i m looking for a free virus scanner
what is the best to get
cause i have problems with internet all that stuff that s popping up and sometimes when i click on internet it won t respond
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i m looking for a free virus scanner
what is the best to get
cause i have problems with internet all that stuff that s popping up and sometimes when i click on internet it won t respond
Spybot and AVG are very popular.
http://free.avg.com/ca-en/homepage
AVG Free is pretty good, it's what I've been using for several years. Most importantly, it doesn't get in your way too much. Though the last few versions have gotten increasingly bloated, it's still nowhere near as bad as things like McAfee or Norton.
i will try spybot first
i was downloading norton first glad that i didn t do that
About one year ago I'd have agreed with you. Thoughout the last year, however, I've felt that Norton has greatly improved, while AVG is now seriously lacking in security, quite a lot of viruses can't get removed with AVG at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by Devil N
http://www.clamwin.com/ - best anti virus app I ever used, plus it's GPL'd free software.
The best virus scanner is common sense, anyway. I'd rather not use a virus scanner at all, because they're terrible for your computer's performance, but that's a bit too risky on Windows.
I did windows security for a living on behalf of Microsoft. If there's one thing I've learned in the field, it's that Norton is terrible & will cause more problems than fixing them.
If you have malware popping up. Disable system restore. You're infected, restore points are effectively broken now & only offer malware a safe harbor from scan removal.
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm run the scan in internet explorer.
http://free.antivirus.com/clean-up-tools/ This is better, it runs off Java or Active X, so it can be run in IE or Firefox, useful if your IE browser's hijacked.
http://siri.geekstogo.com/SmitfraudFix.php This will strip out any desktop hijackers & malware installed on the system, follow the steps on the site, write them down or whatever. You'll lose your desktop background settings (Since some malware sticks porn there)
If you're using XP/Vista/7 you should really keep windows up to date, and only install http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/
All the 3rd party shit is too intrusive, Microsoft recently stepped up to the challenge, I wouldn't use 3rd party scans unless they were browser based.
I second that, but I've been anti-virus free for about two years. Once you learn some common sense, you can avoid the exploits that malware/virus programs use to infect your PC. I wouldn't recommend it for the casual to intermediate user though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Devil N
Quote:
Originally Posted by Devil N
Hilarious stuff! If you don't have a virus scanner (which works in the background) you're asking for trouble.Quote:
Originally Posted by E.J.
ACDC: get a virus scanner now - Avira or Avast (both are free) are the 2 best. And they are not "terrible for your computer's performance" in any way.
AVG free was good in the past but it's a big download, bloated & obsolete now. Avoid.
Also get a Malware scanner - Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (also free)
Like I said, not recommended for your average Windows user. A power user on the other hand with a knowledge of the registry, the processes window, the Windows SysInternals tools, a little HijackThis, and the occasional online scan should be able to handle things just fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Youngie
Actually... unless you have a very top of the line rig, both of the above eat a constant amount of RAM, and AVG has a much smaller footprint than the above two.Quote:
Originally Posted by Youngie
Tip - Deactivate some of the unecessary plugins for your anti-virus, ie - email scanner, link scanner, removable device scanner, etc...
Enjoying the hacked HID driver that was subtly installed on your system last week? It came from a dodgy PNG circulated via that ad banner displayed on your favourite webpage you've whitelisted in NoScript. Turns out it's listening for keystrokes similar to credit card numbers and passing them all off to some Chinese gangmaster at stupid o'clock in the morning when you're not at your machine (you left your torrent client running in the background grabbing those Linux ISOs, of course). Of course, being a power user, you know what regedit does, how to flash a BIOS, and which way round a stick of RAM goes in, so you're the 'my computer's going slow can you fix it' guy, aren't you?Quote:
Originally Posted by E.J.
Seriously, though, it's not 2001 any more. Your OS is perfectly capable of managing its own resources, computers have multiple gigabytes of RAM installed by default, and the people creating malicious software are smarter than you.
I use Microsoft Security Essentials as it's a free download, and it sits there in the background taking up a whole *fires up the on demand quick scan, checks* 2,240K (0.00213623047 GB) of RAM. That's it, it's a total set-it-and-forget-it safety barrier - everything else (firewall, file system, registry virtualisation) is handled by the OS.
to reiterate, modern malware writers aren't out to corrupt your MBR and hand out greetz to NemesisKilla334 using crude ASCII, they're out to steal your identity and take out a credit card or five in your name without your knowledge. All the 'b-b-b-but I use Firefox, turn off autorun and don't download filez' won't save you from a malicious PDF or an iframe man-in-the-middle exploit. Antiviruses aren't perfect by any means, but just because 1 in 150 (?...) condoms split doesn't mean going bareback is any more sensible.
I used Avast! for a while, and long as your smart not to download anything stupid (Keygens, etc), It'll keep you virus free
Not having an antivirus is acceptable as long as you have a properly configured firewall. That's the point he left out when talking about being a power user.
Outside of that point, I would recommend MSE & automatic updates more than anything else, Microsoft's on the ball when it comes to security updates. 3rd party software is a joke.
