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I think you are talking about Avast.
When it detects a virus a big grey window opens up showing the biohazard symbol, you hear a siren, then a voice (sounding remarkably like Kitt) says "A virus has been detected".
Yes it is kind of annoying, but I still regard it as one of the better anti-virus programs.

Avast offers a Linux version for centralized filesystem and mail protection. Pricing is $9.69/year per licenses for 20-49 licenses. There's one license per mailbox. Here's the full pricelist: http://www.avast.com/eng/pricelist-avast-for-linux-unix-server.html

I hear and find the same thing true with AVG. :) People bring me malware infested machines, so I uninstall AVG and install Avast Home (Free), which takes care of the problems, and protects them in the future.

    I'd highly recommend Avast. It does have a management tool which is what the article is seeking (avast! Distributed Network Manager). The server is free, but it requires a paid version of their software to use with it. Bulk pricing information is here: http://www.avast.com/eng/pricelist-avast-professional.html

I hear and find the same thing true with AVG. :) People bring me malware infested machines, so I uninstall AVG and install Avast Home (Free), which takes care of the problems, and protects them in the future.

    I'd highly recommend Avast. It does have a management tool which is what the article is seeking (avast! Distributed Network Manager). The server is free, but it requires a paid version of their software to use with it. Bulk pricing information is here: http://www.avast.com/eng/pricelist-avast-professional.html

The link in the Slashdot abstract, to http://ostatic.com/ causes Norton Security to throw a fit about no fewer than _164_ drive-by downloads on that site. What an unfriendly link to provide. Serves me right for attempting to actually read the article.

You're PC is infected with multiple malware/viruses. 1 of the viruses is called Norton. So first remove that Norton virus by going to Add Remove programs, then go to http://avast.com/ to install a virus scanner, and scan for viruses. The ostatic website is clean.

Avast Antivirus is pretty good too. It's free, but you need to register yearly.

"Free software for home use only"

So my original post still stands. Clamwin is the only free virus software I know you can use on commercial PCs.

Avast Antivirus is pretty good too. It's free, but you need to register yearly.

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
http://free.avg.com/

require you to turn off your firewall and pop-up blocker. Why they cannot write web software to work without needing pop-ups and can work with firewalls is beyond me.

Virtual PC 2007 is free. Use Pricewatch's operating system price search to find a version of Windows to run under it. Windows XP can be bought in OEM version for under $100.

Run all college web sites in a virtual machine.

Use Avast Home for Antivirus as it is free for home and non-profit use.

How does this get modded +5 informative?

There are scads of free options.

Try a linux alternative

NoScript says: "Do not want".

Try a linux alternative

Like this.

Dormant (see: Distrowatch).

Or this.

$$, intended for corporate use, but thanks for the link, It might be worth the money in my repair business (I currently move the disks to a windows machine and scan from there if I can't clean in place).

Hell even an online scan may work well enough, http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

This might actually work, though I haven't tested it myself. Probably not as good as Malwarebytes, though.

1) common sense
2) http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
3) http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html

There are scads of free options.

Try a linux alternative

Like this.
Or this.

Hell even an online scan may work well enough, http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Here's your solution to the $ drain for AV: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

An earlier poster already mentioned that Avast! did very well with the problem at hand.

>You may as well ask why the ISS doesn't have a lock on the airlock door.

I hate this attitude. I hate how people dismiss basic security because for some reason, to them, its impossible that something used in one setting couldnt be used in a different setting or in a different way. Dont be naive.

How about more examples?

Anti-virus for a PDA?!?! Yes.

Anti-pirate weaponry on a cruise ship!?! Yes.

Antivirus on the space shuttle?!?! Yes.

Armed guards in churches?!? Yes

Bomb sniffer dogs at daycare??!? Yes.

Bulletproof armor for dogs!??! Yes.

I've used both Avast and AVG freeware products with good results. Zero infections over the last couple of years.

As a consumer, it sure would be nice to have the OS actually ship with something that keeps the naughty people out, but there are a number of freely available alternatives already.

http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html
http://free.avg.com/

'course, if you use Linux then you can probably safely ignore the threat for now.

Cheers,

We went to Avast! Managed to get away from SAV. We run mainly older desktops (P3 933, 256MB), so every bit of free memory helps. Avast uses around 20MB, unlike nearly every one of it's competitors.

As my environment isn't yours, though - try it out for a few first.

When version 8 came out I refused to update, having already read some complaints about it. When the current version stopped updating, I just uninstalled it. AVG was what I recommended to everyone who asked back when it was version 6... how far they've fallen.

