I always wanted to know if it is worth buying a big anti virus program like mcafee or bit defender or Kaspersky. I am currently using comodo which offers free anti virus and a free firewall. So far, it seems to do my computer justice, although I do sometimes have issues with tracking cookies and adwares but never trogens, worms, or viruses.

Also, is there any other anti virus programs out there that are free?

EDIT: Top Ten Reviews

I use Avast Home Edition. It serves me well, and is free (only nag is a re-registration required every 12-18 months).

Avast + Spybot = the best free protection combo you can get. (Except you have to fill out an application to use Avast for free.)

Bitdefender is overrated and became a complete bloatware after 2008. Using Kaspersky 2010 at the moment (mainly because I got it for free) and I have to say it is a big improvement over Bitdefender 2009. However, Kas2010's virus scanner still feels a little slow somehow, even after a system defrag.

(11-10-2009 03:18 AM)dr_thrax Wrote:  Avast + Spybot = the best free protection combo you can get. (Except you have to fill out an application to use Avast for free.)

spybot is another avp? Cause I always thought it was a bad idea to have 2 on a computer.

I use Avast and Spybot together as well. Spybot is mostly on-demand scanning of the registry and has a very useful "Immunization" feature that's probably the most effective brand of spyware/virus protection. I don't use it's resident protection tho, called TeaTimer or something. I use Avast for resident protection.

Avast has real-time web content, archive/download, and e-mail scanning (ie, full network packet inspection) -- but it's fast and has a reasonably low memory footprint.

Hmm, sounds like avast and spybot is a nice combo. Comodo actually lets you install either a fire wall or an av, or both.

I'm thinking avast, spybot, and comodo's firewall might be worth trying. The firewall hardly takes any juice (unless using a lot of ports). Anything is better then windows firewall.

Avira is fairly light and reliable. It has scored very well in past tests compared to others, and has a relatively low amount of false positives.

As for firewall, I've been using Vista Firewall Control, (works in both Vista and 7) which I think uses the in-built Windows Firewall, but allows you to filter both incoming and outgoing connections. I know it's not the most secure firewall available, but for my purposes (since I'm fairly careful with downloading things etc.), it's fine.

But still, the best anti-spyware/anti-malware/anti-virus would be common sense. Try not to download and run that "HOOOOT chicks naked.exe" file attached to an email originating from an unknown sender and you should be fine

I use spybot+avira, avira mainly because last time I checked there was no scheduler for avast free and I dont use resident protection so that option is better for me (if I dont trust a file just right clic and scan and it works but a scan every few days doesnt hurt ) avast and avira are my usual choices for antivirus since they're good and fast and not bloated.

I'd probably be using avast if it wasnt for the scheduler thing (I need to check maybe it got added lately xD).

@booger
What? I was young and curious? How was I suppose to know it was a virus?
I jest.

On topic: One thing I don't like about Kaspersky is that it constantly nags about potentially dangerous applications. It's like, "Oh, hi. This is your antivirus. Yeah, this program you're running is potentially exploitable by elite super hackers that can hack into people's computers and alter the functionality of any given .exe file, because they are elite like that. I recommend you do something about this file before the elite super hackers get their hands on this file. Allow, limit, or add to exception, it's your call. Kthxbai."
Honestly, it's like the developers are either really paranoid or they are trying to troll the users. And here I thought UAC was bad.

mmmmmm... Porn xD

Anyway, I'll probably give both avira and avast a try and see which one I like. Cause comodo isn't picking up jack. I'll probably keep the firewall though just to be on the safe side.

EDIT: Actually, which is lighter, avast or avira?