free virus and spyware

[wendilla]

Probably a silly question but just wanted your views.I note lots of you praise all the free virus and spyware that you can download for free.I had more problems with my computer with these.Since I bought and installed mcaffie my computer has never run so well and no more problems.What I really want to know is why is it you have to pay for these when it is all free to download on here..Is it the same old answer (you only get what you pay for).

[jake-the-peg]

As it happens I work for one of the big AV companies. So I obviously I'm biased here but.

With free software you have no real idea of how much testing is going on or how good that is -it can be very variable. If a problem arises how responsive are the developers in fixing it? what support do you get?

Some of the free software is quite good but you won't find many large commercial organisations using free software and this is one of the reasons. If there's a problem they call us up and we fix it.

Also there's how quickly they respond to new viruses but our new signatures are now available hourly to certain customers

The more people are using a product - and this is not just antivirus - the better the chances that somebody has already found and fixed any problems before you got there.

[parkesquay]

Whilst Jake has made valid points I can only say that the AVG(Grisoft)free edition is continually updated sometimes 2/3 times per week. There is a professional edition for say businesses but this one has to pay for. I have tried Norton and others but they seem to cause as many problems as some free editions. Personally ,I can't find any fault with my AVG free edition it seems to do all the things that a paid for AV does. It may be that Grisoft use the home pc free edition as a loss-leader/research for its professional edition.

[Rock'n'Roll]

could always look at computer acive's web site. Good information,recommendations and free downloads

[LeMarchand]

A lot of the "free" versions are only free for personal use, not commercial. The idea is similar to banks offering students all sorts of incentives: once you have a customer, they're likely to stay, and with software they may get to a position where they are influencing a considerable purchase.

[wendilla]

Thank you all for your replies helps to understand things a bit clearer.

[Ralph]

In my humble opinion, there is probably nothing wrong with the virus scanners in Norton or McAfee. I think the problem is that because they have to keep you on a continual upgrade cycle, they have to continually be percieved to be adding value to their product. They do this by adding bits and pieces like firewalls and real-time adware watchers etc. When they're all loaded up, they sap system resources like there's no tomorrow.

I've been using AVG and ZoneAlarm trouble free for donkeys years. I like them because they're simple, unpretentious and free. In short - KISS, keep it simple stupid! (not you!)

[deggers316]

i agree with last mess: avg and zone alarm both free are the best around norton has too many probs reported and take masses of space up
ive used these two freebies for years, 8 in fact since dumping norton no probs: