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August 29, 2009

Is free antivirus software safe?

We look at free security programs

Erik Larkin

When it comes to free antivirus software, the programs available vary just as much as paid security programs do in the quality of their protection.

Frugal computer users on the hunt for no-cost antivirus software - already faced with tons of options (AVG, Avira, Comodo and PC Tools) - will have even more to choose with Microsoft's new Security Essentials and a new offering expected from Panda.

To help you figure out which free antivirus app is right for you, we put packages from all of those companies through their paces.

Our testing partner, AV-Test.org, employed its vast 'zoo' of collected malware to test detection rates and scan speed. We then poked and prodded the apps to see which ones made stopping malware an effortless task, and which ones made it feel more like drudgery.

Something - but not everything - for nothing

While free antivirus programs give you some value, they don't have everything that a paid security application can offer.

For one thing, you won't have anyone to call if things go haywire, or if you need disinfection help in the event something does sneak past your PC's defences. Most free apps give support only on online forums, though Avast and Microsoft offer email support. Avast users can submit online support tickets, too. AVG gives paid phone support, but the per-call fee costs more than most paid antivirus apps.

Do-it-yourselfers can often find good advice at helpful sites like Wilders Security Forums, but even there you shouldn't expect to talk to anyone for help with a free antivirus app. (Unless you can bribe a techie friend, that is.)

Generally, free apps have less-frequent malware-signature updates than paid products do, which can leave a window of opportunity for brand-new baddies to evade detection. Most of the free apps we tried update their signature databases only once daily.

Microsoft Security Essentials, however, will also check suspicious samples that don't match a particular installed signature, by running the sample against Microsoft's latest online signatures. And as long as you have an internet connection, Panda Cloud Antivirus checks everything against Panda's servers, so it will always use the newest signatures. (If you don't have an internet connection, the Panda program falls back on local caches.)

Some free utilities have fewer scanning options than paid apps from the same company do. For example, Avira's paid antivirus program will scan http traffic to catch web-borne malware before it hits your hard drive, but the company's free AntiVir Personal version won't. And AVG's paid app ties in to IM programs for additional security, while its AVG 8.5 Free doesn't.

Finally, some free programs give you stuff you don't want. The AVG app and Comodo Internet Security both default to installing unnecessary search or social networking browser toolbars (you can opt out during program installation), and many free apps display ads urging you to buy the paid versions.

Avira's daily pop-up ads are the most intrusive, but Avast, AVG, and PC Tools Antivirus Free Edition all display ads in some form as well.

In spite of all that, in choosing a no-cost antivirus utility, you can get decent protection and save yourself at minimum £20 every year, if you're willing to go without a few nonessentials. For many people, that isn't a bad trade-off.

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Comments received


Dragon said on Tuesday, 01 September 2009

Avast Free updates itself regularly and used with PC Tools Firewall + has kept my PC trouble free for a very long time. AVG, with Zone Alarm, let me down spectacularly, and cost me £60 to have my PC corrected. I sat and watched files disappear, and could only switch off the PC by pulling the plug. I didn't like Avira at all.

Ron said on Tuesday, 01 September 2009

"Avast Antivirus Home Edition's web traffic scanning and less-intrusive ads - but then you'll have to deal with an even worse interface"

Complete rubbish. I've used it for years there are NO ads with avast! home edition, intrusive or otherwise. There's nothing wrong with the interface either - it's simple and functional - what more do you want? Fancy graphics and icons instead of menus won't make it work any better.

The only sign of avast! doing it's thing is a frequent, small and unobrusive, pop-up to tell you it's updated itself, often several times a day, plus the icon in the system tray, which rotates when avast! is scanning.

As free apps go, it's pretty much perfect.

paul c said on Tuesday, 01 September 2009

I presently use ESET Smart Security 4.0.437.0 its great for users who got a Broadband Stick application, only updates when theres a connection and it does not pester you all the time to do a computer scan at it's confidence and never has data problems when updating. Perfect.

FairDoos said on Tuesday, 01 September 2009

I personally use Avira and Zonealarm and havent had any problems. The thing is though people complain about Anti-Virus's not protecting them when its the user thats actually not protecting themselves e.g Lets go download some porn off Limewire its super safe..

BILLYGEORGE said on Tuesday, 01 September 2009

Have been using Avast for a couple of years, gives real time protection and instantly warns if you are on a dodgy site, see no need to change.

BILLYGEORGE said on Tuesday, 01 September 2009

Have been using Avast for a couple of years, gives real time protection and instantly warns if you are on a dodgy site, see no need to change.

Mike said on Tuesday, 01 September 2009

I find it odd that a magazine with a mainly United Kingdom circulation, includes in a group test software that is unavailable (from Microsoft anyway) in the UK.

If one tries to download "Security Essentials" their website states "You appear to be in a country or region where the Microsoft Security Essentials Beta is unavailable.
This beta is available only to customers in the United States, Israel (English only), People's Republic of China (Simplified Chinese only) and Brazil (Brazilian Portuguese only).

Or have Microsoft moved the goalposts?

www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/market.aspx

Errr said on Tuesday, 01 September 2009

Mike, this is a website, not a magazine. I discovered that when I tried to roll it up and swat flies with it.

butter fingers said on Tuesday, 01 September 2009

Forgive me if i'm missing something here but there doesn't seem to be a rounding up of the article? Is there a table of the results for each?Was the avira better in one area than others? How far behind were the others? What was the result for the microsoft? It doesn't say! Answers on a postcard please!

