Why I Never Use Free Antivirus (?) This is why:

[soundguruman]

Free Antivirus:
Does not update all day long, automatically. (bad idea) Leaves system vulnerable to attacks.

Multiple Security Programs:
Example...Avast and Malware Bytes combined.
Creates system conflicts. Better to avoid this altogether.

Use a professional all-in-one antivirus. Such as: Norton, Kaspersky, etc...

Computers that were attacked with viruses and malware: all had one thing in common....
Malware Bytes and Avast combined. This "free" software did nothing to protect the computers.
(possibly because of security conflicts) (possibly because of NO updates)

"Free Tools"
Spyware Sweeper...CC Cleaner...Driver Booster...etc...Keep these out of your system, entirely.

FYI: Windows does not need any "free" programs to run correctly. The more you install these "free tools'" the more problems you will have!

And that is the best advice you will ever receive - concerning computer security. When somebody tells you to load a "free" tool into your system...tell them to SHOVE OFF.

PS 80% of all "free stuff" on the internet is malware. That is confirmed by Google Corp.
Stop being so gullible.

 

[Mr5oh]

There's lots of good free tools out there when used properly. Lots of free stuff is not malware. Have you ever heard of open source software? You clearly have had a bad experience, but that does not make all free stuff bad.

 

[USAFRet]

Free Antivirus:
Does not update all day long, automatically. (bad idea) Leaves system vulnerable to attacks.

Multiple Security Programs:
Example...Avast and Malware Bytes combined.
Creates system conflicts. Better to avoid this altogether.

Use a professional all-in-one antivirus. Such as: Norton, Kaspersky, etc...

Computers that were attacked with viruses and malware: all had one thing in common....
Malware Bytes and Avast combined. This "free" software did nothing to protect the computers.
(possibly because of security conflicts) (possibly because of NO updates)

"Free Tools"
Spyware Sweeper...CC Cleaner...Driver Booster...etc...Keep these out of your system, entirely.

FYI: Windows does not need any "free" programs to run correctly. The more you install these "free tools'" the more problems you will have!

And that is the best advice you will ever receive - concerning computer security. When somebody tells you to load a "free" tool into your system...tell them to SHOVE OFF.

PS 80% of all "free stuff" on the internet is malware. That is confirmed by Google Corp.
Stop being so gullible.

I can't begin to express how 'wrong' this is.

Now....if you're looking for "free" Photoshop or MS Office or game cracks, then yes...malware.

 

[anonman]

I love malwarebytes. It's cleaned a lot of my families computers from ridiculous stuff.

 

[COLGeek]

Free Antivirus:
Does not update all day long, automatically. (bad idea) Leaves system vulnerable to attacks.

Multiple Security Programs:
Example...Avast and Malware Bytes combined.
Creates system conflicts. Better to avoid this altogether.

Use a professional all-in-one antivirus. Such as: Norton, Kaspersky, etc...

Computers that were attacked with viruses and malware: all had one thing in common....
Malware Bytes and Avast combined. This "free" software did nothing to protect the computers.
(possibly because of security conflicts) (possibly because of NO updates)

"Free Tools"
Spyware Sweeper...CC Cleaner...Driver Booster...etc...Keep these out of your system, entirely.

FYI: Windows does not need any "free" programs to run correctly. The more you install these "free tools'" the more problems you will have!

And that is the best advice you will ever receive - concerning computer security. When somebody tells you to load a "free" tool into your system...tell them to SHOVE OFF.

PS 80% of all "free stuff" on the internet is malware. That is confirmed by Google Corp.
Stop being so gullible.

I, too, disagree with this assessment. I use free solutions on all of my home based systems and have zero virus/malware issues. Zero.

Of course, your Internet habits have as much (or more) to do with infections as the tools you use. If you go to questionable sites to access/download dubious content, then you should expect to have problems. This is true regardless of the tools you use.

The tools you choose to use need to be carefully chosen, including consideration of the sources from which they originate. If you fall victim to click-bait and products that promise the impossible, that is user error, not tool error.

 

[rgd1101]

shouldn't this be in Opinions and Experiences Forum?

 

[logainofhades]

I use Avast free, and have for years. I also use malwarebytes. No issues on my end. I use CCleaner, at times, as well.

 

[ssddx]

FYI, you can still get an infection even if using quality paid programs. no antivirus is perfect.

 

[scout_03]

i use free stuff for more then 10 years and never had issue unless you run to it using some torrent or hacked software .

 

[Saga Lout]

Free MBAM does the trick after the event but you have to pay for the version that stands guard, and it does it well. CCleaner is a good remover of clutter, as is ATF Cleaner. Always back up the Registry before letting anything near it.

For te best defence, use Microsoft's own products. Anyone who thinks they don't find the threats first or that they're going to Phone John McAfee, Norton or the Russians to tell them how to fix it, isn't thinking clearly. They will fix their own product first.

MSE (up to Windows 8.1) and Defender for all versions are all you really need and you already paid for them when you bought Windows.

 

[ZippyPeanut]

Free Antivirus:
Does not update all day long, automatically. (bad idea) Leaves system vulnerable to attacks.

Multiple Security Programs:
Example...Avast and Malware Bytes combined.
Creates system conflicts. Better to avoid this altogether.

Use a professional all-in-one antivirus. Such as: Norton, Kaspersky, etc...

Computers that were attacked with viruses and malware: all had one thing in common....
Malware Bytes and Avast combined. This "free" software did nothing to protect the computers.
(possibly because of security conflicts) (possibly because of NO updates)

"Free Tools"
Spyware Sweeper...CC Cleaner...Driver Booster...etc...Keep these out of your system, entirely.

FYI: Windows does not need any "free" programs to run correctly. The more you install these "free tools'" the more problems you will have!

And that is the best advice you will ever receive - concerning computer security. When somebody tells you to load a "free" tool into your system...tell them to SHOVE OFF.

PS 80% of all "free stuff" on the internet is malware. That is confirmed by Google Corp.
Stop being so gullible.

Most assuredly, Windows does need free programs to run correctly. Ccleaner is certainly one of them.

 

[ZippyPeanut]

shouldn't this be in Opinions and Experiences Forum?

No. It should be in the BAD Opinions and Experiences Forum.