AVG Freeware

[Fortune]

Hi,

I recently got a huge virus on my PC even though i had both Spy Sweeper and Norton AntiVirus. - i seriously do not recomend Spy Sweeper as it seriously slowed down the computer speed especially at the start at took about 3 minutes to load - Fortunatly i managed to back up all my work and files but not applications because my portable harddrive is not very big. :)

Anyway, I took my PC to a computer company and they sorted the whole thing out but the whole memory was wiped and all applications deleted. When i got my PC back after a while they had installed AVG Freeware as a protection software and i was wondering if I should keep it or go back to the Norton - of course the advantage is that i dont have to pay!

I saw Azzer (i think) mention that this is ok but what are people's views? Is it safe? It doesnt seem to give me the same range of options as on Norton and does it scan incoming threats like Hackers?

Fortune

[atsanjose]

http://www.bushtarion.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=82
i use avast for over a year now i never had any trouble with virusses (well okay once but that was my own stupid fault, but that one only messed up my spybot sd :()

+ there was a thread somewhere on old forums which compares avast with avg (both freeware) but i cant find it (translation: i'm to lazy to search :P)

[Fortune]

thanks a lot, juest having a lot at it now!

[Fortune]

do i have to get a firewall as well or is that built in or is windows firewall ok?

[BlackWolf]

+ there was a thread somewhere on old forums which compares avast with avg (both freeware) but i cant find it (translation: i'm to lazy to search :P)
It has been moved to these new forums and can be found from here...
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=82 (http://www.bushtarion.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=82)

And to be precise post is this:
I pologiese rudeness of my last post after i read it started to feel it was really offencive and all. Didnt mean to.

http://www.av-comparatives.org/
Next is Finnish guy who tested all kind of virus tools on his own comp.
http://koti.mbnet.fi/pattaya1/testitulo ... 112007.htm (http://koti.mbnet.fi/pattaya1/testitulokset_03112007.htm) <--- link to results some of it is in finnish but at the bottom of that huge page are results which are pretty far from what you see on normal test results.

[Fortune]

cheers BW. The second one, despite being in Finnish was easily the most helpful and as a result i have uninstalled my AVG and installed Avast which has a horrible music like player interface :(

Sorry to ask again but do i have to get a firewall too or is windows ok?

[BlackWolf]

i would get firewall instead of virus scanner.
Actually my 2nd comp is running atm without virus scanner but has decent firewall installed.
You see virus requires you to download virus to your computer and running it. In for example email addon, in some program etc. So basicly if you stay out of such stuff you should be fine for time to come.
Firewall is that what protects you against attackers who tries to take over your computer. And Windows firewall is not good.
Tho they say that in SP3 its finally getting decent.

[Bunion]

Just to throw my oar in.

I've used AVG (http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe) and Zone Alarm (http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp) for YEARS! Finally got fed up with ZA blocking anything and anything under the sun, especially utorrent, and switched to Sygate (http://www.simtel.net/product.download.php?id=53687&url=DR:687576733a303166646f3076696e76686c2f7068743072786230756c6d75676f6e667632776a703c3530756863747 b762f7472692e667a68&itn=1&SiteID=simtel.net&mirrorsite=Worldwide%20Content%20Distribution%20Network&fname=download-spf.exe.exe&pname=Sygate%20Personal%20Firewall). For spyware I use Adaware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php).

[Fortune]

thanks for your comments....

i have the computer capability to be able to have both and i think that its always better to be safe then sorry.

as Azzer was correct about Avast being the best i'll try the recomendation that he gives......

but a new question is raised..........do i need spyware protection?

Fortune

[Lupus]

norton sucks trust AVG is good but for complete protection Macaffe but it slows ur comp down horribly!! i use AVG best compromise, and AVG free ware is good but the bought stuff is more comprehensive

[pinpower]

AVG is the shizzle!

i also use adaware as well....never had any problems

[Fortune]

lol....tbh i think both Avast and AVG do pretty much as well as each other now i've looked at it a bit closer thanks to BW's link and any real difference is marginal.....i'll stick with Avast now but i have to say again the interface is totally shocking

[dafe]

your never save for the real hackers, but i been using avg for a while now and for a free anti virus it does a pretty good job