What's a good free antivirus program for WinXP?

[Über~PhLuBB]

I'm using AVG Antivirus now, but I just checked, and it only protects against 160-something viruses! And CIH is not on the list it protects against!

I know there's a reason it's free, but 160 viruses as opposed to 45,000+ with NAV.

Can anyone reccomend another free antivirus program for Windows XP?

[Jon]

InoculateIT was good when it was around but I think you already have to have it and be subscribed to make any good use of it anymore. I believe they discontinued it after another company took over.

If you can find it, it may support XP...it was a pretty good one.

[Über~PhLuBB]

Got a link?

And what about everyone else, any other suggestions?

[oc jason]

I think that the newest Norton and the MacAfee both with XP

[Über~PhLuBB]

Originally posted by [OC] Jason
I think that the newest Norton and the MacAfee both with XP

Yes, but those aren't free.

I was at Best Buy earlier today, and I saw NAV2002 for $49.99. I thought "$50, to hell with that, I'll buy RTCW".

They didn't have Wolf, so I went next door to buy some (five) Star Wars novels.

I went back to Best Buy, and in another section, I found a "cut down" version of Norton 2002, it was just a CD in a retail sleeve. It was $22 or so, I was kicking myself for not having seen it earlier.

Eh well. I'm happy with my books, I'll just wait till the next time I come accross $30, then I'll buy NAV... Unless someone else knows of another free AV program?

[o770]

Originally posted by Über~PhLuBB
..protects against 160-something viruses!(...)

only that? r u sure and is that only for the XP version? not only the listed viruses can be detected and cleaned, there r others not listed it will also work to. im using AVG now after have readed about the three free ones i found (inoculateit, house something and AVG) cuz it seemed to be the best choice for me. remember reading about some good reviews for the avg and i bet it wont detect and clean only 160 viruses..

[Über~PhLuBB]

Originally posted by oTTO


only that? r u sure and is that only for the XP version? not only the listed viruses can be detected and cleaned, there r others not listed it will also work to. im using AVG now after have readed about the three free ones i found (inoculateit, house something and AVG) cuz it seemed to be the best choice for me. remember reading about some good reviews for the avg and i bet it wont detect and clean only 160 viruses..

Observe:

[Yodums]

Seems like your a true Star Wars guy.. eheh

*Slaps Boba Fett around with his light saber!!*

[joey_rjm5]

How's it goin PhLuBB. I see you changed your name in here to:)

I would just buy norton or mcaffe. I have recently had probs with viruses and I would say that it's worth the money. I hate viruses.

[o770]

Originally posted by Über~PhLuBB


Observe:

164 is the version number of the virus database.

[Über~PhLuBB]

Originally posted by oTTO


164 is the version number of the virus database.

I did an approximate count using Page Down when viewing the virus list. It comes to roughly 130, plus the expandable trees would probably account for the other ~30.

So it is 164.

[o770]

Originally posted by Über~PhLuBB


I did an approximate count using Page Down when viewing the virus list. It comes to roughly 130, plus the expandable trees would probably account for the other ~30.

So it is 164.

i dont beleive on that few.

[Über~PhLuBB]

Originally posted by oTTO


i dont beleive on that few.

I just counted them, 178 on the list. The subcatagories are variants of those viruses, so they don't count. If they did, there are 155 additional ones.

That is more thentwo times 164, but still a pathetically small ammount. compared to NAV or the like.

[o770]

Originally posted by Über~PhLuBB
..still a pathetically small ammount.

of course it is. ive seen that before on older virusscan versions when only a few representing listed viruses would be presented in a similar part of the program: just cant beleive (i cant also say im absolutely sure) one anti-virus program would pretend to only detect and clean 160 or something viruses. that would be the biggest pretention. ahve you visited the grisoft's website looking for the definitive answer for this already?
that is also completely adverse to the good reviews AVG got.
maybe im going to look at grisoft's website, if that you say is correct i will better look for another software.

[Über~PhLuBB]

Originally posted by oTTO


of course it is. ive seen that before on older virusscan versions when only a few representing listed viruses would be presented in a similar part of the program: just cant beleive (i cant also say im absolutely sure) one anti-virus program would pretend to only detect and clean 160 or something viruses. that would be the biggest pretention. ahve you visited the grisoft's website looking for the definitive answer for this already?
that is also completely adverse to the good reviews AVG got.
maybe im going to look at grisoft's website, if that you say is correct i will better look for another software.

Yea, I'll go have a look now. If it's true, I'll PM you when I find another AV package that's free.

[Über~PhLuBB]

Bumpola.

[o770]

Originally posted by Über~PhLuBB
Bumpola.

hey..
i emailed grsoft asking about how many viruses AVG can detect, emailed once for no responses, emailed them again right now: will let u know if i ever get any attention.

[Über~PhLuBB]

I alredy EMailed 'em about it. They SAY 35,000-40,000 including most variants (That's bull) and ~60,000 including every variant of all viruses covered.

I asked why CIH, Nimbda, and the other big ones aren't on the list, and I didn't get a response. My guess is that those aren't covered.

[o770]

got this from the tech help:

"The exact number of viruses we detect is not
known. The number is increasing rapidly (several
viruses per week). Now it is something about sixty
thousands

With my best regards"
David Hladky

[o770]

got this one today:

"Hello o,

I do not know the exact numbers. But it can detect all viruses you can
get infected by. There is some virus comming almost every day and the
virus database is actualized about 4 to 6 times in a month.

--
Best regards,"
Martin Jansa
Grisoft(c) Software

[hkgonra]

I have an NT server box atr work , we got hit with Nimda but kept getting "re-infected" I used Innoculan , Norton , Mcafee , and the Mcafee and Symantec nimda specific removal tools. Nothing would work for more than a day. I ran the FREE version of AVG right after ALL of the others said I was clean. It found 1 infected file in an area the others didn't. I suspect this was the one file that was re-infecting my server. I realize it may be a fluke , but I am sold.

[Wicked Klown]

You can get the OEM Version of Norton SystemWorks 2002 Pro for $16.45 and thats with shipping.

[Dave65]

I found a great deal,I downloaded Weatherbug,and it send you these offers to you via email,well they had the Norton System Works the professional version for 29.95 the 2002 version,@ Best Buy it was over 100 dollars,might be wroth looking into.I bought it but haven't recieved it yet.

[fearless]

I've got an extra copy of Norton 2002. Dad bought a copy the day before I did:rolleyes: . Still in the box and have not yet returned it. It's yours if ya want it...

Dr.

[NYC37]

164 does seem low..must be real old i guess.
free online virus scan(just dont close browser window while it runs) it was recomended to me by M$ft tech help..good guys at M$ft tech help, just the really high up bosses that are greedy pigs. Enjoy!

http://housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/start_pcc.asp