Are there any good (free to download) alternatives to McAfee security for my computer???

March 22, 2011

Question by john b: Are there any excellent (free to download) alternate options to McAfee protection for my personal computer???
income is tight so want to lower charges!!!!

Best answer:

Reply by b3th
AVG isnt undesirable =) x

Know better? Depart your own solution in the comments!

Tags: alternatives, Computer, download, Free, good, McAfee, SECURITY, there

10 Responses to Are there any good (free to download) alternatives to McAfee security for my computer???

Samuel Adams on March 22, 2011 at 8:40 pm

If you want a free anti-virus, these are the most popular. Please choose the right one for you (install only one):

1. AVG Free
a. A simple interface (easier to use than Avast! and Avira)
b. Can detect about 82.82% of viruses
Cons: low virus detection

2. Avast!
a. Real-time protection
b. It has an option to delete a virus once found
c. Can detect about 87.46% of viruses.
Cons: Too many icons and confusing user interface

3. Avira AntiVir
a. It can detect malware better than Avast and AVG
b. It’s cute umbrella icon
c. Can detect about 94.26% of viruses
Cons: A very sluggish update

theshepherd1 on March 22, 2011 at 8:59 pm

The best free ones are AVG(http://free.avg.com/), and Avast! (http://www.avast.com/).

OnTheFlySupport on March 22, 2011 at 9:44 pm

avg is not the one to go for… you looking for a complete security suite? If so you are better off piecing it together with the best freeware programs out there. I specialize in this… its my business.. contact me if you need more help.

FLSwampBoy on March 22, 2011 at 10:19 pm

I believe a mix of the leading products (Avira, Avast, Nod32, Kaspersky, McAfee, Norton, Malwarebytes, AdAware, SpuBot) are good solutions whether you buy them or get the FREE versions. The core engines of these products take care of viruses, adware or spyware or malware exceptionally well. You just have to pick which ones do what…

FIRST, for ANTI-VIRUS, I would recommend Avira which is FREE: Avira Antivir Personal: http://download.cnet.com/Avira-AntiVir-Personal-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10322935.html

A good BUY anti-virus/anti-malware product is Kaspersky: http://download.cnet.com/Kaspersky-Internet-Security/3000-2239_4-10012072.html

You can also try, for FREE, Avast as an alternative anti-virus solution:
Avast 4 Home: http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10019223.html

Avira’s Antivir has a detection rate of over 99%, includes “root-kit” protection, and uses less system resources. Avast detection rate is around 97.8% and includes “root-kit” protection. Avast Anti-Virus is good if people suggest that, Avira is just slightly better.

Kaspersky, Nod32, McAfee and Norton are high up on the same list with Avira, Avast, etc…) You could try AVG, but AVG’s detection rate is less than 85% for Script Malware and General Malware, and does NOT include “root-kit” protection in the FREE version…

Here’s a good report (Feb 2009) on many of the top AV (anti-virus) products.
http://www.av-comparatives.org/images/stories/test/ondret/avc_report21.pdf

Avira came out as one of the top AV products in the testing. AVG was not nearly as high mainly due to AVG NOT detecting a lot of Script Malware and General Malware problems in the tests, plus, slower scan speeds and a higher number of “false positives”.

SECOND, also make sure you have the right mix of product(s) so you have BOTH
ANTI-VIRUS AND ANTI-SPYWARE/MALWARE software running on your computer.

A good FREE mix could be Avira and Malwarebytes, with McAfee Site Advisor (FREE) installed as well. Avira Antivir Personal: http://download.cnet.com/Avira-AntiVir-Personal-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10322935.html – Malwarebytes – http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html

Or, a good BUY/FREE mix could be Kaspersky and AdAware (or Malwarebytes), with McAfee Site Advisor.
Kaspersky: http://download.cnet.com/Kaspersky-Internet-Security/3000-2239_4-10012072.html
Ad-Aware – http://download.cnet.com/Ad-Aware-Anniversary-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html

Hopefully, you get my main points of core features AND the mix of solutions. You just have to get those 2 things right and you’re covered!

MMRUNNER on March 22, 2011 at 10:23 pm

There are many trials that last 30 days. Their are so many companies out there you can literally change to hundreds of different companies over you lifetime. So just switch every 30 days.

And you may actually find one you love and want to pay for it. That’s what trials are for.

For help with security needs go to http://www.2kcomputersolutions.com/

sajid on March 22, 2011 at 11:20 pm

you can download any software from http://www.utorrent.com

kelvin g on March 23, 2011 at 12:00 am

avast or avg

poorsinner on March 23, 2011 at 12:21 am

http://www.cyberdefender.com/

http://antivirus-official.com/

http://download-new.com/panda/

http://free.avg.com/download?prd=afe

http://www.avast.com/eng/download.html

Michael on March 23, 2011 at 12:48 am

definitely avg

Jessica Queller on March 23, 2011 at 1:12 am

It’s better to stop thinking “antivirus” programs will protect you.

Instead you should:

1. Set up and use almost exclusively a limited user account.
http://blogs.msdn.com/aaron_margosis/archive/2004/06/17/157962.aspx

2. Google the phrase “social engineering” and read the first five results.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22social+engineering%22&btnG=Google+Search

3. Install Windows updates automatically.
http://www.updatexp.com/windows-automatic-updates.html

4. Use Firefox with the NoScript extension.
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/722

5. Turn off autorun in Windows:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/967940.mspx

6. Don’t pirate music, movies, or software