Definitive Best *Free* Antivirus 2014

[Marshall Veteran]

It's a new year, and a new poll for Definitive Free Best Antivirus. The 2013 thread can be found here.

This is a poll for best Free antivirus, there is a separate thread for paid antiviruses here.

If your choice of Best Free Antivirus is not listed, please choose Other and specify in the comments.

[Rippleman]

For cleaning up after the fact yes.

 

uhmmm, what?... if "after the fact" then it would be only malwarebytes... why would you use 2 solutions when 1 solution did the job perfectly? (not suggesting you only rely on one opinion, only commenting on the claim of "after the fact")

[+Warwagon MVC]

uhmmm, what?... if "after the fact" then it would be only malwarebytes... why would you use 2 solutions when 1 solution did the job perfectly? (not suggesting you only rely on one opinion, only commenting on the claim of "after the fact")

 

You said 100% free solution. Malwarebytes isn't free for active protection.

[Rippleman]

You said 100% free solution. Malwarebytes isn't free for active protection.

 

oh yes, i know, but if its "after the fact" you can just use their free scanner which picks up what 360 finds AND what it doesn't find... but more opinions are always better for sure. 

[ThaCrip]

the way i see it... Microsoft Security Essentials is good enough for me as it's simple and quiet and my chances of infection should be at a bare minimum in general because i am careful on what i install on the PC. so i figure if something does slip by hopefully MSE will catch it as i imagine it's protection is good enough even if other alternatives are a bit better but it seems like the ones that are better might have issues with false positives.

[+Warwagon MVC]

the way i see it... Microsoft Security Essentials is good enough for me as it's simple and quiet and my chances of infection should be at a bare minimum in general because i am careful on what i install on the PC.

 

Lets not forget about website exploits and Zero day's people :)

[Shiranui]

Fascist! :p

 

Meanwhile I'll throw in a vote for avast

and recommend using headphones to listen to loud music about the same time it's about to update :p

 

I think only the English version talks.

[The Evil Overlord]

I think only the English version talks.

darn it :p

[cork1958]

Please add:

Qihoo 360 Internet Security

Baidu Antivirus (Baidu Cloud Security Engine + Avira Antivirus)

Currently using 360 Internet Security and liking it pretty much except for the fact it takes WAY to long to actually be able to use the computer when first starting it up! Dang thing takes forever to do that intitial update.

[ThaCrip]

Lets not forget about website exploits and Zero day's people :)

 

true, but i figure if i stick to mostly known sites that should keep risk at a minimum.

 

plus, i got NoScript in use which i imagine helps a bit there since a lot of the side stuff on plenty of websites don't load when that's running as i only allow what i need to allow for a site to function well enough.

[+Warwagon MVC]

true, but i figure if i stick to mostly known sites that should keep risk at a minimum.

 

plus, i got NoScript in use which i imagine helps a bit there since a lot of the side stuff on plenty of websites don't load when that's running as i only allow what i need to allow for a site to function well enough.

 

That's were most of the exploits come from. Hacked "Known" sites. Even TWIT.TV was serving out malware at one point.

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

 

One thing to keep in mind is that in many anti-malware programs, detection of potentially unwanted and potentially unsafe applications is optional.  It needs to be explicitly turned on if you want that functionality.

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

[Beyond Godlike]

Was looking at AV-Comparatives, looks like Avast has the second highest false positive count.  Doesnt seem like they really are all that different from each other anymore.  

[+Warwagon MVC]

I think 360 Total Security should be added to the list.

[Copernic Reporter]

I think 360 Total Security should be added to the list.

 

And Baidu Antivirus.

[Marshall Veteran]

I think 360 Total Security should be added to the list.

 

 

And Baidu Antivirus.

 

Done and Done.

[Ruti]

Avast gave me tons of false positives, and let some malware install freely on my computer. nothing more annoying than safe files dissapearing from your pc.

[Darth Tigris]

Comodo has the most votes BY FAR, but nobody is explaining why.  Tell me why I should switch to using it.

[flynempire]

Yes I was kind of surprised. I tried Avast and it was OK but gave me some problems with system speed. I am now using Panda Cloud and I like it so that is my vote for Panda Cloud.

It does not use too much memory although I recall Webroot (Paid) used very little memory. I have a customer on Comodo and just left it. Never really gave her a problem but I used CIS in the past and 3 times it would self destruct you can say which was annoying.

[taim]

For my slower computer I just use the browser's built in protection, I know it's not the smartest thing but I only browse with it, I never install anything new on it and only visit the same few sites on it.

[flynempire]

I put Ad-Aware on a Windows 8.1 machine and the protection stopped working. Weird..

[xrobwx71]

Comodo has the most votes BY FAR, but nobody is explaining why.  Tell me why I should switch to using it.

I counted 9 posts stating the person used MSE but only 4 votes? 75 votes for comodo but no comments.

[Darth Tigris]

xrobwx, on 19 Aug 2014 - 16:26, said:

I counted 9 posts stating the person used MSE but only 4 votes? 75 votes for comodo but no comments.

 

Well I gave it a try and have spent the last 3 hours fixing my computer.  It kept blocking my touchpad and keyboard and I couldn't do anything.  Had to do a system restore even! 

 

I'm going to try Avast! instead. 

[NeHoMaR]

The comodo votes looks extremely suspicious to me.

 

I still use Microsoft Security Essentials, but I am looking for something better at the moment.

[+Warwagon MVC]

Why is Ad-aware so popular? I saw a prevention video one time and it did HORRIBLE.

[Ironman273]

I think this is the best anti-virus:

 

Couple it with pretty much anything on the list and it works beautifully.