[FoetAgerhot46]

or does the cost of an antivirus program NOT classify how great it is?

[Phighicle]

It all depends if it has Real Time protection and automatically updates itself throughout the day without you having to do anything. Mine does that and a whole lot more. It tells me when my Windows updates needs to be installed as a reminder. It also cuts the internet connection automatically if you visit a bad site and quarantines the attacker. I pay about $35 for it a year. I've had it for 4 years now I think and knock on wood I've never had an attack pass by it.

[Lebybynctisee]

My dad thinks just because you pay for an anti virus it MUST be better

[SantaClaus]

My dad thinks just because you pay for an anti virus it MUST be better

Not necessarily. Like some that you pay for are crap. You just have to find the right one that suits your needs. If you don't mind updating all the time you can go with some of the Free ones but I've found a great one that I've stuck with all these years and haven't had any issues and I don't mind paying the yearly fee if its really good. Which mine is. I've had AVG back in the day but it's nothing compared to what I have been using...

[forumsfavoriteall]

I use Avast and it's free. It's awesome and all my computer-savvy people recommend it. But now I'm gonna make up some bogus anti-virus software and sell it for $300 b/c I know now that your dad will buy it, LOL

[feAilei1]

i use avast and it's free. It's awesome and all my computer-savvy people recommend it. But now i'm gonna make up some bogus anti-virus software and sell it for $300 b/c i know now that your dad will buy it, lol

[ErubTiereedig]

To answer the OP's question, no. You can get a good AV which is free, as I said elsewhere you just need to know where to go. Mine works perfectly fine for me and guess what? I have never had a virus.

[saruxanset]

Microsoft even has a free antivirus-ish program available for windows now: Windows Defender which you should check out. If you install that, keep your firewall turned on, and never download or install stuff that you do not fully trust, then you should be in pretty good shape. However, if you do end up getting a virus at some point, please know that you can remove it one way or the other. I wrote an article about it from my years of experience as an IT manager. Nowadays, most folks get the same viruses (e.g., those dumb "Antivirus 2010" type fake antivirus infections). Luckily, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a great free tool for removing the most common infections like that. It is successful about 90% of the time in my experience. If that or a few other things don't work, then I just back up all the files, format the hard drive, and reinstall Windows and all drivers. Good luck!

[Endatrybeeddy]

I got AVG Net security off of Demonoid

[RG3rGWcA]

[esenesesinas]

Microsoft Security Essential (free) is the business, whilst Nortons is just so terrible, it is worse than McAfee and yet both cost a bomb

[Attarderb]

Norton and McAfee are the two worst anti-viral programs I have come across, closely followed by AVG. (avg really is junk, certain design features are non-sensical, like not being able to update the database from safe mode)

Avira and Kasperksy are the best I have come across, simply because of the options they offer you. Avira's bootable cd option for getting rid of pervasive viruses really is a great tool.

[oranowdenda]

[BruceCroucshs]

Kaspersky {IS} is pretty good..it will dent the pocket book though...It emulates a a new file before letting you run it.
Among several other things...has a great data base of malicious websites..does a great job on infected files that dont have a signature yet........has a sandbox and a virtual keyboard for online banking....software scanner for out of date software...many more features.

I used avira before Kasperky ...the kasperky was free along with my copy of W7 ultimate courtesy of microsoft promotions that had the the info for the free kaspersky...other than that I wouldnt have tried it
ESET security is also very good

I also use sandboxie and spywareblaster and hide behind a router while online....I have a pretty safe windows machine