Best free antivirus software?

[pedro6994]

I have used AVG for years, but with the recent versions you always have to do custom install and turn things off like linkscanner.

[vicar]

Free Ms SAecurity essentials

Paid Norton

Now to wait for another few year for this thread to come alive again.

[watercooled]

I know Norton has gotten much better than the 360 days, is it really one worth considering again now? Even after 360 I considered Norton too bloated/too much crap no-one would need or use, although not as bad as McAfee which I still consider the worst I've had the misfortune to deal with. TBH I think some people using that would be better off if they just had a few viruses, it would probably cost less and have much less impact on system performance...

[this_is_gav]

I would only consider Symantec for their corporate AV, which has always been comparatively decent, and in a test I did a few weeks ago, I still preferred MS Forefront (which is basically the corporate equivalent of Security Essentials). Even their corporate software (Endpoint Protection) feels a little 'clunlier' compared to the MS equivalent, but it's still far better than even their latest consumer products. That was on an old 512mb RAM-based system, but if ever there's a gauge for bloated or inefficient software, that's it!

If I had a choice, I'd be using NOD32, both at work and home, but at work, it's just didn't prove viable, so we'll be plumping for Forefront again.

The way I work for myself and friends:
Paid: NOD32
Free: MS Security Essentials
If you've a Barclay's account: Kaspersky

[watercooled]

Yeah that's pretty much the same as me:
Free: MSE
Paid: Kaspersky/ESET

I know there are other good ones but I've used all of the above so feel I can recommend them.

[superlattice09]

I think the microsoft free security essential is enough for most. Used for almost 8 months since upgrade to win7pro. No problem (touchwood). Doesn't cost a lot of my precious RAM resource.

[Blitzen]

I think the microsoft free security essential is enough for most. Used for almost 8 months since upgrade to win7pro. No problem (touchwood). Doesn't cost a lot of my precious RAM resource.

I use it aswell now, and i unistalled Kaspersky.

You don't realise how completely bloated kaspersky is until it's off your machine.

[watercooled]

Yeah I thought that. Unfortunately it seems to be true of any decent internet security suites now, just not to the same extreme as some like McAfee.