Decent free antivirus?

hat · Feb 13, 2018

THIS thread again... I used the search function, the most recent one was locked.

We tried AVG, but it came with all this other crap. "Speed up your PC" type stuff... I don't want that. I want an antivirus that does just that and nothing else. I did take something from the last thread though: BitDefender Free. Trying it out now, looks very basic and just protects the system. I just ran a scan though and it detected my miner as a threat, but it didn't do anything about it. It didn't delete it, put it in quarantine, or even asked me what I wanted to do. It just said there were unresolved threats, what and where they are, and under the status column or whatever it said "blocked"...

pigulici · Feb 13, 2018

I use Avira free...

Readlight · Feb 13, 2018

I Don't use any antivirus I don't need useless stuff running. I don't trust these American, Russian software. I remembered Kaspersky was the best.all of them are usable one month.
I just don't visit untrusty places on the internet anymore.

ExV6k · Feb 13, 2018

https://www.kaspersky.com/free-antivirus

Fits your description perfectly.

CAPSLOCKSTUCK · Feb 13, 2018

Windows Defender.

RejZoR · Feb 13, 2018

Just because it has something in the menu it doesn't mean it actuall yhas that installed. avast! Free is modular and while it shows "upsell" features in the interface, they are literally just a button that leads to "Buy" page. You can also strip it of most modules you don't need, leaving just essential protective modules.

Space Lynx · Feb 13, 2018

I have a lifetime license for Malwarebytes, I just use that and that only, I love it

Easo · Feb 13, 2018

Windows Defender.

TheMailMan78 · Feb 13, 2018

Windows Defender. If not Bitdefender Free.

Better than everything listed thus far in this thread according to third-party testers.

https://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html

DRDNA · Feb 13, 2018

Windows Defender with Malwarebytes Pro with lifetime license.

peche · Feb 13, 2018

hat said:
We tried AVG, but it came with all this other crap. "Speed up your PC" type stuff... I don't want that

honestly, i still use AVG, decent protection for free, all you have to do is clock on "X" on most advises, i was in your situation some months ago, then learned how to ignore that advise.

Regards,

dorsetknob · Feb 13, 2018

CAPSLOCKSTUCK said:
Windows Defender.

Easo said:
Windows Defender.

TheMailMan78 said:
Windows Defender. If not Bitdefender Free.

Better than everything listed thus far in this thread according to third-party testers.

https://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html

DRDNA said:
Windows Defender with Malwarebytes Pro with lifetime license.

Oh and just in case its for an older O/S

this little nugget of goodness
Still not on Windows 10? Fine, sighs Microsoft, here are its antivirus tools for Windows 7, 8.1
Redmond extends ATP to older builds, adds third-party links

The_DriverX · Feb 13, 2018

You might be interested in this: https://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/eek/ It is completely free (for non-commerical use). It's even portable (like store it on a USB thumb drive)!

Bill_Bright · Feb 13, 2018

I agree with using Windows Defender. I use it on all my systems and have had no problems going all the way back to MSE (the predecessor to WD) on W7.

BTW, before anyone considers Kaspersky, while it is a good anti-malware solution, it will not come anywhere near any system I am responsible for.

Kaspersky Lab antivirus firm used by hundreds of thousands of Britons 'is controlled by Russian secret service'
US bans Kaspersky software from government agencies

While the "KGB trained" :eek:

CEO's claims he knew nothing about it (plausible deniability?) may be true, there is just too much evidence showing something is going on. Since the firm is located in Moscow, it would be easy for Putin to "plant" Russian operatives in the company. So good program or not, they cannot be trusted.

TheMailMan78 · Feb 13, 2018

Bill_Bright said:
I agree with using Windows Defender. I use it on all my systems and have had no problems going all the way back to MSE (the predecessor to WD) on W7.

BTW, before anyone considers Kaspersky, while it is a good anti-malware solution, it will not come anywhere near any system I am responsible for.

