What Free AV do You Recommend to Your Non-Tech-Savvy Friends/Family?

Panda Cloud or Bitdefender Free. i've seen many cases with Avast running out because it has to be re-registered every year. in comparison, the first 2 are really maintenance free.

 

Panda and Bitdefender (if it ever gets a restore function).

 

I ran into to a problem yesterday with Avast registration, in a machine with a freshly installed Windows 7: after trying to register with a valid email, registration window turned white and nothing happened. I repeated the process several times without success.

I also got a warning from Avast saying that Adobe Reader was outdated, when i had just installed it from Adobe website.

I ended up uninstalling it, and installing Bitdefender free. The installation and registration went smooth.

 

Avira.

 

Hi,

After an early OS + few programs image reinstall, my Avira free would not function for updates, probably without first uninstalling, so I read this thread and have now switched to Avast!.

I will say their installation procedure was comfy, they had a google chrome thing (which is not an Ask toolbar! with the Uniblue fiasco Avira lost a lot of good will) and it was very clear how to just say no. While it was opt-out it was very clear and open.

So I look forward as a newbie. Bitdefender lost some points in my book when I had to fight them on an auto-renewal thing after a super discount buy. However, they sound solid for AV.

Thanks for all the good info in the thread.

Privatefirewall is my main other active piece at the moment, and WinPatrol. More static is Spywareblaster, and on-demand occasional scans of Malwarebytes, SuperAntiSpyware and Emsi Emergency Kit. More pieces later, perhaps.

Steven Avery
Queens, NY

 

avast! of course.

 

It's there and improved in Avast 8 as well.

 

avast!

 

At this point MSE, because it is the best defended against actually being exploited itself; and can presumably handle old email worms and stuff. Newer, nastier exploits are EMET's domain now.

 

Avast
Bitdefender
MSE

in that order

 

avast! looks like the best of these, but I could be way wrong as I have not used any of the others.
Several years back, I did use avast! for about 3 years, and it was an awesome FREE AV. I am assuming that it has just gotten better since then.

 

Avira and Avast.

 

@Page42
avast! surely has gotten better. Why don't you try it?

 

I found a setup that works and so I'm staying pat.
The old urge to change things around has pretty much left me.
That's why I like to check in on threads like this... to see what currentlty has people excited.

 

PCAV would also be a good option. I installed it on my Uncles new laptop a few months ago and he still have not called me back so i guess it must be working.

 

Avira as first option.

Otherwise, MSE.

 

Definately Avast for me.

 

For a Free AV, I would recommend Avast for both Windows PC's and Android SmartPhones.

 

Qihoo 360 Internet Security

 

Avast, Avira, BitDefender, Panda Cloud, and MSE in that order.

 

Panda or MSE because it's not necessary to renew licences and they're running smoothly. Forticlient could be a nice choice as well.

 

As the thread is not about how much time of your life you invest in teaching your family/friends how to safely browse the web, an AV recommendation is a necessity I usually go for Avira or Avast and in one case, AVG.

 

When it comes to free AV, I always recommend avast! to my friends/family.

 

Forticlient mainly for its default URL blocking of adware. I have installed Avast before only to find out my sister's computer had 4 toolbars in firefox and a bunch of other crap. You may add K9 to Avast to achieve the same results but why not kill 2 birds with one arrow and go for good old Forti.

 

While I too would make Avast my first-choice recommendation, I'd quibble about your "no interaction" description. When you reboot after installing, Avast wants to install the Chrome browser, and since that's unfortunately opt-out rather than opt-in it definitely requires user input if you don't want it.

The new version 2014, finalized today or late yesterday, includes an optional "hardening" module specifically aimed at the less computer-literate users.