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View Full Version : Computer Question: Anti-Virus programs?

Michael Michigan
09-10-2004, 11:24 PM
I just spent a couple of hours trying to get a bunch of spyware, ad-ware and trojans off a friend of my wife's machine.

She has teen-age kids and her machine had everything, but I think most of it is gone.

With my very limited knowledge, I think now have her set up with everything except for an anti-virus program.

This gal has zero cash, just bought a new house, yada, yada, so I tried

http://www.free-av.com/

But I could not get it to completely load. (I have no idea why)

Any others anyone can suggest?

Thanks.
PastorMikH
09-10-2004, 11:25 PM
www.grisoft.com


it's free and works well for me
the Talking Can
09-10-2004, 11:26 PM
www.grisoft.com


it's free and works well for me

yup....
morphius
09-10-2004, 11:26 PM
http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_index.php

AVG
Michael Michigan
09-10-2004, 11:32 PM
Great--thanks guys.
htismaqe
09-11-2004, 05:46 AM
What those guys said.

AVG is by far the best A/V program out there, free or not.
Manila-Chief
09-11-2004, 06:39 AM
www.grisoft.com


it's free and works well for me

I fully agree!!

I've paid for Nortons but I think AVG works better!!
ROYC75
09-11-2004, 07:24 AM
When you are done with all that, check it free with this.............
http://www.trendmicro.com/en/products/us/personal.htm

Click on House Call .... It will download a free version to check your PC, it will tell you what you have left to clean or if you are clean. Yes, it does check for viruses, adware, spyware, etc.

They you can go from there.
PastorMikH
09-11-2004, 07:43 AM
When you are done with all that, check it free with this.............
http://www.trendmicro.com/en/products/us/personal.htm

Click on House Call .... It will download a free version to check your PC, it will tell you what you have left to clean or if you are clean. Yes, it does check for viruses, adware, spyware, etc.

They you can go from there.



Another excelent program. I used to run that all the time on my PCs. When I bought one of my computers a few years back it came with McAfree - the updated version didn't nail viruses that the year-old copy of PC-cillin nailed. Switched to AVG when I found about about the email scanning. This is the program I run when something gets thrown at me that AVG struggles with.
38yrsfan
09-11-2004, 08:33 AM
Doe AVG have a firewall component as well?
ROYC75
09-11-2004, 08:54 AM
Doe AVG have a firewall component as well?

The free version does not, not sure about the pricey one.

I have a external firewall / router set up on mine and use the free version with no problems !
Frosty
09-11-2004, 12:16 PM
Another free one is ClamWin (http://www.clamwin.com/) . I like it better than AVG, partly because you don't have to jump through all the registration hoops. It has a tiny footprint, updates automatically, has scheduled scans and integrates into Outlook.
Michael Michigan
09-11-2004, 12:40 PM
Another free one is ClamWin (http://www.clamwin.com/) . I like it better than AVG, partly because you don't have to jump through all the registration hoops. It has a tiny footprint, updates automatically, has scheduled scans and integrates into Outlook.

Registration hoops?

Just name and addy, stuff like that?
Frosty
09-11-2004, 01:45 PM
Registration hoops?

Just name and addy, stuff like that?

Last time I used it, you had to enter in your e-mail addy and they would send you a key. Probably not an issue for most people, but I have a lot of computers and it's easier to download one file and distribute it that way, rather than screwing around with keys.

I'm not saying AVG is bad; just throwing out an alternative.
Michael Michigan
09-11-2004, 03:56 PM
Last time I used it, you had to enter in your e-mail addy and they would send you a key. Probably not an issue for most people, but I have a lot of computers and it's easier to download one file and distribute it that way, rather than screwing around with keys.

I'm not saying AVG is bad; just throwing out an alternative.

Okay--thanks. I don't think she'll mind that.


And thanks for all the help guys.
jersey
09-11-2004, 04:57 PM
What those guys said.

AVG is by far the best A/V program out there, free or not.

I don't normally do a "me-too" post, but I agree with everyone. AVG is the way to go, and I'm saying this as a Microsoft certified trainer.

-jersey
Over-Head
09-11-2004, 04:59 PM
I just ran house Call, it found 6 trojens my Norton missed. :harumph:
Hydrae
09-11-2004, 05:19 PM
Doe AVG have a firewall component as well?


For a firewall, go with Zone Alarm. As with AVG it has a professional version but the free version has done just fine for me for the last several years. Anyone with a DSL setup should have Zone Alarm, AVG, Spybot and Ad-Aware (these are all freeware) at the least.