105 replies to this topic 5 votes

[+goretsky]

Hello,

In the preceding Definitive Best Antivirus 2011 message thread, there were requests to seperate the commercial and free antivirus products. For 2012, I have created two separate polls. This is the poll for the free antivirus programs. For commecial (paid-for) antivirus, please see the Definitive Best *Paid* Antivirus 2012 message thread.

Questions or comments? Post them here in the message thread.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

[johnporter29]

Microsoft Security Essentials all the way.

The question on my lips at this moment is do we need threads like this year in year out, why not just have a definitive thread for antivirus products?

[+Mephistopheles]

Microsoft Security Essentials.

[lcg]

Microsoft Security Essentials.

[jeston]

+1 for MSE

[+goretsky]

Hello,

There were requests in the previous polls to separate the commercial and free products, so I thought I would give it a try this year. I'm not an expert in conducting polls, so please consider it something of an experiment. If people really are unhappy about it, we can go back to the old method for next years' poll, I support.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

johnporter29, on 01 January 2012 - 10:38, said:

Microsoft Security Essentials all the way.

The question on my lips at this moment is do we need threads like this year in year out, why not just have a definitive thread for antivirus products?

[AdamLC]

+1 MSE

[Ulpian]

Avira, best one, I don't know why it is not on the list.

MSE is quite resource-hungry, maybe v4 will change something.

[- Kaboose -]

avast

[+spUrr]

I often refer to http://www.av-test.o...s/test-reports/ for my current AV preference.

[yowanvista]

Norton

[+goretsky]

Hello,

Oops, my bad. I built the 2012 polls from the 2011 poll, and while I added their commercial products to the other poll, forgot to include them here.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Ulpian, on 01 January 2012 - 11:08, said:

Avira, best one, I don't know why it is not on the list.

MSE is quite resource-hungry, maybe v4 will change something.

[jesseinsf]

Ulpian, on 01 January 2012 - 11:08, said:

Avira, best one, I don't know why it is not on the list.

MSE is quite resource-hungry, maybe v4 will change something.

MSE give you all the same features for free as the Premium version of Avira does which costs $30. Also you get all features for free that Avira Internet Security suite has ($59) if you use windows live Family safety + Windows Firewall + MSE. MSE is 2 Microsoft products in 1, Windows defender (Anti-spyware and Anti-Adware, Anti-Scareware) + Anti-Virus protection (Anti-Malware, Anti-Trojan Horse). IE9 gives free Anti-Fishing protection and protects you from vulnerable websites, and it gives free tracking protection. Windows Firewall protects you from malicious hackers and monitors incoming and outgoing connections. Windows Live Family Safety gives you full control over your children's computer usage. IE9 is considered the safest browser on the internet and Microsoft has finally decided to update IE like the other browsers do which I would hope that this would bring new feature in to IE more rapidly.. IE9 also detects most vulnerable ActiveX controls before it could harm your system. So to me this is one superior free product that outdoes all the others that ofter free alternatives.

[tuckeratlarge]

Avast. Could not actually say it's the best however. I just use it out of habit to be honest. Luckily people seem to think it's a good AV.

[Dusco25]

Microsoft Security Essentials