Kaspersky Lab antivirus firm used by hundreds of thousands of Britons 'is controlled by Russian secret service'
US bans Kaspersky software from government agencies

While the "KGB trained" CEO's claims he knew nothing about it (plausible deniability?) may be true, there is just too much evidence showing something is going on. Since the firm is located in Moscow, it would be easy for Putin to "plant" Russian operatives in the company. So good program or not, they cannot be trusted.

Its why I run Bitdefender. Just as good as Kapersky but, Romanian instead of Russian.

Gasaraki · Feb 13, 2018

I have personally used Avast for like 10 years and I swear by it. Yes they have some nag menus now that pop up sometimes but you can customize what blades you want to install so you can just install the basic blade that does virus scanning if you want. However their web protection blade is VERY good. If the website is infected somehow, it will stop the connection to it at that point. It has saved me a few times.

jboydgolfer · Feb 13, 2018

https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/thankyou/

windwhirl · Feb 13, 2018

For free? Windows Defender does its work quite fine. Maybe add Malwarebytes for on-demand scanning.

On that note, though, how times change. A couple years ago you'd have to be insane to use only WD, now it's actually not a bad idea...

jsalpha2 · Feb 13, 2018

No love for Panda?

Bill_Bright · Feb 13, 2018

windwhirl said:
On that note, though, how times change. A couple years ago you'd have to be insane to use only WD, now it's actually not a bad idea...

Then I was insane. As noted above, I used WD since before it was WD - as MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials) with W7. I stuck with WD in W8, and stayed with it in W10. And with no regrets, or infections.

WD got a bad rap for two reasons. (1) It didn't score as well as other programs in artificial lab testing. And (2) from bad publicity from MS bashers in the IT press and blogospere, and from the marketing departments of the competing products.

But because Microsoft does not make any money from WD, they don't need high simulated "real world" lab scores for advertising, publicity and marketing purposes. So Microsoft does not code WD to score well in those simulated tests. They just code it to protect users in the real real world. And surprise surprise, it does that well. Windows Defender users are NOT getting infected as the MS bashers and competing products would like us to believe.

Of course, regardless your primary scanner of choice, everyone should have a secondary scanner on hand, just to make sure the primary scanner, or the user did not let something slip by. And I agree adding Malwarebytes for on-demand scanning is great for that.

That said, even the best security defenses in the world are easily defeated if the user opens the door and lets the bad guy in. So it is incumbent on the user (always the weakest link in security) to keep their OS and security current, and to not be "click-happy" on unsolicited links, popups, attachments and downloads.

Space Lynx · Feb 13, 2018

DRDNA said:
Windows Defender with Malwarebytes Pro with lifetime license.

That's what I use too!!! Hey we should be buds!

illli · Feb 13, 2018

Surprised by all the windows defender recommendations. Wasn't it pretty terrible and ranked low in the av comparative tests? Has something changed in the past couple of years?

Bill_Bright · Feb 13, 2018

illli said:
Wasn't it pretty terrible and ranked low in the av comparative tests?

Please read my last post. It explains it.

windwhirl · Feb 13, 2018

illli said:
Surprised by all the windows defender recommendations. Wasn't it pretty terrible and ranked low in the av comparative tests? Has something changed in the past couple of years?

Well, these days WD doesn't score badly on AV tests. It's not reaching yet 100% all the time, but it's free, it's available on any computer with at least Windows 7 and some people can't be bothered to install antivirus software, so Microsoft probably has around 10 or 15% of the Windows market using Defender (I don't think anyone has data on that, except Microsoft, so it's just a guess). That gives them a lot of systems that send them feedback and suspicious files.

RealNeil · Feb 13, 2018

Malwarebytes and Webroot SecureAnywhere.

