BleepingComputer.com: best free antivirus

OK now I have xp pro setup but I want a antivirus other than the one my internet service provide ( macafee) it is awful everytime you start up computer it does these updates that can take foreverrrrrr and really bog down the computer.
so any ideas on a good one I can get from the internet?

Hey

I personally use AntiVir, and have done ever since I knew having an anti virus program was probably a good idea! It's done pretty well for me so far (about 4 years). Not to mention they update it very regularly and it's totally legally free.

+1 for Avira Antivir

yeah Avira Antivir is great.
saved me lots of times and is very updated with new viruses
and the support is GREAT! ^^
so another
+1 for avira antivir

I've been using the free version of AVG a long time.
It hasn't let me down & has saved me from a reinstall a couple of time3s.

With the newest version a Custom install & removing the checkmarks from Additional Languages & Link Scanner is a good idea.
Disabling the "Daily Scan" is good to.
There really is no point in a full scan everyday.

[If you go with Avira be prepared for the sales pitch popup every time it updates.
People that use it don't mention it, no big deal , just startling if you aren't expecting it]

There are a few to for you to look at here: Freeware Replacements For Common Commercial Applications, I personally use Avast and have no problems with it, there is an excellent tutorial here: How to Install, Configure, and Use Avast Antivirus
The choice is yours.

I used the AVG free version for a good five years and it did its job great, except for one time when I got badly infected by a nasty rootkit and ended up having to reformat. Still though, no program is fail-proof. I just recently switched to AntiVir and I'm liking it a lot so far (especially the fact that it has a rootkit scanner ) I think both are probably good enough for the average person as far as free programs go.

Quote

There is if you want to keep your machine clean! These days it's so easy to get infected without even knowing it, I wouldn't go more than a day or two without a scan, and I still usually scan it with multiple different programs weekly. Why not just schedule it to run when you go to bed or while you're at work or something? Most programs even have an option to shut the computer off when the scan finishes if you don't like leaving your PC on.

If only F-Secure was free, I'd be the happiest guy in the world, but Avast! works fine for me.

+1 for AntiVir free, it's a great AV with high detection rates and is light on resources.

Antir here too, im loving it. this is my second go around with it. i had tried one care again but it was bogging me down.

Avira Antivir is amazing.
+1 Avira

+1 for Avira. If you want to stop the nagging sales pitch, try this.

http://www.elitekiller.com/files/disable_antivir_nag.htm

+1 Avast Works fine for me.

Avast! works great. :D

+1 Avast