[ale] [OT] good FREE windisease anti-virus software

[Preston Boyington]

m-aaron-r wrote:
> My friend Lili called me yesterday, desperately seeking
> technical advice on reviving her... EEE netbook.
<snipped>
> Lili and I thank you in advance for any and all suggestions!
> 
You have several options actually.
1) Microsoft Security Essentials
http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

I don't use it.  I offer it for completeness.  I do wonder if this is 
what happened to the Linux anti-virus company MS acquired years ago... 
but I digress.

2) AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
http://download.cnet.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html?part=dl-10044820&subj=dl&tag=button&cdlPid=11014801

I do use this on a few machines.  I has become bloated over the years, 
but is still very decent.

3) Avira AntiVir Personal
http://www.free-av.de/en/trialpay_download/1/avira_antivir_personal__free_antivirus.html

I have this on one of my netbooks.  It runs light(er) and works well. 
It will give you a popup suggesting you upgrade to their pay version 
when it does the virus definition update.  Just ignore it and you'll be 
fine.

As a side note, I LOVE using the Avira AntiVir Rescue CD ISO on my USB 
thumb drive to scan computers.  After downloading the ISO (which is 
updated several times a day), just use UNetBootin to place it on a USB 
stick and it boots a Linux LiveCD environment.  Change the language from 
German to English, check the box that tells the software to 'rename 
infected files' and send it on its' way.

I won't recommend Avast due to an update recently that hosed my friends 
system.  The update made Avast think any executable and library file was 
infected... like a worm was running through the system.  Thankfully it 
was just false-positives, but loads of people were caught off guard and 
rendered their Windows machines useless by telling the virus software to 
either 'delete infected file' or 'quarantine'.

Yes it could happen to any program, but that's why I don't recommend it 
currently.

I will also suggest these two programs:

CCleaner
http://www.ccleaner.com/

not only is 'crap cleaner' a great tool, but it offers an easy way to 
disable pesky startup services that slow down netbooks.

Malwarebytes
http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?part=dl-10804572&subj=dl&tag=button

it picks up where antivirus programs leave off.  just be careful when 
installing or you will breeze through and install the Yahoo toolbar.  my 
only gripe with this program.

Hopefully she is using FireFox with the Adblock Plus extension, if she 
just can't help but use Internet Explorer then there are a few hacks out 
there for IE8 that lets you use Adblock Plus rules for blocking crap on 
pages.  It requires a registry change and also a change with the HOSTS 
file.  It doesn't work as well as FF, but it is something.

I have other suggestions, but this could help you get started.

Good luck.

-- 

Arrant Drivel - really, it's just trash...
http://www.arrantdrivel.com/

Where the road takes me - a highwayman's perspective
http://www.prestonboyington.com/