Secure Anywhere isn't free, but I can usually get three one-year licences for $9.95 each, from sales at Newegg.
I buy three of them every year and that gives me good protection for up to nine PCs. (I usually have 6 or 7 running)

System Name	Starlifter :: Dragonfly
Processor	i7 2600k 4.4GHz :: i5 10400
Motherboard	ASUS P8P67 Pro :: ASUS Prime H570-Plus
Cooling	Cryorig M9 :: Stock
Memory	4x4GB DDR3 2133 :: 2x8GB DDR4 2400
Video Card(s)	PNY GTX1070 :: Integrated UHD 630
Storage	Crucial MX500 1TB, 2x1TB Seagate RAID 0 :: Mushkin Enhanced 60GB SSD, 3x4TB Seagate HDD RAID5
Display(s)	Onn 165hz 1080p :: Acer 1080p
Case	Antec SOHO 1030B :: Old White Full Tower
Audio Device(s)	Creative X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro - Bose Companion 2 Series III :: None
Power Supply	FSP Hydro GE 550w :: EVGA Supernova 550
Software	Windows 10 Pro - Plex Server on Dragonfly
Benchmark Scores	>9000

Processor	i7-9700
Motherboard	Gigabyte Z390 AORUS PRO
Memory	32GB DDR4
Video Card(s)	msi 1080
Storage	Samsung SSD 850 pro 2TB+1tb hdd 7200rpm+ 1tb 970pro
Software	Mageia 6 + Windows 10

System Name	Fujitsu Siemens, HP Workstation
Processor	Athlon x2 5000+ 3.1GHz, i5 2400
Motherboard	Asus
Memory	4GB Samsung
Video Card(s)	rx 460 4gb
Storage	750 Evo 250 +2tb
Display(s)	Asus 1680x1050 4K HDR
Audio Device(s)	Pioneer
Power Supply	430W
Mouse	Acme
Keyboard	Trust

System Name	RED
Processor	Intel Core i5 2500
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-B75M-HD3
Cooling	Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo
Memory	2x8GB 1600MHz DDR3 @1333 [Avexir]
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Windforce 2X OC
Storage	1Samsung 840 Series SSD 250GB, 2Seagate Barracuda 1TB HDDs
Display(s)	LG W1934S
Case	Aerocool X-Warrior Red Devil Edition
Audio Device(s)	Realtek ALC887
Power Supply	Seasonic M12II Evo 520W (80+ Bronze)
Mouse	Cooler Master Devastator II Mouse
Keyboard	Cooler Master Devastator II Keyboard

System Name	Party On
Processor	Xeon w 3520
Motherboard	DFI Lanparty
Cooling	Big tower thing
Memory	6 gb Ballistix Tracer
Video Card(s)	HD 7970
Case	a plank of wood
Audio Device(s)	seperate amp and 6 big speakers
Power Supply	Corsair
Mouse	cheap
Keyboard	under going restoration

Processor	7800X3D -25 all core
Motherboard	B650 Steel Legend
Cooling	Frost Commander 140
Video Card(s)	Merc 310 7900 XT @3100 core -.75v
Display(s)	Agon 27" QD-OLED Glossy 240hz 1440p
Case	NZXT H710 (Red/Black)
Audio Device(s)	Asgard 2, Modi 3, HD58X
Power Supply	Corsair RM850x Gold

System Name	Personal \\ Work - HP EliteBook 840 G6
Processor	7700X \\ i7-8565U
Motherboard	Asrock X670E PG Lightning
Cooling	Noctua DH-15
Memory	G.SKILL Trident Z5 RGB Black 32GB 6000MHz CL36 \\ 16GB DDR4-2400
Video Card(s)	ASUS RoG Strix 1070 Ti \\ Intel UHD Graphics 620
Storage	2x KC3000 2TB, Samsung 970 EVO 512GB \\ OEM 256GB NVMe SSD
Display(s)	BenQ XL2411Z \\ FullHD + 2x HP Z24i external screens via docking station
Case	Fractal Design Define Arc Midi R2 with window
Audio Device(s)	Realtek ALC1150 with Logitech Z533
Power Supply	Corsair AX860i
Mouse	Logitech G502
Keyboard	Corsair K55 RGB PRO
Software	Windows 11 \\ Windows 10

