Is Free Anti-virus Enough to Protect a Computer?

Thank you a lot. From that grueling match I think Norton came on top. .

Thanks.

 

I'm perfectly happy paying for an Antivirus program, but i'm not going to pay through the nose for 'superior' protection that's really not a big enough difference to support the price tag. I got a 2 year McAfee Internet Security subscription for around $25 for 3 computers. That is a very fair price and the new McAfee programs are very efficient and quiet.

I understand that the developers need to get paid for the intense R&D they go through to keep up with more complex malware. But spending hundreds of dollars a year to get an extra 2% detection rate when you can simply exercise best practices is confusing to me. And these articles that stir the pot serve no purpose but to confuse the general public on what good security even means. In some ways the lies and misinformation these security companies peddle remind me of the credit card industry here in the United States, and it's not fair to regular folks who need honest answers on how to protect themselves at a reasonable price.

 

Q = Is Free Anti-virus Enough to Protect a Computer?

A = NO

Niether is paid

 

This.

 

God help us then.

Thanks.

 

Well I don't know what to say about this test.......

MyWebSearch: This program was used in the malware sample kit. Now depending on who you talk to this can or can not be detected as malware. Its not really harmful yet its not 100% good either so that really can't be used in a malware test because it will not be detected by some vendors due to the standards used to test malware.

Panda Cloud Test: I saw this note: Note that the cloud detection is slow. I also had to re-scan and restart often before Panda succeeded in detecting the malware samples. Now I am very curious what they define as slow. The alerts don't pop up instantly as many people have noted here but those that define it as slow? Cloud Analysis takes a few min's to be checked so does that define it as slow? Slow needs to be defined. Also there seems to be much bashing going on saying because it relies on the cloud it can't react as fast, I have never ever seen that.

Both provide free, but limited, malware protection: Now what does that tets mean by limited protection for PC Tools AV and Panda Cloud? Every free AV is limited compared to a PRO version of each company. Why tell everyone they are limited when they are just like every other AV.

On the good said I must admit it seems like PC Tools free did rather good

 

Nowadays, it's more reasonable to use the 'layered approach' in keeping your PC safe from malware.

Short answer: NO, it is not.

For basics, you also need to use a firewall (hardware or software) and at least 1 or 2 on-demand scanners in conjunction with a real-time AV.

You may also add virtualization software and back-up imaging software for added security

 

safe surfing
free antivirus and firewall
second opinion scanner such as MBAM and SAS
and WOT or Linkscanner
are enough and should be if someone is a safe surfer . free antivirus alone is not able to handle or the trash coming from the net and other means accessing the computer. Back up is something that will help in case of the worst scenario

 

Last night I got a call from a friend who had gotten a rogue on his computer. He said McAfee did not block or find it on a scan. In the end he had gotten a geek to get rid of it. The rogue would not let him download anything. I told him to get MBAM which in the past had found and removed rogues from machines of two other friends. One used Norton IS and I am not sure what the other used.

I am fully persuaded that a good AM is needed to run alongside an AV. My own choice is MBAM as the best that runs well for me.
None of the friends is careless or visits bad sites, so no need to tell me that they did not use their heads. They are average users and not geeks, but are safe users.

Regards,
Jerry

 

don't forget to add ClearCloud (my choice) or any other free malware blocking DNS service.

 

Not much use for a gaming machine.

 

I guess CogitoTesting doesn't game.

 

Free? Paid?
Paying does not mean it's better, nor does being free make it better (better for your wallet tho )

Something that has a price tag does not mean it's better, there is far more depth than a price tag that should be the deciding factor.

 

That's where you are wrong. There are plenty of Linux games around. Please let your curiosity gets the better hold of you, explore. Do not be shy, dig into Linux.

Thanks.

 

Yes I'm game. . .

Thanks.

 

When OpenGL games were still around, yes. Today, not really as they are mostly Direct3D based so a no go for Linux.

 

With all due respect, Linux is great and could be suitable for a whole lot of people regarding safe and simple computing but gaming isn't a vector for linux penetration.
Battle for Wesnoth doesn't cut it.
F.i. Company of Heroes through Wine with 90% black shifting ground textures, doesn't cut it.
PC Gaming is Windows only imao (Win/Mint using, Arch wrecking, PC gamer).
The accompanying little bits like OC'ing the GPU etc are also Win only (with my perhaps meager skills).

Still, linux is very usefull for 99% of everything else.

But, back on topic; small sample set, usual suspects, little news.

 

What i think is a free av with something like Mbam / SAS and a free firewall + Hips component is enough to stop most of the threats including zero day...(given a little common sense is present)

 

+1
Yeah I agree. I was using comodo firewall with avast free along with safe online and norton dns. Avast stopped pretty much all the scripts, exploits and some trojans. Comodo sandboxed alot of the exe's that avast didn't catch. Norton DNS even stopped a few pages from opening. Prevx then showed up red and alerted a few of the exe's as malware. They were promptly scanned with MBAM, EAM and hitman pro. Only one thing went undetected and tried to call home. Of course comodo's firewall and hips found that one. All free and all running well together.

PS- forgot to mention I was running the whole first page on MDL with these apps.

 

The answer is no. 98% means 2% missed. The 2% can be fatal to the PC's health.

Must have as well:

1. properly configured 2-way firewall. ( Windows 7 has free FW)
2. an ip blocking tool PeerBlock (free)
3. host file
4. an imaging backup plan

This must have been a trick question!

 

I think the question should be is a free AV just as good as some paid AV. The answer to that is yes. Avast free is just as good as Mcafee, AVG or even pc tools av. In fact I would rather be running avast free than any of those. So yes it is enough to protect a computer, in terms of a single layer of a mult layered security.

 

I have read that windows 7 isnt a two way firewall but then have been told it is or can be turned into one. I'm wondering now because i would have stuck with a cheaper or free AV but bought a pricey one on sale that i didnt want to pass up. I just think there is more support and more features on paid versions although avast and a few others are now coming out with almost full programs as well. I run the paid AV and paid malwarebytes and the paid AV is almost daily blocking worm attacks but must be detecting something false. either that or my pc is full of worms and i dont know it. I have had it looked at and came back clean so who knows. I was told MSS and a router is more than enough for all but zero day.

 

This type of debate makes me wonder why most people compare a free AV with a competitors paid product. Why not stay with the same brand and compare features? Take Avast for example. Instead of comparing Avast free with say Norton or McAfee, look at Avast free and compare with Avast Pro or Internet Security. Look at the features,decide if you want or need them,then decide if you want to pay for them or add freebies from other vendors to complete your setup.

 

Hello:

Strongly suggest you study this thread:

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=1533494&postcount=11

Using Stem's thread, I have turned Windows 7 FW into a 2 way FW. Check the stickies at the top of the FW forum.

I'm sure you know this but it is best to work with the pro's on security issues this is why I responded as I did.

The hot tip silver bullet product approach doesn't work.

Free vs Paid is the last consideration in selecting products within your security policy. You need the policy first then build your products in to implement your policy. Some may be paid some may be free.

 

the free version of avast antivirus is powerfull indeed
my own experience:
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=283406