Best of the Free Anti-virus Choices? 499
iamjoltman writes "I've been looking to replace the McAfee anti-virus on my parent's XP machine. So, I've been looking at the three free anti-virus choices, AVG Free Edition, avast! Home Edition and AntiVir Personal Edition. I know there are other options, but I believe any others are only on-demand scanners, and that's not an option. So, what does the Slashdot crowd think is the best of these choices? Keep in mind, I'm only looking in anti-virus, I'll go elsewhere for firewall or malware protection."
Elsewhere.. (Score:5, Funny)
You going to ask on Digg about those two then?
Re:The best anti-virus.. (Score:5, Funny)
(1) Don't turn your machine on. If it's not turned on, you can't get infected.
(2) If you do, by accident, turn your machine on, don't log in.
(3) If, somehow, you accidentally type in your username and password, don't open a web browser.
(4) If you happen to open a web browser window, make sure thw wire that connects your PC to the network is not attached.
These simple steps will prevent infection by malware. I've never had an infection of any sort using these guidelines -- my PET2001 still remains virus-free due to these simple precautions -- and it's been in use since 1981!.
Sorry to take the piss, but your smug feeling of superiority is ill-placed. You severely limit the functionality of your PC -- and while it may work for you, it won't work for people who want a different experience from their PC -- like making use of streaming media, or playing simple games. It's totally unreasonable to expect Joe User to not accidentally accept an installation of something they nasty.
And, I have to add, it's only a matter of time before you ARE infected -- and since you don't scan, you'll have no way of knowing if you're propagating.
Yaaah ok (Score:1, Funny)
"The best antivirus protection is not to be exposed to viruses."
Yeah, that's like saying the best form of birth control is abstinence...How obsurd!