[wasabisashimi]

I need a antispyware/antivirus program for my new computer.

I am sick of norton.
Anyone know any other brand? I want : 1) low resource hog, 2) realtime protection, 3) free/cheap?

is microsoft defender still available and free?

[Spectre_Cdn]

microsoft security essentials + common sense

[way2quik]

avast free.
I ditched MSE (Windows Defender on W8) for avast!
Avast picked up a trojan where Windows Defender did not.

Of course, everyone's computers are not the same.

[bobola]

malwarebytes is pretty good

[mos_skeeto]

I don't like avast anymore. It's a bit of a resource hog and it's high maintenance. I know because I set it up on my family's computers and I get calls everytime it pops up a 'please register' or 'please upgrade me' message.

Switched everyone over to microsoft security essentials. Runs sweet even on older hardware.

[Jmac]

avast free.
I ditched MSE (Windows Defender on W8) for avast!
Avast picked up a trojan where Windows Defender did not.

Of course, everyone's computers are not the same. Avast! is well-known for its high false positive rates. I wouldn't be too sure that Trojan was actually a virus.

[twitchyzero]

Yeah I'd like to know one that doesn't have a whole bunch of false positives.
I was using AVG for a while but I recall there wasn't a way to 100% turn it off unless you uninstall it :rukidding:

[mb_]

MSE or die
Posted via RS Mobile

[bloodline129]

Hands down bitdefender
Posted via RS Mobile

[BBMme]

Trend micro
Posted via RS Mobile

[Soundy]

I used to love Avast, but yeah, it turned into a real pig. I'll usually put MSE and Malwarebytes on my builds - Malwarebytes isn't an antivirus, and MSE doesn't seem to do general spyware all that well, but between the two, things seem to be well-covered.

[icemiko]

NOD32

[freakshow]

+1 for malwarebytes and MSE (and common sense)

[Szeto]

been using Kaspersky for so long... 20 bucks for 3 pcs.

[willystyle]

How is Avast considered a memory hog? It uses only 6MB.

[DC2aDDicT]

kaspersky - fast, easy to use and actually blocks spywares
Posted via RS Mobile

[wasabisashimi]

been using Kaspersky for so long... 20 bucks for 3 pcs.

is that a yearly cost of $20 or one time fee with updates?

Are free ones worse than paid ones?. Why would Microsoft give out free protection , is there a catch? they are a huge cooperation.

[Spectre_Cdn]

Because MS is a large corporation, they can provide free malware protection. After all, you're using their OS, which you paid for.

[Szeto]

is that a yearly cost of $20 or one time fee with updates?

Are free ones worse than paid ones?. Why would Microsoft give out free protection , is there a catch? they are a huge cooperation.

this would be a yearly cost, i have the KIS - internet security and they usually go on sale at Future shop or Best Buy for 20 bucks where as reg price is like 80.

[willystyle]

Are free ones worse than paid ones?
For your average personal home computer, free antivirus software is just as good as the paid.

Avast is arguably the best free antivirus program available. Install that along with Malwarebytes. You are good to go.

[Anjew]

malwarebytes has been pretty effective.

mse is good for prevention but once you are really infected(rootkits, worms) its pretty much junk.

eset and emisoft had definitions which were able to detect some worms and rootkits which the more popular AV's (MSE, mcafee, norton) could not even see.

[ddr]

+1 for malwarebytes and MSE (and common sense)

i use this combo as well. but MSE on its own has been getting bad reviews lately and avast has taken the spot for the best free alternative.