In order to find out which is the
best free antivirus, we have conducted a series of tests of our own using 3 of the most downloaded
free antivirus software.
Each software was installed on the same ordinary office computer running on Windows XP SP2, with the same file system and each scan was completed without cleaning, disinfecting or deleting the infected files. Here are the results:
A-Squared Antivirus, Scan duration: 0h 8min 39sec, Scanned files: 76400, Threats: 32, System resources usage: low
Avast! Antivirus, Scan duration: 0h 8min 32sec, Scanned files: 50113, Threats: 1, System resources usage: high
AVG Antivirus, Scan Duration: 0h 10min 27sec, Scanned files: 17107, Threats: 2, System resources usage: low
A-Squared AntivirusA very poor antivirus software and is basically an antispyware/cookie scanner, with few if any options for locating adware, and you have only one option for choosing where you want to scan, either in the memory, the computer registry, or in the disks. All of the threats detected were suspect cookies but no major threats. There's no option to exclude folders, for example, which can make the process unnecessarily tedious. It has a payed full time protection utility. Overall, it is a good antivirus software.
You can download A-Squared Antivirus from here.Avast Home EditionWith a skin-based interface Avast! is the friendliest antivirus software from our test. This can be a minus because using sophisticated skins can affect the memory usage. It has an interesting feature "VRDB". The aim of VRDB is to help when, despite all the security measures, a virus gets inside the computer and the files are infected. With the help of VRDB, it is possible to repair infected files (return them exactly to their original state). It has detected only 1 of the 2 major threats on the test computer.
You can download Avast home Edition from here.AVG AntivirusOffering a rock-solid protection
AVG is THE BEST FREE ANTIVIRUS from this test. It has a very good definition update system,uses little system resources and a full time protection utility with "on-access" file scanner and e-mail scanner. The program doesn't tax your system when scanning or when running in the background and always proved effective in our tests. This app's interface can't be described as beautiful, yet it is mostly simple to navigate. During the full system scan it has detected both of our major threats on the test computer.
You can download AVG Free Antivirus from here.We added a nice video from Cnet.com
written by Cristian M.
| kono82 says: |
06:23 / 07 mar 2007 |
i use avg for 5 months now and i am ok with itit i free, uses low resource no problems so far
| redd says: |
08:01 / 27 jul 2007 |
same thing here, no problems so far
| Sonny says: |
14:08 / 12 aug 2007 |
No doubt AVG is the best free anti virus, but it failed in detecting some other viruses, like the latest MicrosoftPowerPoint.exe which blocks mozilla's use.Still since its free its good.
| jay says: |
00:53 / 13 aug 2007 |
i have had avg for 4 years now and it has it' downfalls it will detect just about every virus known to man.but it never wants to heal them it just puts it into it's vault but it never heals them.that i think makes no sense at all.it is supposed to detect and to heal the viruses.but it only does one thing never both. and sense it is free there is no support for the program.hence no way to contact support to tell them about this problem.that is the only downfall for avg.
| Poepol says: |
23:05 / 22 nov 2007 |
Get a spell checker!!!
| umbra says: |
22:46 / 06 dec 2007 |
Well.... i hear ppl say AVG is the best when it comes to finding the viruses and on using system resources, I dont like it anymore.. Been using it for years back and forth some, its true that it doesnt actually heal the files (wich is crap)it also comes with a bunch of addons that i personally think is more or less useless, and when u install they are all turned on. That can cause some problems with email setup and with explorer. Another thing is it has hindered my booting a bunch of times, really annoying having to wait about 30 seconds after the desktop shows to get your system to start.. Im thinking this might be because Im changing ip config some times and this is supposed to be free and for personal use (not one more computers)Anyway, the bottom line is im getting something else, wich means that i will be putting my computer at more risk.. no botherid like my system to work and id like to be able to change stuf, plain and simple... (GET US A BETTER FREE ANTIVIRUS GDAMNIT!!!)
| kK says: |
07:28 / 10 dec 2007 |
but why AVG was failed when detect some of spyware, i was used stopzilla, and it found 23 spyware in my PC that didn't found with AVG...I install threatfire and stopzilla at the same time. And very fool me, my PC was hang... So I uninstalled that 2 programs...I only use AVG now coz it take a little space in my hard disk.....
I like Nod 32 !
| red says: |
16:12 / 25 2007 |
well it's free. so she did the free job. want more? aa.. aa!! you got to pay first!
it's free... it's great... and that's all!! no questions ask!!!
| MrB says: |
10:02 / 04 jun 2008 |
After several years of excellent AVG usage I am sad to report the new version 8.0 AVG is disappointing. Scans with 7.5 took about 30 minutes on my laptops - with ver. 8.0 it is taking well over one hour and the CPU usage is 80-100% the whole time. On other PCs it took 2-3 hours on a 2.6GHz/WPSP2 Dell with 768 and over 5 hours on a 900MHz/512 laptop before I stopped it! CPU was hotter than a pistol after being overused for 5 hours for a SCAN!!! Too bad - was a great product.
avg 7.5 home was working good for me before 1 month.now i shifted to avg 8.0 its not showing some mysterious things in my system.source of problem:pen drive.problem: regsrv.exe is consuming all the cpu resources.the file is hidden in pen drive. access to it is denied(we cant delete).newfolder.exe is also created.in case of folders, exe file is created with the same name as folder.give me a solution.send it to my mail id.b.parthipan@gmail.com
| Will says: |
15:37 / 08 jul 2008 |
Cristian, you should really proof-read these articles. Here's an embarrassing mistake:"A-Squared Antivirus:A very poor antivirus software ...Overall, it is a good antivirus software."What the hell were you thinking!?
| dann says: |
09:45 / 14 jul 2008 |
definitely is the best ; v8 adds the antyspyware module, never mentioned on Avira or ohters, and this is for free...it has a good rate of detection too. The internet security is poor, but it will be better, maybe(this is the reason that it takes 7th place of TOP TEN REWIeWS)
i use Live Onecare and it does a good job
Live Onecare is not free??Were talking about free software and so far I dont care much for AVG they could have done better On the free one.I guess ill just keep looking there is bound to be a good free Antivirus somewere...
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