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Which Free Anti-Virus is Best

Back in the early days of the personal computer, a guy named Peter Norton was on the cutting edge of technology.  Norton developed a number of programs that helped tame the PC, particularly in the area of disk management, maintenance, and repair.

He also was a pioneer in the battle against viruses, back when a system-wrecking snippet could be as simple as a "del *.*" command in a .bat file.

Viruses have become far more sophisticated and complicated today as operating systems become more bigger and more complex.

Unfortunately, that "bigger and more complex" label applies to the commercial anti-virus programs like Norton and its strongest rival, McAfee.

Somehow, both of those companies have forgotten their roots and purpose.

Ask yourself this simple question: why are viruses bad?

Aside from the actual damage they can do to your computer or files, one of the most common answers is that viruses make your computer run slower.

Today, the same can be said of Norton and McAfee.

It seems that with every generation, the two anti-virus programs become more bloated and slower, causing your computer to get slower and slower.

Part of that is because the programs have become so feature-heavy, mostly with routines and processes that most people don't care about.

Now, instead of simple anti-virus code, Norton and McAfee include spam blockers, e-mail filters, adware protection, malware hunters, and a ton of other security programs.

Unfortunately, all that extra stuff has to load up every time you start your computer.

The result is that a computer with Norton or McAfee is slow to boot, and once up and running, makes the computer run slower as it examines every scrap of incoming code three or four times.

Then you have the cost factor.

Norton used to be a reasonably-priced piece of software.  You paid $19.95 for it, and you could update it until the letters were worn off your keyboard.

Depending on the day, McAfee could be even cheaper.

Not anymore.

These days, you don't "buy" Norton and McAfee, you rent it.

The 2012 version of "Norton Internet Security" retails for $69.95.  And it's only good for a year.

You can get a two-year deal, but at $114.99, it's still pricey.

Norton has also started offering just the anti-virus, like in the good old days, but that stripped-down model is still $39.99 for one-year.

McAfee's full "Internet Security" version is $54.99, following a longstanding tradition of undercutting Norton's price.  But you still have the issue of annual renewals.

Without a doubt, Norton and McAfee are the big dogs in anti-virus protection.

However, there are some newcomers that are extremely effective, and have a distinct price advantage.

Namely, free.

One of the most popular free anti-virus programs is Avast.

You can download Avast at http://www.avast.com/en-us/free-antivirus-download.  Just make sure you grab the free version.

Avast can protect against most viruses.  No anti-virus program can stop every virus, not even Norton or McAfee, because new viruses are being unleashed every day.  The key to ongoing protection is the update process.

The good news is that Avast will update itself every time you turn on the computer.  The bad news is that Avast will update itself every time you turn on the computer.  That means slower startups.  However, the startup will still be faster than either Norton or McAfee.

Another very good anti-virus program is AVG, a German offering.  Don't worry, everything is in English.  You can download AVG Free at http://free.avg.com/us-en/free-antivirus-download.

A warning about AVG - like Avast, it has a "for pay" version.  Don't confuse the free version with the free trial version, which you'll find at http://www.avg.com.  The free trial version only lasts 14 days, then you have to pay.

Be aware that both AVG and Avast only works for one year, then you have to download another version.  They will both try to direct you to their "for pay" versions, and they probably deserve a look because you've been using their software at no charge for the last year.  But if you want to continue with free protection, you'll probably have to uninstall your current virus then download their latest free version. 

There used to be two other free anti-virus programs, but both have gotten swelled heads and now only have "for pay" versions, and both are pricey.  It's a shame, because neither Trend Micro or Kaspersky were very good.  I once had a nasty virus get by Trend Micro's free version.  Fortunately, when I loaded AVG Free, it took care of the bug.

Eventually, I expect AVG and Avast to follow suit and get rid of their free versions once they have what they consider a sufficient share of the market.  It's an old technique founded by Microsoft that I call "Dope Dealer Marketing."  Basically, the software developer creates a decent program and gives you a taste for free.  Then like a playground dope dealer, once you're hooked on their product and you can't live without it anymore, they'll start charging, and charging big.  So enjoy AVG and Avast while you can.

Something else to watch out for - there are a lot of programs advertised both online and on TV that claim to protect or fix your computer.  Avoid them.  The way their borderline scam works is that you load it up for free, it goes through a bunch of machinations, then lists all kinds of viruses and problems.  But to actually get rid of all the problems, you have to pay for their program.  Don't do it.  I've found instances where a scan claimed it found viruses on my computer that weren't actually there.

One final piece of advice - if you don't have any anti-virus software, or sometimes even if you do, you may encounter a warning that flashes up and claims it found viruses or malware.  If the warning doesn't include the name of your anti-virus program, or if you don't have any virus protection installed, TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER IMMEDIATELY.  Yes, do the unthinkable and hold the "off" button.

These are actually virus-planting programs that will infect your computer, then require you to buy their program to eliminate what they planted.  I have found these to be extraordinarily wicked viruses that can take hours to fix.

The most important advice is to have some sort of anti-virus program on your computer, and keep it up to date.  By the way, don't install both programs, thinking you're going to get double protection.  For starters, it will REALLY slow down your start-ups, and in some instances the programs will actually detect each other as viruses, when you really don't have any infection.

Later we'll talk about some of the other malware and adware software to fill the gaps left open by avoiding Norton and McAfee. 

But for now, try one of these out, and enjoy a trip in the wayback machine, back when most software was available online for free.

If you have a question or need advice about a computer problem, e-mail it to help@compuhelpus.com and we'll try to answer it here in a future column. Or to schedule an appointment for a Computer Help technician to come to your home or business in the Mesquite, Nevada area, call (702) 346-6357 and mention this story for the lowest rate in town.