Effective....free anti-virus software

Hello all...got a new laptop a while back and I want to protect it before I get the chance to get a better anti-virus program...what would you guys say is the best free anti-virus software for download?  Thanks for the help gents.

Windows Defender does a perfectly fine job. You should already have that if you are running windows.

Assuming you have a genuine copy of Windows 7, Microsoft Security Essentials is free and works well. Just google it.

" Hello all...got a new laptop a while back and I want to protect it before I get the chance to get a better anti-virus program...what would you guys say is the best free anti-virus software for download?  Thanks for the help gents. "

thank you everyone

" @chocolaterhinovampire said:

" Hello all...got a new laptop a while back and I want to protect it before I get the chance to get a better anti-virus program...what would you guys say is the best free anti-virus software for download?  Thanks for the help gents. "

Woh, I thought only computer illiterate people over 30 still used anti-virus software. The more you know! "

" @blueduck said:

" @chocolaterhinovampire said:

" Hello all...got a new laptop a while back and I want to protect it before I get the chance to get a better anti-virus program...what would you guys say is the best free anti-virus software for download?  Thanks for the help gents. "

Woh, I thought only computer illiterate people over 30 still used anti-virus software. The more you know! "

Guess what: If your girlfriend got aids because she was cheating on you, that doesn't mean that you won't get it because that "didn't count." Get some damned antivirus.I recently switched from AVG to Microsoft security essentials and I guess it works...It's kind of hard to tell. Maximum PC did a big shootout recently and that was their favorite free option. "

Guess what: If your girlfriend got aids because she was cheating on you, that doesn't mean that you won't get it because that "didn't count." Get some damned antivirus.

" @nintendoeats said:

Guess what: If your girlfriend got aids because she was cheating on you, that doesn't mean that you won't get it because that "didn't count." Get some damned antivirus.

No way my assumptions were valid, I mean look at the sentence you typed. =) "

" @blueduck said:

" @nintendoeats said:

Guess what: If your girlfriend got aids because she was cheating on you, that doesn't mean that you won't get it because that "didn't count." Get some damned antivirus.

No way my assumptions were valid, I mean look at the sentence you typed. =) "

Um...I used the word "that" too many times in one sentence. Otherwise I thought the analogy was quite clear. "

Ubuntu
Fedora
Mint
Arch
Debian
OpenSUSE

Choose one, you could LITRALLY download porm from a torrent site in Russia, that you got to from a link sent to you by a spam email, and the porm is in an executable and you'd still be safe.

I use avast! It has worked well for me. There is no good reason not to get an anti-virus program, quit trying to look cool blueduck

" I use avast! It has worked well for me. There is no good reason not to get an anti-virus program, quit trying to look cool blueduck "

I use Avast and it seems to work really well without consuming too many resources. I've heard good things about Security Essentials too, but awful awful things about Norton, McAfee, ESET and pretty much every paid option :P

" I use avast! It has worked well for me. There is no good reason not to get an anti-virus program, quit trying to look cool blueduck "

Microsoft Security Essentials has definitely taken over as the definitive Windows anti-virus tool. AVG used to be pretty good, but in recent years the free version has become something roughly resembling ad-ware trying to get you to buy the full version.

I use Avira Antivir and it is great. Not a single problem with it. Plus it's light on memory/cpu.

Been rolling with AVG for a while, still works like a charm.

AVG has served me well for years, I recommend it.

I use Avast. It has pirate speak!

Used to use AVG free, then got Norton 360 with a laptop, now I'm rocking Avast. I'd recommend avast from those three. AVG is a bit of a resource hog and flags almost everything. Norton is a good bit of kit, but again for something running all the time it is a resource hog and again flags mosts websites. Other than a botched definition the other week, i've yet to see a single thing from Avast.

I must be the only person that uses Malware Bytes. I like it though, and this comes from someone who used to use AVG.

Sorry but using my [COMPUTER]  just doesn't feel the same when I slip on [AN ANTIVIRUS SOLUTION].
I'd rather pull out, i mean shut down, when things get dangerous.

On my Windows 7 machine i use AVG. And put that on my wife's machine too. Never had a issue with it. 

I don't recommend only using one program. I recommend Avast + Malware Bytes Anti-Malware. I used to use AVG but it didn't detect a virus I obviously had; even after updating. So I switched to Avast and that's been the best that I've tried. However, you'll still need Malware Bytes to detect nasty things that an anti-virus program won't.

Microsoft Security Essentials is an excellent anit-virus software.

Microsoft Security Essentials is the one I recommend to most people. It's simple to install, and effective/unobtrusive with default settings. I personally prefer Avast because it has a few features MSE doesn't (automatically sandboxes suspicious executables, has browser-neutral web protection, and network protection on Win XP instead of just Vista/7). But some of the default features and settings are kind of annoying (installs a gadget on your desktop that I find to be useless, talks to you every time it updates definitions, etc.). With a few minutes of configuration I can get it exactly how I want it, but not everyone wants to deal with that. Also, you have to re-register every year or else it stops updating the definitions. It only involves typing in your name and email but some people have a habit of totally ignoring the AV's pleas to register.

So basically, if you just want to install it and be done with it, MSE is the way to go. If you don't mind messing around with the settings to get it exactly how you want it, Avast offers more features, which should theoretically translate to better protection. In reality, it probably doesn't, but it makes me feel more secure, so I guess that's something.

" @jking47 said:

" I use avast! It has worked well for me. There is no good reason not to get an anti-virus program, quit trying to look cool blueduck "

You  joking me dude! You know how many times I've gotten laid by letting some chick know I don't use anti-virus software. "

I use AVG 2011 (didn't pay for it though, are you crazy?) and it works awesome. 

best anti-virus i know of is common sense... i literally have NO protection on my pc, and i haven't got any virus' or anything since i got my pc 3 years ago

MSE has served me well since upgrading to Win7. Quick, light footprint and does the job.

Avast seems to be pretty good, although "VIRUS DATABASE HAS BEEN UPDATED" never fails to scare the crap outta me