Free Antivirus recommendations

[computer_expert]

On a similar note - is there any decent ad/spyware remover out there for free? I've installed AVG and done a full scan of my laptop but I'm still getting the same problem and its getting more frequent.

 

When I'm browsing the web (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Firefox), when I click a link I get taken to a completely different site. This is usually another bunch of results on a different search engine or a shopping site with loads of sponsored links. I've deleted all cookies etc but the problem persists

 

Anyone got any ideas?

 

Cheers!

 

Malwarebytes anti malware. i use it all the time when i clean up virus/malware infested machines.

[kevbaz]

Malwarebytes is by far the best malware/spyware removal tool out there, highly recommend it!

[ianniow]

Another BIG vote for malwarebytes I have used it loads to clean up machines

[andyturpie]

On my PC - Avast and Malware (services running), Ad aware & spybot (Installed and manually invoked once monthly)

[andyturpie]

On my PC - Avast and Malware (services running), Ad aware & spybot (Installed and manually invoked once monthly)

 

That was malwarebytes sorry

[kevbaz]

adaware + spybot used to be the combination i used, but they have both become bloated and less effective, i just run malwarebytes onece a weeks, keeps things inorder and no system resources being drained

[painejake]

Not used Malwarebytes before. Always used to use Spybot Search and Destroy.

 

Downloading now to give it a blast - Worth running alongside MSE then?

[ZeroHour]

Not used Malwarebytes before. Always used to use Spybot Search and Destroy.

 

Downloading now to give it a blast - Worth running alongside MSE then?

 

If Malwarebytes is an *active* engine (aka scanning all the time rather then manual) then no really you wouldnt run MSE and it together. Otherwise yeh its fine.

[computer_expert]

If Malwarebytes is an *active* engine (aka scanning all the time rather then manual) then no really you wouldnt run MSE and it together. Otherwise yeh its fine.

 

the free version is an on-demand scanner, however i'm not sure about the paid version.

[elsiegee40]

For AV, I'm now an M$ Security Essentials convert. I like it a lot

 

For Spyware, I used to run A-squared, spy-bot and adaware alongside each other (free versions), but SpyBot and AdAware stopped playing nicely together and AdAware picked up loads more than SpyBot. The free version of AdAware now has an active engine, so I'm using MBAM and A-squared alongside MSE.

 

Have been wondering if Windows Defender will play nicely with MSE despite being active.

[mjs_mjs]

urm.... i dont have any AV at all - and i dont have any issues... haven't used one since 2006 now.

[ZeroHour]

Have been wondering if Windows Defender will play nicely with MSE despite being active.

By default MSE disables windows defender on installation.

[Arthur]

The current top three, free anti-virus programs are Anti-Vir, Avast! and Microsoft Security Essentials according to AV Comparatives. Malware Bytes seems to be the best anti-malware program and SuperAntiSpyware is pretty good too. Ad-Aware on the other hand may have been good in the past, but not anymore.

 

AVG is like McAfee now i.e. rubbish. It’s bloated, detects too many false positives and it doesn’t stop that much malware compared to the competition.

[Arthur]

urm.... I don't have any AV at all - and i dont have any issues... haven't used one since 2006 now.

Things have changed a lot since 2006, especially now that malware authors are increasingly exploiting bugs in Adobe Reader, Flash Player, Java and QuickTime. It's extremely easy to get infected just by visiting a legitimate website, particularly if you don't keep your OS and browser plug-ins updated. AnandTech and The New York Times being recent examples.

[danrhodes]

I changed from AVG to AntiVir last night and found a virus in a zip archive on my storage drive! Way to go AntiVir!

 

D

[BJG]

Things have changed a lot since 2006, especially now that malware authors are increasingly exploiting bugs in Adobe Reader, Flash Player, Java and QuickTime. It's extremely easy to get infected just by visiting a legitimate website, particularly if you don't keep your OS and browser plug-ins updated. AnandTech and The New York Times being recent examples.

Yeah, I would recommend installing something. It's a real bore if you do get clobbered.

[Out_of_Sync]

I run Antivir Professional on machines here, and Malwarebytes for selected users. Works quite well.

[danrhodes]

Wlecome Out of Sync, you must be new :-) hope you enjoy your stay.

 

Im glad I installed AntiVir now.

 

Malwarebytes got me out of a problem with one of our server the other day where we had spyware software installed that was stopping us logging onto the machine.

[LeMarchand]

Out of curiosity (can't access the site from school without being naughty), is free Malwarebytes OK to use in a school environment, licence-wise?

[danrhodes]

Out of curiosity (can't access the site from school without being naughty), is free Malwarebytes OK to use in a school environment, licence-wise?

 

It's freeware, so I would imagine there would be no implaications with licensing, although saying that AVG do no allow use of their free program in schools.

 

D

[Out_of_Sync]

It's freeware, so I would imagine there would be no implaications with licensing, although saying that AVG do no allow use of their free program in schools.

 

D

 

Then I am glad I moved away from AVG Free.

Thanks Dan, the forum has been very helpful

[danrhodes]

After a small amount of googling (remember people google is your friend) I have managed to find this from the MBAM forum. The Rubber Ducky guy seems to be the Admin/Moderator.

 

RubbeR DuckYMar 25 2010, 06:15 PM

Educational licensing fits under corporate licensing.

 

Corporate Licensing: Malwarebytes

 

Fill that out and send me your information and I will have the sales team expedite it.

[kevbaz]

surely thats if you want the full licenced version withthe running agent?

[danrhodes]

surely thats if you want the full licenced version withthe running agent?

 

Yeah I would think that its the realtime agent etc etc....

[LeMarchand]

After a small amount of googling (remember people google is your friend) I have managed to find this from the MBAM forum.

 

I had already tried that a while back, honest! Must have been before Feb, as "malwarebytes educational use" actually got some useful info this time (like your result). Unfortunately, while Google may be my friend, but Websense isn't - can't access the info page from school unless I go and stand in the middle of the playground and try to get a signal on my phone or use a dodgy proxy site.

 

I'll try to remember to look tonight, but I don't get home until around 1930. Incidentally (though this may have changed since I last checked), I'm pretty sure that Lavasoft forbade educational usage of their free product, too.