Point of discussion: What are some decent alternatives that Slashdotters have employed? I've moved on to Avast! but I'm sure there's more out there. Bonus if it's freeware.
=Smidge=

Yes. Avast is 64-bit, and then install Spybot with the Tea Timer. Seems to be every bit as effective, and its all free, and I am successfully using it with 64-bit Vista

I have used several, but found that for my machines http://avast.com/ Avast! works better than most and the price is certainly right - free. I can't count the number of machines "protected" by AVG that I have had to clean - not much better in my book than no protection at all.

• Good interface with all the bells and whistles a modern app needs
• Easier for end users to use than Avast (according to my mom and girlfriend)
• Finds more spyware and tracking cookies (I experienced Avast miss a real life spyware once, for about 22 hours until it was updated)
• Easy to install, even for end users

AVG bad stuff

• Users (including myself) experienced multiple browser crashes and computer stability issues. Problem first arrived with installation of AVG and disappeared when AVG was uninstalled. Coincidence? Not likely :-/ Acceptable? Not in a million years!
• The URL malware detection browser plugin is crap. It reads ahead every single URL on a homepage, and displays a little GIF icon with a checkmark when the URL is good and clean. Nice in theory BUT it makes your bandwidth usage explode, and makes browsing a drag - to say nothing of what the result must be for the owners of homepages you visit. Magically "all pages are now visited" by all users?
• Virus engine can not be stopped easily if desired. I sometimes play games, and being behind a NAT gateway I don't want my antivirus running alongside Day of Defeat, Natural Selection and Team Fortress 2. AVG is hard to disable, and clicking on the tray icon will only let you disable the management interface (and thereby the tray icon) while the scanning engine continues to run.
• Too many tricks and attempts to lure the user into buying the paid-for version. Almost resembles "legal phising" on occasion, which is kinda sad. Key information screens are supplied with "warnings" that you are using the free product.

---

Avast good stuff:

• Uses less resources
• Gets the job done without tons of bloatware and fancy extra browser plugins (easier to install without tons of fancy plugins and extra features which have nothing to do with basic virus protection)
• Can be disabled easily if desired, with right-click on tray icon. Good for gamers in their mid 30's who know what they are doing!
• No crashes and instability like AVG

Avast bad stuff:

• Interface less intuitive, says mother + girlfriend.
• Installation requires slightly more finesse as the installer is a little more confusing.
• Perhaps (?) slightly slower on updates. My mom had a malware file sent to her by mail, and it remained undetected by Avast 22 hours longer than an identical file on my girlfriends PC which had AVG.

---
At the end of the day, I went with Avast. Stability and low performance impact is more important to me than a fancy GUI. Clueless end-users disagree though, and actually want AVG back inspite of the stability issues. So the GUI really made a difference for them. They simply felt more "at home" with AVG.

Direct links for both products:
AVG Antivirus Free Version Download and Wikipedia Description.
Avast Antivirus Free version download and Wikipedia description.

brgds

- Jesper


(Experience is from: 3x Vista computers with reasonable hardware specs, and 2 older Windows XP computers)

avast the best free one with no lock down like avg8

http://www.avast.com/

I like http://www.avast.com/ quite a bit.

I'll second this endorsement. I wanted out of the AVG v8 Linkscanner business even before the public outcry - on my Mother's somewhat underpowered desktop (she didn't know it was underpowered, but thought I had set her up with a new spanky machine - thanks AVG) it slowed the user browsing experience significantly, as well as kicking the shit out of her DSL-lite connection, which is already somewhat strained when streaming video and similar activities.

So I installed Avast on one of my desktops, and it works pretty well, once you turn off the sound effects which give you such treats as a really macho voice telling you a new update has been installed. The only issue for me was that the free version - as far as I've found - doesn't support scheduling drive scans, but rather supports a scan on boot. You need the Pro version for the anytime scheduling capability.

You can work around this by using the Avast Quickscanner and the Windows Scheduler. There's a good Howto on this on Avast forums at http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=3796.

I like http://www.avast.com/ quite a bit.

I'll second this endorsement. I wanted out of the AVG v8 Linkscanner business even before the public outcry - on my Mother's somewhat underpowered desktop (she didn't know it was underpowered, but thought I had set her up with a new spanky machine - thanks AVG) it slowed the user browsing experience significantly, as well as kicking the shit out of her DSL-lite connection, which is already somewhat strained when streaming video and similar activities.

So I installed Avast on one of my desktops, and it works pretty well, once you turn off the sound effects which give you such treats as a really macho voice telling you a new update has been installed. The only issue for me was that the free version - as far as I've found - doesn't support scheduling drive scans, but rather supports a scan on boot. You need the Pro version for the anytime scheduling capability.

You can work around this by using the Avast Quickscanner and the Windows Scheduler. There's a good Howto on this on Avast forums at http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=3796.

http://avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

been working great for me

Up the tread there are a few mentions of Avast (same I use) which seams to have the kind of mind-share today AVG had before.

First thing you'll want to do if figure out how to turn of that annoying talking notification (program settings>sounds), but after that it works pretty much like you'd want your antivirus to work (quietly and efficiently in the background).

