Most Suitable Free Anti-virus?

[oldskooladdict]

I've purchased a netbook for my sister in law, it's running Windows 7, and I need to install some anti-virus software. I've been using Kaspersky for years, both at work and at home and I find it works well. (It's free with Barclays too!).

What free anti-virus applications do you lot recommend? - I'll be installing it, but then I want it to require essentially no user interaction, or very little - my sister in law is not very IT literate. It;s on a netbook, so the spec is rather modest - atom processor, 1GB ram etc.

Going against my better judgement I was going to install Microsoft Security Essentials - it's supposed to have received good reviews and be pretty hands off for the end user. And have a fairly small footprint.

Suggest away...

[Flibb]

Microsoft Security Essentials

[kalniel]

Microsoft Security Essentials

This

[Funkstar]

I install Avast! on all the PC's friends and family get me to look at.

Easy to use and generally maintenance free.

[kalniel]

I install Avast! on all the PC's friends and family get me to look at.

Easy to use and generally maintenance free.

Don't you have to register and renew each year?

[Funkstar]

Don't you have to register and renew each year?

You do, although it is much easier than it used to be, you don't need to enter your email address and copy/paste the code into a hidden away box, you just click "free registration" (or similar) and that's it.

[usxhe190]

Just go for MSE. And set that netbook to auto update Windows 7.

[oldskooladdict]

I'm glad there's a few people suggesting MSE. I was sceptical when I first heard people suggesting it to me (for something different actually).

If Avast! is what I'm thinking of I installed it on a test PC in the office and I got a few nag screens about getting the Pro version or something.

[Flibb]

I currently run it on my netbook (xp), main gaming rig (win7), and wifes laptop (vista). I checked my main rig using a free online scanner the other week and it didnt pull up any issues, MSE seems to be working well, and requires little user interferance.

[Grey M@a]

I run ESET NOD32 on the gaming rig as I still have 2 years left before the sub runs out, but my netbook, lasses computer and family laptops etc all run Microsoft Security Essentials. Works fine, low over heads and never caused any major problems. I find it the best of the bunch atm of the free alternatives.

[scaryjim]

Another vote for MSE here - stick it on all my new machines now. Unintrusive, just does the job without getting in the way.

[barry2811]

MSE for me as well. It's on my main machine with Win7, MediaPC with Win7 and bedroom PC with XP. Never had any issues and it is good with resources. I used to use Kaspersky to and MSE is far less annoying (ie, the popups, etc.), can't recall seeing any with MSE, just the standard Windows UAC prompts.

[Funkstar]

I think I'll have to give MSE a go now then

[usxhe190]

Yep, if you want 100% no hassle, MSE.
If you want a little bit of hassle, Avast! or Antivir (I like Antivir more given its higher detection rates).

Therefore with people like sisters, gfs, sisters in law, grandparents, mothers (in law), fathers (in law), MSE is the way to go.

[Mossy]

Microsoft Security Essentials another vote here

[oldskooladdict]

Got it installed on a test PC here in the office, running a scan now. Had Avast installed previously and it hadn't detected anything, so I'm expecting the same.

The interface certainly looks clear and uncluttered... all going well so far.