System Name	TheMailbox 5.0 / The Mailbox 4.5
Processor	RYZEN 1700X / Intel i7 2600k @ 4.2GHz
Motherboard	Fatal1ty X370 Gaming K4 / Gigabyte Z77X-UP5 TH Intel LGA 1155
Cooling	MasterLiquid PRO 280 / Scythe Katana 4
Memory	ADATA RGB 16GB DDR4 2666 16-16-16-39 / G.SKILL Sniper Series 16GB DDR3 1866: 9-9-9-24
Video Card(s)	MSI 1080 "Duke" with 8Gb of RAM. Boost Clock 1847 MHz / ASUS 780ti
Storage	256Gb M4 SSD / 128Gb Agelity 4 SSD , 500Gb WD (7200)
Display(s)	LG 29" Class 21:9 UltraWide® IPS LED Monitor 2560 x 1080 / Dell 27"
Case	Cooler Master MASTERBOX 5t / Cooler Master 922 HAF
Audio Device(s)	Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec / SupremeFX X-Fi with Bose Companion 2 speakers.
Power Supply	Seasonic FOCUS Plus Series SSR-750PX 750W Platinum / SeaSonic X Series X650 Gold
Mouse	SteelSeries Sensei (RAW) / Logitech G5
Keyboard	Razer BlackWidow / Logitech (Unknown)
Software	Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
Benchmark Scores	Benching is for bitches.

Processor	INTEL CORE I9-9900K @ 5Ghz all core 4.7Ghz Cache @1.305 volts
Motherboard	ASUS PRIME Z390-P ATX
Cooling	CORSAIR HYDRO H150I PRO RGB 360MM 6x120mm fans push pull
Memory	CRUCIAL BALLISTIX 3000Mhz 4x8 32gb @ 4000Mhz
Video Card(s)	EVGA GEFORECE RTX 2080 SUPER XC HYBRID GAMING
Storage	ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 1TB 3D NAND NVMe,Intel 660p 1TB m.2 ,1TB WD Blue 3D NAND,500GB WD Blue 3D NAND,
Display(s)	50" Sharp Roku TV 8ms responce time and Philips 75Hz 328E9QJAB 32" curved
Case	BLACK LIAN LI O11 DYNAMIC XL FULL-TOWER GAMING CASE,
Power Supply	1600 Watt
Software	Windows 10

System Name	Athenna
Processor	intel i7 3770 Dellided
Motherboard	GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 Rev. 1.1
Cooling	Thermaltake Water 3.0 Pro + Tt Riing12 x2 / Tt ThunderBlade / Gelid Slim 120UV fans
Memory	16GB DRR3 Kingoston with Custom Tt spreaders + HyperX Fan
Video Card(s)	GeForce GTX 980 4GB Nvidia Sample
Storage	Crucial M4 SSD 64GB's / Seagate Barracuda 2TB / Seagate Barracuda 320GB's
Display(s)	22" LG FLATRON 1920 x 1280p
Case	Thermaltake Commander G42 Window
Audio Device(s)	On-board Dolby 5.1+ Kingston HyperX Cloud 1
Power Supply	Themaltake TR2 700W 80plus bronce & APC Pro backup 1000Va
Mouse	Tt eSports Level 10M Rev 1.0 Diamond Black & Tt Conkor "L" mouse pad
Keyboard	Tt eSports KNUCKER
Software	windows 10x64Pro
Benchmark Scores	well I've fried a 775' P4 12 years ago, that counts?

Processor	AMD A6
Memory	8 GB DDR3
Video Card(s)	Asus R9 270x
Storage	6TB
Display(s)	HP
Case	No Name
Audio Device(s)	Realtek (integrated)
Power Supply	Corsair 600CX
Mouse	Logitech
Keyboard	Logitech

System Name	Brightworks Systems BWS-6 E-IV
Processor	Intel Core i5-6600 @ 3.9GHz
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-Z170-HD3 Rev 1.0
Cooling	Quality case, 2 x Fractal Design 140mm fans, stock CPU HSF
Memory	32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4 3000 Corsair Vengeance
Video Card(s)	EVGA GEForce GTX 1050Ti 4Gb GDDR5
Storage	Samsung 850 Pro 256GB SSD, Samsung 860 Evo 500GB SSD
Display(s)	Samsung S24E650BW LED x 2
Case	Fractal Design Define R4
Power Supply	EVGA Supernova 550W G2 Gold
Mouse	Logitech M190
Keyboard	Microsoft Wireless Comfort 5050
Software	W10 Pro 64-bit

