Free antiviruses or commercial ones?

[Agenator]

I just want to get your opinion, which do you prefer, free antiviruses or commecial yearly subscritption ones. I myself use a free antivirus called Avast for two reasons: One Avast does not slow my computer down significantly unlick Norton
Two: IMO a free AV can preform just as well as a commerical one so why waste the money.
Some of the downsides of free AV's are that they dont always detect all of the viruses on your computer and they often restrict your use of it so that you will be forced to upgrade to the commercial one. IMO these benefits weigh out the negatives of many paid AVs such as Norton and Macaffe because of all the bloat-ware that bogs your system down in those and for the simple fact that the AV is yours forever, not just a rentel from the company for a year. :rant2: Some good commercial Anti viruses are the ones like Nod32 becuase they dont bog your system down and the clean it out fairly well, But the real question is, would a free AV do the exact same thing as a commercial one... Also I find it interesting that many people associae free with crappy. They think that free software/games like open source games and Linux are going to be crappy and horrible but thats actually not true. I just hate it when people say stuff like that when they have never even tried to use Linux or even downloaded on open source software program.So anyway, I cant wait to here yoru opinions... Oh and this whole thing was prompted by the thread entitled "Write your own review of AVG" so I would like to give credit to him for inspiring me :P

[Sundowner]

I use avast, I did have AVG but for some reason it kept stalling my PC, though I'd used it happily for years.

I'm see no point in purchasing an anti-virus when I think you can get better ones for free, from what I've heard from people that do use them they clog up the PC anyway. I have Zone-Alarm, Threatfire, and avast all running continuously and my PC runs just fine. A lot better than some of my friends PC's that have paid for anti-virus software installed.

I think most people use the paid for AV's because they come pre-installed and paid for, for the first year. I think after that most people get rid although I have heard and read that the Kaspersky AV is pretty good, this used to be free a few years back but it has been so successful you now have to pay for it. I had it while it was free and it did an excellent job.

[engel]

In my opinion, why would people want to buy an antivirus software when you can get great versions for free?

I use Avast! AntiVirus. It has many 'shields' which always run, although you'll never notice them affecting your computer's performance. It's really good with virus detection, and it routinely generates a 'Virus Database' to keep you up-to-date with the newest safety technology. The only downside is that you have to register a license, but it's free. It just takes a bit, you'll need to enter your email and verify it before being able to use Avast! You also need to renew it yearly, but how much of a hassle is that when you could be protected 24/7?

Just my two cents here.

[GamingX]

I have NOD32 and it couldn't offer me better protection. Don't what I could do without it. But to supplement it I have several free antispyware and antiviruses which don't offer real time protection since NOD32 does that but in case I feel NOD32 has missed something, I run those and come to think of it I haven't used them for the last two months.;)

[krial]

I don't use an anti virus because i have no need for one, I only download select things i KNOW already, that they have no viruses

[KowKing]

I use NOD32...

[mattura]

I don't use an antivirus program, I fix my comp if it goes wrong sometimes with a little help from google ;) If I got a virus, chances are, somebody got it before me and wrote about it on the web.
Symantec security response is pretty good for virus info.
of the free ones, AVG seems ok, but is very slow to load unfortunately, and the definitions don't come immediately after a virus is found (but what can you expect from a free one?)
If I had a commercial one, I'd go with Kaspersky.
I hate Norton - it's slow, invasive, breaks things, and doesn't even know what to do with some viruses! I have much experience of computers preloaded with Norton, and many just went wrong, until Norton was removed (whereupon a significant speed increase was noticed).
My tupence...

[Agenator]

I don't use an anti virus because i have no need for one, I only download select things i KNOW already, that they have no viruses

eh, IMO krial thats only one way to stop only a certain type of virus, for instance what about your e-mail, do you look carefully through that? what about worms coming in through your router does your router have a firewall? I must admit I hardly use an AV but Its always nice to have that little bit of extra help/security net incase I get infected....

[sirax]

i dont have enought money to buy an antivirus everytime time theres a new one, i prefer to use free av, and im good whit that =)

[theparadesquare]

I use a free anti virus, this is because after seeing people get viruses with one that is paid and me never getting one with a free one (avast) i think i am doing pretty well in choosing not to buy but rather to have a free one