Like I also said, use some common sense. Avoid sites you can't trust, like torrent, P2P, warez... If you're willing to use them, know what the risks are.Quote:
Originally Posted by Elusive
I not quite sure, but last time I went to File Hippo, no non-executable PNG infected my computer. I can recall what the majority of my running processes are, etc... Using a little Google you can find out what each is, does, doesn't do, right CRCs, how to find hidden ones, etc...
Besides that, I'd say go with AVG.
get avira http://www.avira.com/en/pages/index.php
I use Spybot alone myself. I know it doesn't detect viruses, but it doesn't get in the way either. I really don't trust McAfee, Norton, or AVG Free. Way too bloated, and all 3 will fuck up your computer.
Right now I'm installing the Windows Update for Windows Malicious Software tool. Maybe that'll give me a bit more protection.
I run Windows 7 myself, and I really don't do much downloading, I don't go on virus-infested sites like torrent sites, I just do Facebook, here, Digital Press, my writing, music (most of which is burned from CDs), and that's about it. Oh, and I watch Yugioh the First Series episodes.
It's not like I'm advocating not using anti-virus software. As I already said, doing that on Windows is a very stupid thing to do. But you should realize that no virus scanner will ever be able to detect all the viruses that exist at every point in time, so the best defense against viruses is not putting yourself at risk in the first place.Quote:
Originally Posted by Youngie
What I'm also saying is that I'm also a regular user of other operating systems that don't require the use of a virus scanner (imagine that!), and that it's amazing what a relief it is not having to run one. Anti-virus software is a necessary evil, one that I'd rather be rid of altogether.
And if you think anti-virus software has no noticeable impact on your computer's performance, just take a look at these numbers. Even the 'best' virus scanner still has a considerable impact on your computer's overall speed. Interestingly, compare those numbers to the one in this two-year old blog post, and you can see that AVG has gotten dramatically worse lately.
I use Mac OS X now, and never had a problem with viruses. Though I know there are some floating around. Like someone else said a little common sense will go a long way.
When I had a gaming computer, I used Norton Internet Security, and a swear Norton is a virus that you pay to install on your computer. I mean thing of what a virus is...
Virus:
Embeds deep in the OS.
Extremely hard to delete.
Doesn't allow the user to stop the function.
Slows the computer down.
Sends information form the computer out over the internet.
Pesters the user with popups and other ads.
Norton:
Embeds deep in the OS.
Extremely hard to delete.
Doesn't allow the user to stop the function.
Slows the computer down.
Sends information form the computer out over the internet.
Pesters the user with popups and other ads.
Laughable.Quote:
Originally Posted by E.J.
Rubbish. Avira or Avast use no more RAM than your web browser.Quote:
Originally Posted by E.J.
You're a good guy and all but this is madness. Anti-virus software (which is free) keeps out that "evil"...Quote:
Originally Posted by Devil N
You too? Damn Heathens.Quote:
Originally Posted by Xeniczone
Real common sense is: if you don't want to pick up a virus - don't use the internet or email. Ever.
I'm delighted with Avira myself. Running quietly in the background - protecting my computer all for free. A God-send!
Personally I think AVG is awful now. It brings my computer down to a screeching halt whenever it does a scan. And no it's not a low end PC, pretty respectable for being (I think) two years old. I think I'm gonna check out that Microsoft Anti-Virus thingy they have. Sounds pretty good.
Also, Youngie is a moron. Nobody should EVER rely fully on anti-virus software, that's just asking for instant computer death.
You realize that windows installs degrade and slow down through natural read/write bit flipping corruption and fragmentation, right?Quote:
Originally Posted by Guntz
AVG is probably jumping all over the file system.
The problem usually isn't just the software (unless it's symantec/norton, they fucking blow; outside of 'Ghost', but they bought that from someone.) The problem is the kernel slowly rotting it's install due to I/O errors on the drive caused by a lack of ECC on the processor & memory banks.
My main problem with AV software the fact that Microsoft has their own, free alternative, that runs automatically & gets updates with the OS kernel. WHY would anybody be foolish enough to go 3rd party?
:roll:Quote:
Originally Posted by Guntz
The common sense approach = A futile quest toward educating helpless grandma's who just want to surf and read mail, how to avoid root kits like a ninja.
Reality = Automating everything, turning on web filters, using AV, Firewalls.
This is what I mean by common sense, asshat:Quote:
Originally Posted by Knuckle Duster
- Don't open email spam.
- Don't click on ANY ads.
- Don't download obviously dangerous files.
This isn't trivial. It's common sense. I wasn't supporting any of the notions of dumping anti-virus software entirely. I'm saying you are stupid for assuming it will protect you 100% when you do either of the things I listed above. ANYBODY that thinks anti-virus software completely protects your computer and detects every piece of malicious software ever made shouldn't be using Windows. Mac's are designed for people that think the above.
get avira and MSE and windows defender , and if u have a high level virus get a stinger
True, been using that and no problems at all. A somewhatQuote:
Originally Posted by streetsofrage
small thingy that sits in your RAM and makes a nasty noise
every time it detects a virus. Can scan all the drives pretty
well too.
