(Back from my diversion in BigBoyMike´s Trend thread)

Kaspersky has this free offer going but it´s in GERMAN
One year full Security Suite. I´ve got it running now and it seems fine.
Can anyone persuade them to offer it in English?...that would be
It´s an expensive package...but supposed to be the best.

Otherwise, for the best freebie...it´s definitely AVG, but I´m not sure they´re offering the regular package anymore

Regular Package? You mean the 7.5 free AV? Or the Suite?

I think the 7.5 has a limited period with full features
Then it cuts back to something less than the previous free version...like no more virus protection...lets you scan but you have to do the updates manually.

Woah - woah - woah - are you talking about the Stand Alone AVG Anti-Virus FREE edition? Or something else?

ok..relax

The AVG Free appears to be still available. This is version 7.5.430 which is the update from 7.1

I think I installed the update, and set the Pro features running...hence a limited trial period...then it resets to a more limited version.
At this point I was like, whoops...need a real anti-virus system here, and switched to the German Kaspersky trial...which goes for one year.

i take it theres no language settings in kaspersky, just stuck to german ?

Whew!

It was kind of a pain to have to update from 7.1 to 7.5 - that should be some kind of automatic update instead of having to do a repair install - but still, I really like AVG and it just flat out works for me.

KORREKT

What happens if you install the English version after the one-year trial German version..? Does it preserve the trial period as one year?

Wow. I should dowload the German version and see how well it works on my English system.

Haven´t tried that.
I will email them and see what they say.

Wow...have to say that they are fast...already got a reply 10 minutes after emailing
But...
they said I have to ask the magazine that supplied the free version
So...
...let´s see.

Yo...Kirky, I´m not sure you can get the download to do the same...this one I´ve got here came off a disc in a German computer magazine...then you get a link off the disc to a site to give you the "reader offer" key.

I'm just happy with the free AVG version. I think I'll stand pat.

I agree that Kasperski and BitDefender are great. Personally, I use ZoneAlarm Security Suite, and have never had an issue - light footprint, great configuration options, and one of the best firewalls. But it's not free. AVG is great AV freeware. Beware the fanboy rants, and go with what feels right for you, as far as user-friendliness and interface goes. Most AV apps are just fine - a good firewall and some common sense are generally all that's needed.

For those of you looking for free Kaspersky, you can get the 6.0 version re-branded in AOL AVS.

The best free AV's ranked on overall detection.

1. AOL AVS

2. AntiVir

3. Avast

4. AVG

I left BitDefender free out because its on-demand only. It makes a good backup to any AV.

here's a true story. i heard a lot of good things about nod so when my sister asked me to fix her virus infected computer i used nod instead of my kaspersky. i installed, updated, and ran nod on her comp. it detected the virus but could not remove it. i forgot the name of the virus but it would continuously upload files when on the net. if removed using conventional ways it would just pop back .... like the dreaded msn messenger.

i then decided to install my kaspersky in her computer. got rid of the sucker plus a couple of other viruses nod did not detect. since then i've never lost faith in kaspersky. i even use the kaspersky firewall

Latest comparison results for 3 popular AV apps from : http://www.av-comparatives.org/ :

On-demand comparative - August 2006 : http://www.av-comparatives.org/seite...se_2006_08.php

Kaspersky = 99.06%
NOD32 = 98.61%
AVG Pro. = 91.69%

Retrospective/ProActive Test - November 2006 : http://www.av-comparatives.org/seite...se_2006_11.php

NOD32 = 53%
Kaspersky = 7%
AVG Pro. = 3%

Seems like no matter what the topic, folks wanna argue...

I'm not arguing, but just thought that it would be informative to others to see the latest test results from a trustworthy and independent AV comparison site, and since many users here are using either AVG or Kaspersky, then i choose those from the bunch of contesters(i know not many use NOD32, but i just added it as i use it ) The poster before me said that NOD32 wasen't as good as Kaspersky, and the test figures i posted also shows that Kaspersky indeed is a very small bit better than NOD32, when it comes to signature based detection, but when looking at the figures for heuristric based detection, then NOD32 is clearly better than the two others.

Anyways, i really don't care what other people use for their AV protection, but i can't help to spread the word about alternatives to the big bloated AV apps like Norton Antivirus etc, as good, efficient and small footprint apps like NOD32 unfortunetly still is pretty unknown to the masses.

Ultimately everyone should of course use what they feel like, and we can all just state our particular preference in this area, but arguing about which is best etc. isn't very productive, i certantly agree with you in that.

hmm... a NOD32 fanboy, eh?

...yet every time there's a small negative mentioned about NOD you jump in with a counterpoint showing a bunch of figures (which are different depending which site is testing them)... No big deal, it's fine, but I have to giggle when folks say they don't care and aren't arguing, when, objectively speaking, they most certainly are!

BTW I may just try out NOD when my current license expires. Open-mindedness is a good thing. Any other good AV apps out there that haven't been mentioned yet?

Oh, yeah, I should mention that on occasion I use the free Dr. Web CureIt virus scanner. It's a simple downloadable exe file that is updated daily, and can be found here:

http://download.drweb.com/drweb+cureit/

It has detected things that other scanners I have used missed, but you have to watch what it determines to be malicious. Anybody else used this one before?

The moral of this story is to use a anti-virus program period. Don't become dependant that it will protect you 100% from viruses, periodically use online virus scanners from another company to make sure that your system stays clean. The same goes for spyware.

Everybody's opinon is different on what's the best, so approach it with a open mind.

I'm sorry, you are absolutely right

Sorry about that

I have just studied the comparison figures again from av-comparatives.
One thing that i obvoiusly have missed previously, is how good AntiVir really is! Now the reason i am using NOD32, was that i didn't thought that there where any free solutions that could match it's detection, and also because of it's extremely small foot-print and clean interface, but by looking at the latest test results from the above linked site, then AntiVir gets 99.51% while NOD32 only gets 98.61% in the on-demand test from august this year. As a reference Kaspersky got 99.06%, and AVG got 91.69%, and the winner was G-DATA with 99.68%. Then on the Retrospective/ProActive Test from November this year, then AntiVir and NOD32 both holds the first place with 53%, while Kaspersky gets 7% and G-DATA 43% and AVG 3%. This means that based on these test results from that site, then NOD32 compared to AntiVir is 0.9% worse in On-Demand scanning, while they are tight in the Retrospective/ProActive Test. Now if this "AntiVir PE Premium" has the same detection rate as the free edition, then i will really have to think about switching over to AntiVir instead from NOD32. Could someone please tell me if that version that's tested has the same detection rate as the free version ? Also does the free version have a real-time protection module, or just an on-demand scanner ? And finally, how large is it's foot-print and install size(average) ?

Thank's in advance

Note: The percentage numbers listed are all the total scores i.e. for both viruses, worms, spyware and dialers etc, and not only for normal viruses.

For the AV-Comparatives test AntiVir Free & Premium would have the same detection. Premium has mail scanner and spyware/adware detection, free version doesn't.

Yes AntiVir free is one of the best.