New avast freebie security scanner aims to keel-haul MS A new version of avast aims to offer users of free anti-malware technology faster running protection against the latest hacking attacks, while offering alternatives to AVG and Microsoft Security Essentials. avast Free 5.0 comes with the same engine under its bonnet as its premium sibling, avast Pro Antivirus 5.0. Both versions …
1. Download the Microsoft Forefront Client Security Evaluation...
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=7d0fbe8d-0174-4b49-b0e9-bbe6dfad3f79&displaylang=en
2. Burn / mount the image
3. Open an elevated command prompt (run cmd as administrator)
4. Navigate to \CLIENT (\CLIENT\X64 if you have 64 bit Windows)
5. Execute "clientsetup /nomom"
Although Forefront 'client only' is offered without any time limit or license restrictions, MS seem to have deliberately made the installation process 'difficult' in order to push their preferred domestic platform; Security Essentials.
I like Forefront a lot, it is built on the excellent Windows Defender (formerly GIANT AntiSpyware) technology and in recent Virus Bulletin tests it came out top of the pile, even beating Eset's NOD suite in reliably detecting all signatures in the wild and avoiding false positives. It provides an 'all-in-one' anti-virus anti-malware solution which replaces Windows Defender and integrates with Microsoft Update.
I tried Norton and it was OK to start with but then ran into problems with paying for the update. I binned Norton and went to AVG - started OK for some time and then got really temperamental on me and I binned that and moved on to Avast.
I did try the Microsoft Security Essentials but then my computer virtually ground to a snail pace - I have not got the patience for something that bogs down my computer to run like they did back 25 years ago.
Avast is fantastic, updates automatically usually once a day and sometimes more. The programme is free and re-registration after 18 months is also free (for home use). I have recommended it to others and continue to do so.
Installs fine on every PC I've used. Even installed it on my In-law's PC, and not once have I had to solve any issues because of it - which I think is worth its weight in gold.
On slightly older PCs it does make them run a little bit slower, but I've never had a virus. In fact, I quite happily visit virus laden websites, quite assured Avast will detect and stop any infections.
It updates its virus definitions by itself without any interraction, and updates its program by itself without any interraction.
What more can I say!?
The Slackware distribution of Linux.
At least when setup by someone who understands the needs of the end user.
My Mum (73+) & Great Aunt (95+) swear by it, as opposed to at it.
Before you comentard on the subject, please note that I understand their needs ... THEY didn't install the cut-down, customized version of Slackware. I did, based on how they use their computers, in real life. Nor do they handle the (scripted) update schedule. I take care of that from my own home ...
These days, when I go visit Mum or Auntie, it's to visit ... not to fix the computer. All around, that's a much nicer state of events :-)
Been using avast! ever since I moved to 64bit XP and discovered AVG didn't work with the 64bit OS and haven't looked back. It's been rock solid, been very resource light, has very frequent virus database updates, and most important of all barely ever requires a reboot of my machine (doing so is only needed when the core program itself is updated - which isn't very often). I got very bored having to reboot every time certain other AV products just needed to update the virus database. Having to re-register every year (which involves filling in a couple of boxes on a website and then just copying and pasting the code which is emailed into the program) is a small price to pay for an AV solution that "just works".
I've seen quite a few recommendations for MSE but I really don't see why I should trust one MS product to protect me from malware that exploits glaring security holes in another MS product.
Ruling out a good AV product on the grounds that you are too stupid to understand the warning message that you need to request a new auth code seems to be just about as daft as the requirement to download a fresh code.
I look forward to getting the latest Avast - I've never had a problem with it and never had a nasty while using it.
Easy solution is to just install Microsoft Security Essentials and forget about it.
I am not a MS fan but if you are going down that route you may as well use it. I recommend it to family as there is no renewing the license rubbish.
Its seems quick and to have a low overhead based on the last laptop I installed it on.
TBH with MS in the game the writing's on the wall for the AV vendors.
And _my_ machine is running Linux, as you have to be nuts to run an OS that needs an AV.
:)
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