Well, yes but.. (you've seen the complaints).

Other decent free ones are:
Avast is popular.
AVira seems good, you get one popup ad per update.
Comodo permits business use.
BitDefender has a free version.
I'm not including ClamAV because it's just a scanner, no realtime protection.

Posting AC because I've moderated,
number11

I second your question. I used AVG Free for a long time and uninstalled it very quickly when I heard the news. But I'm having choosing a replacement cost-free anti-virus program for Windows. Here's are the factors I've been considering...

AVG Free Pro: seems pretty effective and runs inobtrusively (at least locally). Con: has DDoS'd websites in the past and perhaps still shouldn't be trusted.

Avira Pro: no track record of DDoS'ing websites. Con: obnoxious pop-ups "reminding" me about the premium version; apparently got some poor reviews for infection treatment.

Avast Pro: no track record of DDoS'ing websites. Con: requires manual re-registration.

I'm using Avira now but I'm considering switching again because of the pop-ups. Any advice? (And yes, I already run Linux but still need Windows for some things, and no, I'm not interested in paying for anti-virus software, since 99% of virus protection is common sense.)

what are other free AV systems (other than Clam)?

I like http://www.avast.com/ quite a bit.

http://www.avast.com/

As usual, it's Free for home use only.

They do require you to get a license, which involves putting in your name and email address. The license is valid for 14 months, at which time you need to get another.

Is there a good AV software package that is free and up to date and doesn't suck ass?

Avast has served me well for several years now.

It's free as in beer, it auto-updates itself (seems like daily, or more often), and the only downside is the audio alert when it updates ("VIRUS DATABASE HAS BEEN UPDATED!" is shouted from your speakers). I should probably look for that option at some point, but it's so small an issue, I've never bothered.

I personally use Avast, but truthfully it's because it's the only one I've found for free that supported XP x64. That's not to say there aren't others, more or less it was the first one I found that did the trick and didn't piss me off!

Never used it myself, but my clients who have say Avira AntiVir has annoying daily nag screens trying to induce upgrading to the commercial product.

For that reason I suspect Avast! or ClamWin might be a better choice.

Avast

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

The interface could use some work (it's skinable, at least!), however, I have converted countless people (MOSTLY McAfee/Symantec users) to Avast! Antivirus. It has a free-for-home version, just like AVG, but doesn't have annoying pop-ups (the only popups I see are when it updates its database, when it's telling you a new version exists, or when it finds a virus/malware).

Clicky

When the AVG Free forced upgrade came out, I went in search of another antivirus software product and picked Avira too, but it also seems to enjoy popping up useless dialog boxes, more so than even AVG ever did.

Is there a good AV software package that is free and up to date and doesn't suck ass?

Well, of course, there's Avast, which is usually what I recommend to most people. If you're interested in on-demand scanners besides ClamWin, there's also Arcamicroscan, which has proven to be pretty good in my experience.

I've been using Avast! Home Edition for a while now, no complaints.

It's so much more fun to say "Avast! Avast! Avast!" - I've used AVG for years, but am finding Avast even better with a far better GUI. (Although shut off the audio alert "Virus Database Has Been Updated", especially when you have the speakers set for loud and then thing goes off at 4AM or when you're busy with your girlfriend. Scares the hell out of you!) http://www.avast.com/

And they had 64-bit support before AVG, that's why I switched.

• "System drive C:\ with label "___" uses NTFS file system and Rescue Disk may not have access to this drive. Would you like to continue creating Rescue Disk anyway? (Y/N)"

I'm a bit surprised that, out of the "Three A's" of free Windows antivirus (AVG, avast!, and AntiVir), only AntiVir seems to provide a free bootable CD/DVD antivirus tool (and it's seperate from the installed Windows tool).

It's pretty good and not annoying enough to bother. I do wish I could generate revenue for them outside of having to directly pay them, outside of loading my system is adverts.

Both products auto-update, provide real-time protection, and have much smaller footprints than the typical bloatware subscription-based "security suites" that are preinstalled on many PCs. I personally use (and recommend to novices) AVG because, unlike avast!, it doesn't require a yearly free registration. OTOH, I've read that avast! offers more control/customization.

I'd never heard of AntiVir. If know about AVG and avast!, is AntiVir better?

"When was the last time your Play station got a virus?"

When I had a PlayStation, it never got a virus, but then again none of my PCs have ever gotten one either.

"How much do you spend on your Play station's anti-virus software every month?"

Nothing, but then again I don't pay anything for antivirus on my PC either. avast! is completely free for home or personal use. It is also, IMHO, the best antivirus software.

"How many controllers can you plug into your PC?"

My PC has 4 USB ports on the back and 2 in the front. So 6 controllers. More if I plugged a USB hub into one of the ports.

