamwin free antivirus in my opinion is the best and is absolutely free. Daily updates too
http://www.clamwin.com/

I have never heard of this anti-virus called clamwin.

I have used Symantec's CE anti-virus which never expires. I know it's not really free, but like mentioned, it can be acquired. It hasn't failed me. I find Norton's regular version to be very hard on system resources.

I really like nod32, I still use it on one stand alone puter of mine. No problems.

I always recommend AVG as the very best in free software, especially since V.7.

I personally haven't used Avast. It did let my friend down and I only have his opinion to provide.

**Malakai1911** · January 3rd, 2006, 05:36 PM

www.av-comparatives.org is currently, in my opinion, the best independent testing site on the internet for AntiVirus software right now.

There are two different tests, so check on both the "On-demand" and the "Retrospective/ProActive" test.

Nod32, in my view, looks like the best scanner tested.
Avast! clearly beasts AVG in both tests by a sizable amount.

Regarding ClamWin... ClamAV is a nice free solution for linux, and on mailservers, but for the time being I would be leery of using it as my desktop scanner.