TechnoLust's Journal: Free antivirus software for Win2k?

I've been using McAffee VirusScan for years, because the version I had didn't use the subscription, and the new DAT files worked with it, so it stayed up to date. Apparently they figured that out, because the latest update killed it. It won't even start now. I tried to roll it back to the last version and it's so totally dead it isn't funny.

So, I'm not paying $30/month or whatever for antivirus software when there free software to be had. Any suggestions?

Free Antivirus Software

[pdscomp]

I'm not sure how good this is, but of all the free solutions this seems to offer the best support: http://www.free-av.com/ Cheers!

Try...

[Zirnike]

AVG Antivirus. [grisoft.com] Works for me.

Re:Try...

[Planesdragon]

I second this. AVG is free for personal or nonprofit use.

Be sure to look for the link to "free version."

Re:Try...

[FortKnox]

I use this also... cleaned two virii to this date for me.

Re:Try...

[turg]

I also second (fourth?) this. Here [grisoft.com] is the link for the free version.

I abandoned McAfee two weeks into a 12-month paid subscription to switch back AVG's free version.

Re:Try...

[Zeriel]

Fifth. Works well for me.

Housecall

[pherris]

Fire up Housecall [antivirus.com] from IE (the only reason it get's used for me). It's an activeX app and does a great job cleaning things up.

Not free, but...

[Patik]

You can get Norton for ~$7 if you buy it OEM (disc only). It gives you one year, and if your morals fall into line a certain way, you can just do a reinstall when the year is up to give you another year (or just shell out another $7).

Get it here [pricewatch.com].

Avast Antivirus

[superyooser]

Avast antivirus [avast.com] is also free. It's pretty slick.

Re:Avast Antivirus

[TechnoLust]

I can only imagine the dialog boxes...

Arrr... ye have a scurvy dog virus!
What do ye want to do with it?
[Put it in the brig] [Make it walk the plank]

Sorry, Avast always makes me think pirate!

Anti virus

[Tet]

I haven't used it myself, but I've heard very good things about Clam AV [clamav.net]. A Windows version is available here [clamwin.com]. Being GPL, it's even Free as well as free.

Failing that, solutions to all of your virus problems can be found here [openbsd.org] and here [redhat.com].