free antivirus

[wotnobivvy]

Is there a consensus about which is the best both in terms of speed and coverage. I am getting fed up with Norton clearing all the cookies and signon information

[Newt]

Free Antivirus - given the effort needed to write the software and keep it up to date (with new threats appearing at least daily), I'd avoid any that advertised as "free" like I'd avoid a nest of rabid bats.

 

Find one that suits you, pay for it, and use it.

 

TANSTAAFL (look that up if you aren't familiar with the concept)

[ayjay]

I've never yet paid for an Anti-virus programme and I've not yet had a virus either.

 

I used AVG for a long time but an update some years back slowed my PC so much that I switched to Avast and am still using that.

 

Those two appear to be the most popular of the free AVs available. You can pay for an upgrade on both of those if you want, it will give you more features such as scheduled scans etc. etc. but for me the AV works just fine on the free version.

 

Take your pick, there's plenty on offer - http://www.majorgeeks.com/mg/sortname/all_in_one_anti_virus_suites.html

[chesters1]

Is there a consensus about which is the best both in terms of speed and coverage. I am getting fed up with Norton clearing all the cookies and signon information

I use norton it doesnt remove cookies etc (cannot remember telling it not to) on the other hand browsers will if your security is to tight or you wish to remove traces of your last online visits

[Bigfishy]

The first anti virus I used was Norton but it slowed my computer to a snails pace.

 

Tried AVG - both free and paid for - but again it I didn't like the affect it had on my machine.

 

Have been using Avast (free) for the past three years and not had any real issues (so far).