Free versus purchased antivirus/spyware programs

[Sejanus]

Ciao everybody,

The subscription to McAfee that came with my computer is about to end its 3 year run, and I'm considering not renewing it (I'm a poor college student and 80 bucks is kind of steep). I was wondering what everyones thoughts are on McAfee and other paid anti-virus programs compared with free programs such as Malwarebytes? Also, I'm curious about the combinations of programs you personally run so that I can get an idea of effective alternatives.

Thanks guys!

 

[cartera]

Personally i would say ditch mcaffee and get your self Spybot Search and Destroy and Avira Anti Virus. I have used mcaffee once a few years back and i thought it was a resource stealer!

Also AVG anti virus free is good, which could replace Avira if you want something more well known.

 

[bobcat]

Questions like this usually attract a multiplicity of answers. But this board officially recommended Avira Antivir or Avast! as antivirus, plus malwarebytes' as antispyware. All of them are free and will do a goos job, not inferior to McAfee.

For latest recommendations, see:

https://www.techspot.com/community/...lware-removal-preliminary-instructions.58138/

 

[superty12]

Avast+Spybot

Avast! Anti-virus Home Version with Spybot: Search and Destroy is good and free.

 

[Route44]

Excellent free antivirus: Avast and Antivir

Excellent free antispyware/malware: SuperAntispyware (and it runs in real time protection); Malwarebytes.


* All four of these are highly regarded here at TechSpot (and other places as well).