On demand Anti virus

Discussion in 'other anti-virus software' started by Long View, Jun 12, 2007.

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  1. Long View

    Long View Registered Member

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    I'm looking for an on demand only anti-virus - preferably free. My set up is such that I have never seen a virus and its seems unnecessary to have an anti-virus program running all the time.

    any suggestions ? thanks
     
  2. tsilo

    tsilo Registered Member

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    Try ClamWin Free Antivirus

    http://www.clamwin.com/

    But there are many AV-s free versions with realtime protection, that uses few memory and are so light you will not notice if you have them.
    I recomend Antivir Clasic version www.free-av.com or
    Avast! Home version www.avast.com
     
  3. BlueZannetti

    BlueZannetti Registered Member

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  4. Mele20

    Mele20 Former Poster

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    I use Avira Premium as on demand only. I did not install the Guard module (nor the email scanner).
     
  5. dan_maran

    dan_maran Registered Member

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    Bitdefender free version 8 - Good: Free, auto updates, free removal Cons: 3 services, about 20-30 mb of ram usage
     
  6. Long View

    Long View Registered Member

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    Thanks everyone. will try them all eventually. BitDefender 8 Free seems to suit.
    Have set up a minimal machine with DeepFreeze behind a Netgear hardware firewall. Emails are cleaned before delivery and surfing habits are mundane. will only need to check very occasionally - after updates.
     
  7. MalwareDie

    MalwareDie Registered Member

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    Avira Antivir.
     
  8. C.S.J

    C.S.J Massive Poster

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    this forum is biased!
    Drweb's CureIt for sure,

    look in sig...
     
  9. lodore

    lodore Registered Member

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    i would say use drweb cureit.
    look in my sig as well:D
    then use a few online scanners like kaspersky and bitdefender.
    lodore
     
  10. the Tester

    the Tester Registered Member

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    BitDefender 8 free.
    Install AntiVir scanner only is another option.
     
  11. EliteKiller

    EliteKiller Registered Member

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    Why would you recommend that when the detection rates are abysmal and it's primary function is for mail servers? o_O Although the OP claims that he never sees viruses there are better free AV solutions, which you seemed to state in your 2nd paragraph. :p
     
  12. farmerlee

    farmerlee Registered Member

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    I use avira on demand, it works well. Just untick the guard module during installation. Afterwards you can also disable the control center from loading up if you like and just use the right click scan.
     
  13. Sjoeii

    Sjoeii Registered Member

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    Why not just use one of the many online scans. Very effective and you don't have to install software
    Kaspersky online scan
    BitDefender online scan
    Trend Micro Housecall
    Panda online

    There are a lot of these
     
  14. luciddream

    luciddream Registered Member

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    Bitdefender 8 & Antivir PEC would be my 2 recommendations.
     
  15. oldshep

    oldshep Registered Member

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    Anyone know if Bitdefender 8 free would conflict with NOD32?

    Thanks
     
  16. Old Monk

    Old Monk Registered Member

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    Hi oldshep

    Used BD 8 on demand with NOD32 for about 12 months without any problem.
     
  17. oldshep

    oldshep Registered Member

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    Cool :cool:

    Thanks Old Monk.
     
  18. Mele20

    Mele20 Former Poster

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    Don't all of those (with the exception of KAV's one file scanner) require IE and use ActiveX? I can't use any of them (except KAV's one file scanner) as they are all way too invasive and I don't use IE.

    As for Bit Defender free version, why is it still at version 8? That is a really OLD engine. I would not use that either. It should be at ver 9 by now. I used BD free ver 8 a couple of years ago and it was very good but they should have upgraded that to 9 by now. I don't know about the free version but 9 paid version was excellent until they forced you to use the antispyware scanner which forces you to then get rid of Spyware Blaster and Spybot.
     
  19. C.S.J

    C.S.J Massive Poster

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    this forum is biased!
    you dont install drwebs cure it,

    download>run>scan>delete

    plus as mentioned, there are plenty of online scanners too.
     
  20. ccsito

    ccsito Registered Member

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    TrendMicro Housecall has two versions, one using ActiveX and the other using Java. So you can use it with another browser like Firefox.

    http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
     
  21. Long View

    Long View Registered Member

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    Does the engine really matter that much ? I had assumed that the definitions were "up to date" and that that was the important thing ?
     
  22. Mele20

    Mele20 Former Poster

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    The engine definitely matters. In the past, Bit Defender has always upgraded the free version as soon as a newer version was released so that the free version is only ONE version behind the paid version. Paid version is currently 10. Free version should be at 9. If it is still at 8, then I would question the desire of Bit Defender to keep a good free version available. Engines become old and cannot accurately scan newer malware. Why not use Avira free? It has the latest engine same as the paid version. Just do not install the Guard or the email scanner.

    If you recall, Symantec has always limited the number of years one could renew definitions and they stated the reason was that the engine, after a couple of years, was too old to deal properly with new malware even with current definitions. I had Norton 2001 which I loved but after two years, I knew I needed to upgrade to a newer engine and that led me to to another AV entirely. I can't say for sure if Bit Defender's two year old engine is too old...but I would not use it at least without finding out from them why they have not upgraded the free version to version 9. Maybe there is a perfectly good reason they have left it at version 8. Why not use their online chat and ask?
     
  23. Long View

    Long View Registered Member

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    I had missed that this was possible. Will probably go back to Antivir and just run it on demand.

    thanks
     
  24. Sjoeii

    Sjoeii Registered Member

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    Correct
    The others in the list need IE
     
  25. EliteKiller

    EliteKiller Registered Member

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