Bazza said on Tuesday, 01 September 2009

After reading reviews tried AntiVir free 'cause of better detection rates. Thanks to its popup ad, it drew my attention to the fact that it doesn't integrate with Outlook - rather than upgrade to the paid version which does, I went for AVG which does integrate with Outlook. Perhaps this article should have considered this integration?

Bazza said on Tuesday, 01 September 2009

After reading reviews tried AntiVir free 'cause of better detection rates. Thanks to its popup ad, it drew my attention to the fact that it doesn't integrate with Outlook - rather than upgrade to the paid version which does, I went for AVG which does integrate with Outlook. Perhaps this article should have considered this integration?

small correction said on Tuesday, 01 September 2009

You are wrong by saying that free av apps provides just one signatures update per day. Yes, one, but automatic. Avira Personal, for instance allows to update its signatures manually, so you have the same signatures as in paid Premium version. Just you have to remember to update it, let say, every two hours. Scanning engine is also the same in both paid and free version.
Avast updates signatures manually a couple times per day.
Just AVG won't let you update signatures more than once a day.

about ThreatFire said on Tuesday, 01 September 2009

PC Tools ThreatFire is provides only behavioral protection, but I tried it on my two computers, one older (laptop) one newer (desktop), both with Vista Home Premium, 2 GB RAM. I have the same security programs on these machines: Agnitum Pro Firewall, Avira Premium, SpywareBlaster (which doesn't run in the tray and in the tasks) and WinPatrol (does run in the tray). I also use Sandboxie for even more secure browsing. ThreatFire mus be in system startup programs and in the tray and to be honest it's slows down startup and system closing process.
Having such good av and other protecting apps I don't really need ThreatFire.

about ThreatFire said on Tuesday, 01 September 2009

Let me just get this straight. You're running Agnitum Pro Firewall, Avira Premium, SpywareBlaster, WinPatrol and occasionally Sandboxie. And you think it's ThreatFire that's slowing your system down?!?
Avira Premium includes anti-spyware features, it has anti-rootkit technology, it provides 'WebGuard' - which will keep you safe when you accidentally stray on to dodgy websites. It has a plethora of other features. Leaving your other four security apps aside for a moment, what made you think you needed ThreatFire as well?

Cyteck said on Wednesday, 02 September 2009

I have been using AVG Free with Zone Alarm Free basic firewall on my windows XP machine for several years & I have found it an extremely stable & solid combination of software. I have tried numerous other Anti Virus products over the years such McAfee & Norton & AntiVir paid & freeware but found Free AVG is just as good at detecting viruses & parasites as other paid for licensed products. Personally I think its a bit of a myth that paid for AV programs have better detection rates.

Finally, an AV application that updates itself once a day seems quite reasonable, OK twice daily updates is nicer but its not going to make much difference to most ordinary users. OK! if your running a business then something like Sophos server with multiple daily updates which it pushes out to its desktop clients might not be over the top given how its business's that get more attacks.

Bob said on Thursday, 03 September 2009

What about Clamwin? I used to use it and am thinking of trying it again.

Katkins said on Friday, 04 September 2009

I'm glad Anti-Vir came out on top. It's the programme I have installed on my PC along with free edition Outpost Firewall and Spyware Terminator.

PeteH said on Sunday, 06 September 2009

Nothings free that's any good if you examine the issues holistically. I've used McAfee IS with Webroot SpySweeper ever since I bought my computer (removed Norton as it was rubbish). Each year I shop around for the best deals before renewing and have found the combined cost of this protection is much much less than it would have cost me had I had problems - when I've needed help, it's always been there quickly and FREE. Annual cost for BOTH programs has remained less than £50 and I have also been offered 2 years protection for the price of one. You won't convince me to take the risk of using free IS software.

Big-Gee said on Thursday, 10 September 2009

3+ years user of Avast, which is updated daily, has proven protection is non-intrusive, however the proxy function does affect some systems, with firefox being particuarly susceptible to blocking, so much that I hardly bother with firefox, but then all I want is functionality, but it's still far better than norton & Mcafee, in my book.

PeterH said on Saturday, 12 September 2009

Re comments from Big-Gee.
I use Firefox all the time, as my IP's (AOL) browser is so slow. Don't have any problems with Firefox and my McAfee IS and SpySweeper security software. With McAfee IS, at the end of each session, you can run a full scan and select to "turn off the computer if all is ok". Hence, this is no inconvenience to the user and provides full security at an acceptable cost. Real-time protection from both of these programs does not inhibit my computer in any way (I only have an Intel Pentium 4 processor, but 2.5GB of RAM, no dual core). Sorry but you won't convince me that "free" is better.

Marie said on Sunday, 13 September 2009

have used AVG and AVAST free antivirus software for many years with out any problems. Both provide excellent cover, also inglude free Adaware and spyblaster and you will be fully covered. Remember to schedule downloads/scans if available in the options or run manually.

Neil Patmore said on Sunday, 20 September 2009

Its safe as long as you don't need support - then its expensive! www.antivirusmarket.co.uk are doing bitDefender for 12 quid at the moment.

Jeff said on Sunday, 20 September 2009

Pc tools free antivirus is da best. Uses very little resources and scans fast. www.freeantivirushelp.com

raija theodoulou said on Wednesday, 23 September 2009

Hi,

I wanted to try the 1clickPCFix.com but Kaspersky classified it as phishing.

Raaija

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