best antivirus thes days?

Hello all. I'm hoping for some input on the best AV.

I'm running Windows Vista, AVG free, Malwarebytes and some antispyware stuff.

Lately, MalwareBytes has picked up some nasty stuff, trojans I would have thought my AV should pick up.

I want something easy to use, no weird interfaces that only confuse me.
Maybe AVG Free is still the best for me, but I want to hear others experiences

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PLEASE:
No discussions of Norton or McAfee....they are not applications open for debate here.


Thanks

I've been using Commodo, Antivirus and Firewall, so far so good.

On another machine I'm running AVG, I've had some things get by that one, however from sites I probably shouldn't have trusted

What about Avira

free avg is still the best.
go with that one

reply to post by DontTreadOnMe

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I don't know of any anti-virus that has been tested, that picks up all threats. A bit of everything, such as what you have, seems to work the best. As a matter of fact, you have what I am currently running so I guess I am a bit biased.

And as you, I shall not name the unnamed ones that are a hex on anyone's computer in my opinion.

I would just keep what you have and be thankful that at least one of your programs are picking up what the others don't.

My maintenance consists of :

Desktop PC :

Daily:

Ccleaner
Glarys

Weekly
AVG scan

Monthly
AVG Scan
Malwarebytes
Spybot


Laptop :

Daily
Ccleaner
Glarys

Weekly
Commodo Scan

Monthly
Commodo Scan
Malwarebytes
Spybot


Another one I use from time to time is Superantispyware.

Doesn't exactly answer the question but I got tired of all that nonsense and am giving Linux (Ubuntu) a whirl. I'm an older guy and a bit of a Luddite to boot but so far so good. It's actually pretty fun.

I may look into Avira.
I am also of the school of thought that if it ain't broke....
Since the crap is getting caught.
Another thing, a lot of the AV out there has weird--to me--interfaces and I get lost setting them up.
With Commodo, I somehow LOCKED myself out of my computer and could not get back in....had to take it to the Geek Squad to unlock it. I had the PC like two days.
(FTR, I also had them completely delete Norton before I even brought it home )

I do think I will change who I do things though.
I hadn't run CCleaner in ages


MalwareBytes
daily

CCleaner
SpywareBlaster (updates)
weekly


AVG
monthly, w/auto updates

I forgot, I also use WinPatrol and have for years. Just love that Scotty

My ratings for free anti-virus software.

1. Avira

2.AVG (currently using with Zone Alarm firewall)
Number of infections this year =0

3.Comodo antivirus and firewall.

In conjunction with AVG and Zone alarm I am running Iobit security 360 and Advance System Care. I also run other utilities on occasion.

The thing is with most security and optimization software is each one has a strength and A possible weakness. Some of them you are responsible to run and other you are responsible to update.

Here is a list and reviews of the best free utilities for the PC.
I generally agree with the choices that are made.
The Best Free Software for PC
I hope you enjoy the link.

Basically you need..
An Anti-virus
A Firewall(I find MS firewall lacking)
(choose one of each)
Adware/Spyware/Scumware Remover
A tune up utility.

Another way to protect your self on the internet is to run Sandboxie
sandboxie





I hope this helps.

[edit on 30-10-2009 by The Utopian Penguin]

I have Avira
Malwarebytes
Spybot
Threatfire

I've tried just about every other free program but much prefer Avira. It seems pretty good at detecting threats before they gain a toe hold.
Pretty impressed with Malwarebytes too.
Spybot I just like for the tools.
I'm still experimenting with Threatfire

I do occasional online scans too.
And I give everything regular clear outs with CCleaner.

For me the holy trinity is AVG free, Malwarebytes and ccleaner used in conjunction with Firefox loaded with noscript.

I've been using norton 360 lately and it seems to hog far less resources than avg free ever did, so i'm pretty happy with that.

Last time I used avira I came to a stand still, so never been back.

reply to post by unicorn1

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I used to use Spybot, but that dang Teatimer made my crazy so I got rid of it on my old PC, will NOT put it on the new one.
Everything else you use, I also have, with the addition of SpywareBlaster.

Best thing about AVIRA so far is how much faster Vista loads, much less resources used.
MalwareBytes just ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


@ Anjin
I also like NoScript a lot!!!!

My suggestions:

NOD32 by eset.com for just AV
Eset smart security if you want AV and firewall protection.

I used to like AVG free but it started missing more and more. In my shop, I scan all the computers using NOD32 and it clears out stuff AVG, Norton, Avast, Kaspersky, and others miss.

I am still testing out Microsoft Security Essentials with good results. So far no computer has come back that has it installed.

Malwarebytes is not an AV product but a great weapon to have for clearing the malware off computers.

CCleaner is good for what it is for.
Spybot is showing its age but a great product.
SuperAntiSpyware is a great product. It can be ran from a USB drive.
HijackThis is good. Know what you are doing with it though.
AdAware I have given up on. It might be great but I quit using it when it stopped working from a USB drive and wanted to be integrated into windows and the registry.

My 2 cents.