Never noticed problems with performance, I believe it takes
up 5-6 MB of RAM (I'm on Linux right now, can't look it up).
I have to add, that my PC is connected through a router with
hardware firewall and the windows firewall is on too, when
Windows itself is on.
I know what you meant. It's all about education, something most people don't want to receive. So the industry does what it can do to automate everything. Computers are appliances these days, not just enthusiast machines.Quote:
Originally Posted by Guntz
I don't see where your response is necessary though, I haven't seen anybody here say they think AV is bullet proof, having it is obviously beneficial; and the outside argument stems from weather or not power users who live without it can keep everything going smoothly. Which is to say, yes they can, if they're educated about it, but they're not doing themselves any favors these days.
Mac's are more or just as insecure as Windows for several reasons. Apple's slower than the second coming of Christ to patch holes in their software, and they aren't transparent to disclosing known vulnerabilities.
Even worse from a philosophical point of view is that they market themselves as being secure, without admitting it's because they're obscure and not a large enough target.
I have had zero computer deaths with an anti-virus installed ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Guntz
Knuckle Duster is right in what he says. He knows what he's talking about & you should listen to him Gunty.
I assume you know you can still get viruses even by following your "common sense" stuff?Quote:
Originally Posted by Guntz
I don't click on email spam, don't click on any ads (firefox closes my ads) and I don't download "obviously" dangerous files yet (without my anti-virus) I'd be in trouble.
There is absolutely no reason not to have an anti-virus installed. Only I assume some of you heathens think you're gods or something.
You can actually do without an antivirus, you just needQuote:
Originally Posted by Youngie
to do lots of extra work. I think it was Knuckle Duster,
who already wrote here what it takes exactly to live
without such a thing. You basically have to search and
delete viruses yourself. You feel more hardcore and you
get a smally-tiny-tiny bit of performance. Maybe a good
choice when running an old OS with an old PC, since old
Windowses don't get that much viruses any more.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Youngie
:bang: Learn to read! I never said to not use Anti-Virus at all! I was saying you are stupid for thinking that your computer will be okay if you download that dangerous looking keygen JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE GLORIOUS AMAZING INSTANT PROTECTION ANTI-VIRUS!Quote:
Originally Posted by Youngie
Good lord am I tired of people not knowing how to read... :mad:
Oh shove off little one. You must have homework to be doing for school on Monday.Quote:
Originally Posted by Guntz
Yes, we understand that. You think people are stupid for thinking AV is bulletproof when idiots use computers, clicking OK to everything, etc. The problem here is that nobody ever said it was, and you're calling 'us' idiots.Quote:
Originally Posted by Guntz
Fuck. You. Old man...Quote:
Originally Posted by Youngie
I was adding to what others had said, just improving it to make it less stupid.Quote:
Originally Posted by Knuckle Duster
I don't think anyone here said not to use an anti-virus program. Please quote me saying that if I did.
Set up your anti-virus, configure your firewall, spam blockers, email scanners, etc... it's a free country.
People who don't know how to use their brains to avoid junk on the web deserve to get their computers infected. Most activities that involve your PC getting infected usually (ie - not junk e-mail) comes from illegal activity on the users part.
I have no idea why this help thread turned into such animosity... Do half of this thread posters consider themself the 'brain' of the Sega-16 board?
Are you pondering what I'm pondering?
http://blog.pucp.edu.pe/media/229/20...ky%20brain.gif
LOL. You're in some bad need of Anger Management lessons. Take things less seriously and you'll be OK.Quote:
Originally Posted by Guntz
Now run along little one and stop embarrassing yourself ;)
Not me. ACDC was looking for abit of help as an average PC user and all of a sudden guys are coming on and sprouting this:Quote:
Originally Posted by E.J.
"A power user on the other hand with a knowledge of the registry, the processes window, the Windows SysInternals tools, a little HijackThis, and the occasional online scan should be able to handle things just fine."
Yes we know you're great and all to be able to do that stuff but how does that help ACDC?
Nice quote mining. Doesn't this board have rules against trolling?Quote:
Yes we know you're great and all to be able to do that stuff but how does that help ACDC?
BTW - Are you claiming to have ESP, or just projecting your own problems onto me?
If you actually did research you'd realize that out of each of the 3 suggested anti-virus programs, AVG free has the smallest amount of used RAM, and processor time being taken up.
I did suggest AVG.
'Light-Trolling/Heated-discussion' happens all over the place.
Rest easy, account wack-a-mole is an annual game for mods. :lol:
Usually it doesn't happen until all legitimate arguments have boiled off and nothing but venomous insults with no point are presented.
No since you're still here.Quote:
Originally Posted by E.J.
I don't care what you suggested since it's not just smallest amount of RAM to be taken into consideration. AVG free is the biggest download by far & is vastly bloated.Quote:
Originally Posted by E.J.
But you being a noob I didn't expect you to know that. I have been on this forum since Dec '08 and you're on this forum two minutes, think you own the place and you're calling me a troll! I nearly pissed my pants laughing.