BleepingComputer.com: Trying to choose an anti-virus/anti other stuff

Soo...I am computer savvy I think and I'm looking for a free anti-virus primarily, but I would also be interested in other tools. I am very picky, I used avg back when it was decent and avast for a while, but now whenever I look for anti-virus all I see is biased advertisement and programs that are usually malware themselves in some way. Right now, I have no protection software.

I want one that gives me these things:
Control>Convenience
Open Source or free to use>Trail
Specific>General

If any of that makes sense at all...

EDIT: I have looked through the choosing an anti-virus thread. I haven't tried MS Security Essentials, and I may. I am looking for a less-conventional means of good protection, I really do hope that avast isn't considered the best... Also I am on windows 7 32 bit probably a really basic thing to say earlier...

This post has been edited by keepyourallysclose: 06 December 2011 - 06:38 PM

Microsoft Security Essentials has a quite a good reputation among other users whose opinions I trust, though I can't say I've used it myself. I have used Avast Internet Security for several years now and am quite pleased with it, though the new UI they came out with isn't my favorite. I chose Avast primarily due to its low impact on system performance, but also because it has a solid detection rate and mitigation ability for unknown threats.

As an auxiliary to your antivirus I highly recommend Malwarebytes AntiMalware. My understanding from persons who would know, which is corroborated by personal experience, is that MBAM focuses on detecting and removing malware which other scanners generally miss. Both Avast and MBAM offer free versions, but their paid versions have extra features which I think make them worth the price of a license. For example Avast Internet Security and Avast Professional both can optionally sandbox selected applications (you can do this without Avast on 32 bit editions of Windows 2000-XP by using Sandboxie) and the paid version of MBAM offers real-time protection as opposed to the free version's on-demand-only protection.

If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7 then Microsoft's Windows Defender application is already installed and should be running. Windows Defender is available for XP as a download from Microsoft, but is not available for versions of Windows prior to XP.

So, my recommendation mirrors my own setup: Avast (Free, Pro, or Internet Security) as primary defense with MBAM and Windows Defender bringing up the rear. These tools, coupled with common sense security practices on your part should render your PC all but impregnable to the vast majority of threats.

This post has been edited by Andrew: 06 December 2011 - 07:02 PM

I see, thank you for your input. I've used malwarebytes in the past, but lately I've come to hate avast though it may be better if I didn't have the free version. I have much better things to be putting my lack of money into than anti-virus, plus I have made this a sort of game in my head to find a better alternative that is free. Anybody know how lavasoft does these days by the way? I remember liking ad-aware although it very well may have changed in unpleasant ways as has avg. (opinion)

there is alot of lists on the internet of free security software

Google
"probebly the best security software list in the world "

"Anybody know how lavasoft does these days by the way?"

Havent used Lavasoft Ad Aware in many years and I uninstall it on systems that I work on.
Used to be a good product years ago, just like Spybot Search and Destroy.
Both one of the first malware programs and, in their time, the best.

Avast Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware is what I use.

As for Lavasoft, I haven't trusted them since they went to the 'dark side' in 2008. Then MBAM showed up on the scene and I haven't looked back since. Lose my trust once as a security tool and it's hard to get it back.

Lavasoft offer a decent Detection for Malware
but similer to zonealarm Firewall
those products need to step up

anyway there is Prevex Free scanning without Removing Malware

Supplementing your Anti-Virus Program with Anti-Malware Tools

After reading that, scroll up to the first topic posting and read Best Practices for Safe Computing - Prevention.

thanks for all the advice! though i would consider avast one of these programs that have gone over to the "dark side" as well, i bet that if i paid for it it would be good enough. (although i am aware of a few other options) seeing as i'd rather go without any antivirus than using avast(silly as it may be)my temporary solution is using microsoft security essentials and perhaps getting malwarebytes.

i'd like to end this thread and call it resolved, although if anyone thinks of something that hasn't already been mentioned i would appreciate the input.