"When was the last time you had to install a game on your XBox?"

A PC is perfectly capable of running a game directly from removable media. I guess you aren't old enough to remember the time when most PCs didn't even have hard drives and booted most software directly from floppy disks. The main reason it is preferable to install games is because hard drives are much faster than common removable media such as CD and DVD drives. This is not a limitation of the PC, it's a choice for better performance.

"Or install drivers for your newest controller?"

Plug and play has come a long way. Most PC game controllers are treated as USB-HID devices when they are plugged in and do not require a special driver to function. There are instances where a very specific type of controller needs a driver for reasons such as programmable layouts, but that isn't a valid comparison because that level of functionality is far beyond what console control devices offer.

"Or work through compatibility issues between your latest game and your PS3's GPU?"

I have had very few compatibility issues with PC games running in their recommended environment. Most of the problems are from old games that were intended to run on old operating systems like DOS or Win9x. The resolution is usually trivial (ie. set compatibility mode). As far as I know, the Playstation 3 also suffers from compatibility issues for some PSX and PS2 games, so it is no better there. One thing is certain, I have never had a PC come up with a RRoD (die) due to a game being played on it.

http://www.avast.com/ with a footprint 10 megs, AND 100% free (not "free") I will never use anything else.

The Norton uninstall program often does not work, leaving many of Nortons "hooks" still installed in the OS.

One thing that comes to mind is Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool, which comes out each month in Windows Update. Another tool is Trend Micro's online virus scanner, located at http://housecall.trendmicro.com./

The tools you're thinking of were standalone removal tools for specific pieces of malware. I'm sure they still release these from time to time. They usually came out for malware that was especially high-profile, so don't expect to see one for every one out there.

But the most useful tools, IMHO, are the antivirus programs you can get for free, specifically AVG and avast!, among others. They work well, and they're much less bloated than Symantec of McAfee. Whenever I'm setting up a new computer for someone, reinstalling Windows on an old one, or doing any kind of work on one, I make it a point to question the owner about their virus protection and, after getting their OK, install some soft of AV software on it. If every geek did this, we might make an impact, albeit a small one, on the botnet problem. Remember, a little education goes a long way.

mAVG: http://free.grisoft.com/
avast!: http://www.avast.com/

I'm not entirely certain I'm following you here, but I think you're asking for elaboration on why Symantec is crap and/or a recommendation for non-crap AV. If that is in fact what you're asking, then first of all Symantec is crap because it's an absolute hog and your system might actually perform better if you un-installed Symantec and installed the spyware instead. Second I can recommend three AV solutions, one of them free for home use, and the other two requiring paid subscriptions. First there's Avast which is free for personal use and generally does a decent job, but may not be up to the task of protecting a computer that has to open a lot of files from "high virus risk" senders as you put it. Second is AVG which is usually reviewed as one of the top recommended AV products out there, and generally finishes at the top of the pack in any AV software benchmarks. Last up is a little known one called NOD32 which was recently rolled into a bundle called ESET SmartSecurity by it's manufacturer. NOD32 is nearly always the best rated AV product for detection of viruses, and is probably the best bet for a high risk environment. Any of those three should do a better job then Symantec, although the last two may work out better then Avast. For a home user, I'd recommend Avast any day, but for commercial environments, either AVG or NOD32 are probably a better choice.

First, there's open source, which is great if you can remember to scan your hard drive every now and then. (I keep waiting for someone to bundle this on a boot CD.)

Then, for more sophisticated protection, there's avast and AVG. Of course, these mostly focus on anti-virus.

I recommend Avast, and I use Clamwin, because the only place a virus scanner really helps someone with good online habits is when you've downloaded a file which you know is suspect, and you'd like to scan it prior to use.

On the anti-spyware front, there's Spybot S&D, which has been known about for ages, and is still good.

The reason McAfee sucks isn't necessarily anything to do with its relative security, vs Norton/Symantec or anyone else. It's that the others are so much smaller and lighter -- McAfee and Symantec are both bloated performance hogs -- something you really can't afford on something that runs in the background 24/7 -- and Norton in particular is buggy as all hell -- something you really can't afford on something that controls every file access and network connection.

And all of them are completely unnecessary, now that there's so much out there as good or better, and free (for home use, at least).

The reason for the subject "My god" is that you're on Slashdot and you need to be told. I thought it was public knowledge already; guess not.

Affordable (or free) antivirus software that actually works would be a start...

Affordable (or free) antivirus software that actually works would be a start...

Now, Microsoft's business is not to control the platform per se, but in fact to allow it to be exploited by the world's developers.

Let me count the ways!

Don't forget the fastest growing exploit

Now, Microsoft's business is not to control the platform per se, but in fact to allow it to be exploited by the world's developers.

Let me count the ways!

Don't forget the fastest growing exploit