System Name	Unimatrix
Processor	Intel i9-9900K @ 5.0GHz
Motherboard	ASRock x390 Taichi Ultimate
Cooling	Custom Loop
Memory	32GB GSkill TridentZ RGB DDR4 @ 3400MHz 14-14-14-32
Video Card(s)	EVGA 2080 with Heatkiller Water Block
Storage	2x Samsung 960 Pro 512GB M.2 SSD in RAID 0, 1x WD Blue 1TB M.2 SSD
Display(s)	Alienware 34" Ultrawide 3440x1440
Case	CoolerMaster P500M Mesh
Power Supply	Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
Keyboard	Corsair K75
Benchmark Scores	Really Really High

System Name	Americas cure is the death of Social Justice & Political Correctness
Processor	i7-11700K
Motherboard	Asrock Z590 Extreme wifi 6E
Cooling	Noctua NH-U12A
Memory	32GB Corsair RGB fancy boi 5000
Video Card(s)	RTX 3090 Reference
Storage	Samsung 970 Evo 1Tb + Samsung 970 Evo 500Gb
Display(s)	Dell - 27" LED QHD G-SYNC x2
Case	Fractal Design Meshify-C
Audio Device(s)	on board
Power Supply	Seasonic Focus+ Gold 1000 Watt
Mouse	Logitech G502 spectrum
Keyboard	AZIO MGK-1 RGB (Kaith Blue)
Software	Win 10 Professional 64 bit
Benchmark Scores	the MLGeesiest

System Name	System V
Processor	AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Motherboard	Asus Prime X570-P
Cooling	Cooler Master Hyper 212 // a bunch of 120 mm Xigmatek 1500 RPM fans (2 ins, 3 outs)
Memory	2x8GB Ballistix Sport LT 3200 MHz (BLS8G4D32AESCK.M8FE) (CL16-18-18-36)
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte AORUS Radeon RX 580 8 GB
Storage	SHFS37A240G / DT01ACA200 / ST10000VN0008 / ST8000VN004 / SA400S37960G / SNV21000G / NM620 2TB
Display(s)	LG 22MP55 IPS Display
Case	NZXT Source 210
Audio Device(s)	Logitech G430 Headset
Power Supply	Corsair CX650M
Software	Whatever build of Windows 11 is being served in Canary channel at the time.
Benchmark Scores	Corona 1.3: 3120620 r/s Cinebench R20: 3355 FireStrike: 12490 TimeSpy: 4624

System Name	Home Brewed
Processor	i9-7900X and i7-8700K
Motherboard	ASUS ROG Rampage VI Extreme & ASUS Prime Z-370 A
Cooling	Corsair 280mm AIO & Thermaltake Water 3.0
Memory	64GB DDR4-3000 GSKill RipJaws-V & 32GB DDR4-3466 GEIL Potenza
Video Card(s)	2X-GTX-1080 SLI & 2 GTX-1070Ti 8GB G1 Gaming in SLI
Storage	Both have 2TB HDDs for storage, 480GB SSDs for OS, and 240GB SSDs for Steam Games
Display(s)	ACER 28" B286HK 4K & Samsung 32" 1080P
Case	NZXT Source 540 & Rosewill Rise Chassis
Audio Device(s)	onboard
Power Supply	Corsair RM1000 & Corsair RM850
Mouse	Generic
Keyboard	Razer Blackwidow Tournament & Corsair K90
Software	Win-10 Professional
Benchmark Scores	yes

Decent free antivirus?

Free Anti-Virus You Would Recommend

AVG

Bit Defender

Avast

Avira

Kaspersky

Windows Defender

Any of the above paired with Malwarebytes

Enthusiast

Spaced Out Lunar Tick

Astronaut

Big Member

Thermaltake fanboy

"YOUR RMA REQUEST IS CON-REFUSED"

Big Member

Astronaut