Which of these two free anti virus programs is better?

joeofeg · #1 (**permalink**) 19-02-2007, 12:16 AM

I have been using Anti Virus Sheild (AVS)-offered for free by AOL-on 3 computers at home for the past several months. I bought a new Vista laptop a few days ago. When I downloded the AVS program, it did not install on my laptop. Later I noticed that AVS does not offer a free version for Vista (it said coming soon). I ended up downloading and installing AVG (which is also free). Now, I have two different antia virus programs running on our computers. Should I switch the rest of the computer to AVG, or AVS is good enough?-Thanks

Megadeath · #2 (**permalink**) 20-02-2007, 11:38 AM

Usually 2 anti virus/spyware programs can't be installed on 1 pc.
But not for AVG.
I have downloaded it from
http://www.ewido.net/en/
unfortunatelly, i don't remember the second antivirus utility.
Anyway, try to use them both.
if it fails, leave AVG.
i believe, it's much better.

Megadeath · #3 (**permalink**) 18-03-2007, 11:57 PM

I was wrong.
Currently i'm running both AOL and AVG.
AVG just FOUND viruses, when AOL deleted them.
so, i going to uninstall AVG.

joeofeg · #4 (**permalink**) 20-03-2007, 05:43 AM

Were you running both of them at the same time? And, when you say AOL, do you by any chance mean AVS (anti virus shield)? which is offered by AOL.

This is not good about AVG. Based on what has been recommended very strongly on this Forum, I was planning to remove my AOL AVS and install AVG, but now you say AVG is not as good. Very annoying situation, indeed.

Tassie Devil · #5 (**permalink**) 20-03-2007, 09:54 AM

It's a matter of personal opinion. I have been running AVG for 3 years and only had 1 sneak past it. AVG has caught every other one that tried and deleted it.
It also depends on your browsing habits. Do you frequent high risk sites? Do you file swap? Any anti virus is only as good as the owner of the computer keeping it up to date and having other programs such as Spybot S & D and Adaware SE as a second net to catch the other items.

DJNafey · #6 (**permalink**) 21-03-2007, 02:06 AM

I'm generally of the opinion that "you get what you pay for" but, as far as I'm concerned, AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is a pretty impressive bit of software. The "Free for personal use" version remains free whilst they have introduced paid-for business / professional versions now and also additional products to target spyware and hackers, etc. AVG software is updated frequently, which is good news for users. AVS is very rarely talked about on this forum so, just on that basis alone, I'd say it must have a much smaller user base and so it's probably not as good as AVG.

joeofeg · #7 (**permalink**) 21-03-2007, 04:56 AM

I have already downloaded and installed AVG spyware. When I first ran it, the program found over 1400 stuff of low, medium, and high risks in my computer. I also installed the free registry cleaner recommended by this Forum. But, I still have AVG for virus scan. My computer runs much much better than B4 (the best that it has ever been). I used to have Norton. It expired at the end of last year. About a month before that, Norton's pop ups started showing up every couple of minutes warning that only so many days were left before program expiration. I got so irritated, that I removed the program a couple of weeks before expiration and installed AVG instead.

jephree · #8 (**permalink**) 21-03-2007, 05:16 AM

AVG and Avast are both great products! I came across Avast as AVG only runs on 32bit systems and I needed an AV for a 64bit which Avast handles.

The free version of Avast also has an automatic update (usually everyday) whereas AVG needs the manual update in the free version.

I would not use Norton or McAfee even if they were free. They both are so over burdening and problematic.

Megadeath · #9 (**permalink**) 22-03-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeofeg

Were you running both of them at the same time? And, when you say AOL, do you by any chance mean AVS (anti virus shield)? which is offered by AOL.

This is not good about AVG. Based on what has been recommended very strongly on this Forum, I was planning to remove my AOL AVS and install AVG, but now you say AVG is not as good. Very annoying situation, indeed.

Nope, Not the same time, but a day difference.
First AVG scaned my pc and report everything is ok.
But my PC was not "ok"
So the next day i've scanned entire HDD with AOL and 78 viruses/infected files were found (all deleted).
Yes (regarding AOL=Active virus shield),
It's just my experience.
However, AVG deleted malware on the same machine, about a month ago.
so, it's up to u to choose, but why don't u leave them both?

Kaistar · #10 (**permalink**) 23-03-2007, 02:15 AM

i'm using AVG and it is pretty good. keep in mind though, this forum recommends AVG, but with other programs supporting it as well. such as spybot and ad-aware and such.

of course, personal preference in the end.

leaving both might at times lead to conflicts if i'm not mistaken. and probably take up processing speed as well.