Free anti virus

[Buddha1234]

Hi,i am considering downloading AVG 6.0 Free Edition anti-virus.but as it is free do i get the same protection as if i were BUYING another anti-virus.I have mcafee at the moment.If i were to install AVG what do i do first?Uninstall mcafee or install AVG?

 

[SavvyLady]

I have AVG onboard & think its very good... It also protects my e-mail (OE)
http://www.grisoft.com
Just keep it updated & run it least once every 24 hrs

 

[Buddha1234]

Ok.Do i need to uninstall McAfee first,before downloading AVG?

 

[SavvyLady]

yes I would... check for its own uninstall before add-remove & also take the checks out of McAfee items in startup at msconfig

 

[TonyKlein]

And disable it before uninstalling it.
This is really very important, and saves you from afterwards having to search the registry for orphaned keys that cause errors on startup.

The best thing to do is this:

Go to the options of the program, and uncheck 'start McAfee/download scan/autoscan (or whatever it's called)' as Windows starts.

Now go to Start/Run, and type Msconfig. On the startup tab, uncheck every file associated with McAfee, click OK, and reboot.

Now Uninstall McAfee in Add/Remove Software, and reboot again.

This seems a little like overkill, but believe me, it pays off!

Good luck,

 

[Buddha1234]

Tony,ok i will do that.And do you agree with savvylady that free antivirus is an aceptable protection....

 

[TonyKlein]

AVG doesn't have a bad reputation at all.

On the other hand, if you take a look at this independent comparative review, you'd have to conclude that there are better choices available.

I would advise you to choose one of the top 7 or 8 antivirus programs on the list:

http://www.virusbtn.com/100/vb100sum.html

Good luck,

 

[Max19]

I wouldn't recommend using AVG. See this thread for details.

http://forums.techguy.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=305834

I have a lot of experience working with anti-virus software (beyond my own machine). I work for a very large corporation and have worked directly with several anti-virus vendors. I don't believe the money saved is worth the risk, but each individual has to determine the worth of his/her data on the computer.

 

[Drone]

Originally posted by Max19
I wouldn't recommend using AVG. See this thread for details.

http://forums.techguy.org/showthread.php?s=&postid=305834

I have a lot of experience working with anti-virus software (beyond my own machine). I work for a very large corporation and have worked directly with several anti-virus vendors. I don't believe the money saved is worth the risk, but each individual has to determine the worth of his/her data on the computer.

I think I'll have to jump on the Pro-AVG bandwagon here. I do run AVG at home, and have noticed that there updates are relatively as quick as other companies. The problem is with users not updating their database. Also, it is possible for a virus to sneak past even the best of companies (not likely but possible) so all users should be aware of what they are doing. The User is the last line of defense against virii.

 

[SavvyLady]

I have to knock on wood when I say this:
So far I have been very lucky & have never been infected w/ a virus. They have come to my e-mail but AVG quarantineed them.
SirCam
Snow White
BadsTran

I saw a couple pass thru...

and Im not saying AVG is the very best free virus scanner available... I'm saying so far its worked for me & I do recommend it.
Buddha ... I got rid of McAfee too... the updates was so bogging to my system I was surfing thru mollasses on a cold winter day it seemed.

 

[jimi]

our servers anit-virus sw is updated twice daily and the server that we get our updates from is updated every 4 hrs. on 12/7 badtran came blastin through our defenses, now yesterday w32.zoher@mm (nothing but a pain in the a@@) hits one of my users which in turn takes a looksy at his addy book, well all of my e-mail clients have all the other internal users in their adress book so lets see, 50 internal user plus all the external contacts, all starting to e-mail each other in the matter of a hr or so. now the BONUS as the net admin i get a copy of all these infected mailings (50 (minumum) X 50 =2500) gee what fun. the best is still to come - we pay big $'s for the privilage of having this stuff, the phones were a little busy with us b*tchin yesterday!!

ok i vented, not enough, but every little bit helps

what timing litterally 10 seconds after i posted the above this comes in from our vendor -

"I am not sure why you got the "zoher" virus. Your machine does have the "sheer-a.ide" file that is supposed to trap this virus. It has already been issued by Sophos. Look at the information at the following Web site: http://www.sophos.com/downloads/ide/. I found the sheer-a file on your machine, so I guess it is possible you got the virus just before the virus identity file was uploaded to your system. Make sure that .exe file extensions are filtered in either MIME types or in file extensions to scan. Write back to me if you receive any more copies of this virus."

love the part about "just before the virus identity file was uploaded"