What is the best free anti virus program?

[donebrasko]

What is the best free anti virus program for windows 8?

 

[palandri]

Opps. I thought this was in regards to a windows phone. As DBDev said, Windows Defender that comes with Windows 8 should be sufficient.

 

[DBDev]

I use Windows Defender that comes with Win8 and I think it works great :smile:

 

[gsquared]

I use Windows Defender that comes with Win8 and I think it works great :smile:

If you insistent upon going the free route I would take this advise. Otherwise you will get what you pay for.

 

[palandri]

If you insistent upon going the free route I would take this advise. Otherwise you will get what you pay for.

What do you use?

 

[Reflexx]

I just stick with Windows Defender. I fins that 3rd party programs often use up too many resources.

I'm pretty careful with what I do online so I've had no problems.

 

[tgp]

Use the built in Windows Defender. This is what most of the other posters already recommended, and they are correct. I suppose some paid antivirus programs like Norton AntiVirus (do not get Norton Internet Security or Norton 360,ever!) could offer a bit more, but even that's arguable. The most important line of defense is you, the user.

 

[xratola]

I use avast internet security, it is pretty the best antivirus out there. Windows defender just doesn't work (I've tested with virus samples) and W. defender doesn't recognize them at all whereas Avast does.

 

[unstoppablekem]

Free? Windows Defender, especially that it gets a lot of updates, like every day.

 

[xratola]

You can still get the avast free antivirus or the internet Security trial. Avast has updates twice a day, also.

 

[Slater_GS]

The most important line of defense is you, the user.

This^
And what most everyone else has said. Windows Defender is great and if you are getting viruses with that within W8, then you need to rethink what and how you are doing things on your computer.

I am not a big fan of avast.
To be fair I haven't used it for a year, but I went through a span where I installed it on many of my clients computers and just had too many problems with it. Not so much with its ability to catch a potential virus, but with the asinine constant popups and resource requirements which would lend to further calls from clients. Most of the updates went ignored and thus it became ineffective for its purpose.
Just my experience FWIW.

 

[xratola]

Depends on the user. Totally agree.
And I've had the same problems with my clients.

 

[gsquared]

What do you use?

Kaspersky Internet Security for home PC/tablet.

 

[Editguy1900]

AVG free. I've been using it for years and it's been so long since I've had a problem with viruses that I've almost forgotten the sick feeling that they cause. Almost.

 

[Oris]

Windows defender for sure!

 

[Scienceguy Labs]

Windows Defender
Malwarebytes
HitmanPro

 

[donebrasko]

AVG free. I've been using it for years and it's been so long since I've had a problem with viruses that I've almost forgotten the sick feeling that they cause. Almost.

it was a coworkers computer. I ended up putting AVG before I had time to come back to this post. I forgot about windows defender. Personally I agree with the user being the best at protecting. I'm very cautious. Thanks for all of the suggestions. I assume that windows rt doesn't have to be protected

 

[stephen_az]

Kaspersky Internet Security for home PC/tablet.

No offense but you bring up the idea of you get what you pay for and use the most unstable internet security package available for Windows 8. There is more than a bit of irony in that choice given Windows Defender is built in, fully integrated, has a tiny memory footprint, free, and just as effective.

 

[Michael Archambault]

If you just need antivirus protection than both AVG Free and Avast Home Edition are great choices.

If you need antivirus + firewall, then you might want to check out Comodo's Free Security Suite.

PS- I know we all love free, but sometimes you can find great deals on sites like Amazon!

 

[nocial]

Microsoft Security Essentials.