Which is the better antivirus?

Question

avira antivir personal edition 8.1

or

avg antivirus free edition 8.0

in terms of virus detection, features and system resource usage ?????

Answer 1

Between those two, I would have to say AVG Anti-Virus Free 8.0. If you are looking for solid freeware, I would also check out avast! antivirus 4.8 Home Edition.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Avira has much better virus detection. That is a FACT (http://www.av-comparatives.org/ ). Features are pretty much the same; AVG has email scanning but that doesn't really give it an advantage because Avira will stop any viruses as soon as they are started. Avira in my experience uses far less resources than AVG. It's currently using around 10 megs of memory on my machine, very low.



You will, however, see many people say AVG, as they know no better, and like it because it rarely gives them warnings (it never detects anything). Avira wins.



A side point: avast does not have scheduled scanning.

Answer 4

You can get a general idea by clicking on the 'Comparatives' link at http://www.av-comparatives.org

Even the latest test results may be a little out of date but not much will have changed.



AntiVir has good detection rates but can be prone to false positives. AVG doesn't do so well, IMO. Bear in mind the programs tested are the pay-for versions. The free versions offer less, e.g AntiVir free has no spyware detection, AVG only introduced that yesterday. There's still a lot missing. Check out Avast too, it's pretty complete with nothing too major missing.



Avast free anti-virus:

http://www.avast.com/eng/av4_version_comp.html

AVG free anti-virus:

http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition

Avira free anti-virus:

http://www.free-av.com/en/products/1/avira_antivir_personal__free_antivirus.html

Answer 5

Well, I used both, as I used Norton in the past ,and regret it, and AVAST just till 3 days ago.



Now I have installed the AVIRA premium, wich use the same engine with AVIRA FREE PERSONAL.



As you can see here:



http://www.av-comparatives.org/seiten/ergebnisse_2008_02.php



AVIRA is one of the best on detection with a 99,6%, little lower from AEC trustport wich has 99.8% on DEMAND SCAN.



Demand Scan means, the scans performed in every day use of the computer from the resident scaner anti-virus load next to clock in taskmanager area.



AVG was lower wityh 98.1% but still GREAT results for A FREE Anti-virus and for a home user.



With the use of AVG Antispyware, or SPYBOT S&D wichj also FREE, you can have full FREE total protection.



And I emphasize to word FREE cause a user here called "Samuel Adams" willclaim that AVIRA or AVG will crash your computer (as you can see in his profile) wich it's TOTALLY A LIE.



Now about recources,

AVIRA resident (on demand scaner) use about 17MB of RAM, AVAST used ABOUT 34MB of RAM, and AVG used about 30 MB of RAM.

NORTON needed more tha 50MB of RAM and a 5 to 9% of CPU usage.



While they scan in the background (the time you're working with your PC ) CPU USAGE is about 1% to 2% for both Avira,AVG and AVAST.



FROM above 3 AVAST has the faster engine while make a full system scan.



In my system (I have two 320GB disk, and scaned ALL FILES) AVG NEEDED almost 4 hours, AVAST needed 2h54min and AVIRA needed 3h10min.



So choice is yours. ALL ARE FREE, ALL are among the best, with the exception that AVIRA FREE EDITION don't have activated the WEB scaner and E-MAIL scaner,(that means you can't scan e-mails the time you download them, or web pages ther time you visit them), wich are options only for premium version,



but this can be fixed with SPYBOT S&D and the teatimer scaner it use, wich u can download from here:

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html



one of the best FREE anti-spyware.



Have a nice day

Answer 6

avg antivirus free edition 8.0 is the best in my opinion. avg saved my computer twice from trojans. It's easy to use and detects all kinds of viruses fast :D

Answer 7

The answer is neither or any free antivirus: READ:



About the "Free Stuff" - you are not protected !

http://www.bluecollarpc.net/about.html



Many people everywhere at boards and forums and groups always ask about "free protection" available to download and use. Sure, that's fine, because there are many genuine real programs and utilities available for free. But you must know the difference and dangers - using paid programs and free programs. This is the same for antispyware as well as antivirus software programs. Reasons for those seeking these softwares free may be being sick of shoveling out the money after realizing inferior product purchases, short or tight budgets, or no online purchase abilities, and the best reason - to have back up programs if the primary gets 'hit'. Whatever the reasons - you must know the differences in free and paid programs in antivirus and antispyware softwares, because with free stuff you are not protected ! (The free ones only scan and remove if able). Read...







About "free stuff"....

You need to understand what "real time protection" is. None of the free programs offer this with the exception of the real time active shields in the free Microsoft Windows Defender (antispyware) program. In other words, without real time protection (which will block viruses from

installing and most adware and spyware or at least present a warning for blocking) your computer will get infected first. After that, the free programs in antivirus and antispyware will allow removal after a full scan and detection. The problem with that is corruption of files or softwares - as well as the personal information already leaking (being transmitted back to cyber criminals). In severe threats in many cases your free programs will be blocked from even operating or retrieving update definitions. Paid subscriptions activate real time protection for antivirus and antispyware programs that have active shields like Webroot Spysweeper or Trend Micro Antispyware. Note that only the top sellers in antispyware actually have real time shields - the others are just scanners basically.



EXAMPLE... of why free protection is worthless:

SEE

Security software disabler Trojan

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/security_software_disabler_Trojan.html



Go to this link for a list of tried and true freeware products you are looking for:

http://www.bluecollarpc.net/pcsafety.html



webmaster http://www.BlueCollarPC.Net (and .Org)

(Computing Safety Themes)



EXCERPT/ NO TROLLS-FLAMES for my personal links:

Yahoo! Answers Community Guidelines

http://answers.yahoo.com/info/community_guidelines.php

Yahoo: Exploiting the community....

"...If you have years of experience in something, have a special hobby, own your own business, or if you are a knowledge partner, it’s OK to accompany a good, on-topic answer with a link to your website, blog, or email to offer more information...."

Answer 8

avg antivirus free edition 8.0 did not detect a key-logger i had and as a result my hotmail account with a super strong password was accessed by a hacker. Its crap



Avira detected it, That's how i know how it was done.

Answer 9

bluecoll ur wrong ---- i use avg and alot of other free programs --- sure there are limitations ---- if u surf safe and know where to go and what to do u can use free apps --- granted most of the kinds here a reckless but since their guidelines differ something free is better than nothing

Answer 10

AVG hands down

Answer 11

bitdefender 2008

Answer 12

avg, because if you wish, you can use a second and not have it interfere, (e.g. avg and avast)