Best Free AV to run along with MSE in Win 7

[net4hack]

I have MS Security Essentials installed on my Windows 7 Ultimate laptop. At the moment Comodo Internet Security Free (Anti Virus + Firewall) is running along this one.

Is this the best combination or shall I opt for some thing else like the following to avoid conflicts?

1. MSE + Panda Free AV ()+ Comodo Free Firewall
2. MSE + Avira Free + Comodo Free Firewall

Other security softwares installed are Spy Bot Search and Destroy, Ad-Aware, Spyware Guard ( Javacool) , Spyware Blaster (Javacool) etc

[MidnightCowboy]

You should never run two antivirus programs together in real time. Plenty of folks will tell you that it's possible but every vendor we speak to says that even if it is possible, protection is more likely to be degraded than improved. It is also guaranteed that at some point a conflict will arise which may do lasting damage to your system configuration.

You should decide which program you trust most and then keep just this one.

IMO MSE is a great choice which is no doubt why it won our recent poll as the best freeware product for 2010.

[net4hack]

I read somewhere that it is ok to install Panda AV along with MSE. How good is Outpost Security Suite?

I think it would be better to have a good paid "All in One" Internet security suite with AV + Firewall + Anti Spyware than going for separate free sw's to avoid any conflicts!

[Anupam]

Originally Posted by net4hack

I think it would be better to have a good paid "All in One" Internet security suite with AV + Firewall + Anti Spyware than going for separate free sw's to avoid any conflicts!

Sorry, but paid software will not be discussed here, as this is a freeware forum. I hope you will respect that.

Free software are no less than their paid counterparts, and might be even better. Here at TSA, we suggest "layered" protection for improved security using different software, as suites tend to be heavier, and they lack in some department or the other.

I have also shortened the thread topic, as it was quite long.

[net4hack]

Could you plz suggest me a good free "All in One" Internet security suite with AV + Firewall + Anti Spyware?

[MidnightCowboy]

Originally Posted by net4hack

I read somewhere that it is ok to install Panda AV along with MSE. How good is Outpost Security Suite?

Agnitum in general is about mid range in terms of ability. The HIPS in the freeware suite is it's best feature but you need to know that it installs into learning mode by default, what the implications of this are, and how to answer the pop ups should you elect to use the manual but more secure option.

Without this level of knoweldge you will be far better off to stick with MSE and Windows firewall. Both are designed to protect the system with as little user interaction as possible and will do so to an equal extent compared with other products.

More features and/or a price tag attached won't give you anything extra in terms of "protection" because much of this will be down to you and not the programs you install. If I had $1 for every infected PC with an installed paid product I've seen, I'd already be rich

[deya]

I've used 'good paid all in one' AV's in the past, but I can honestly say that I don't miss them and don't feel any less protected by using free stuff. MSE with Windows firewall work perfectly well on their own, you could add WinPatrol free to that if you wanted to. Use the on demand scanners that are recommended on here, use WOT, and maybe change your DNS.

But if you want to try a free all in one suite that has the things you mentioned you could have a look at FortiClient Standard. I used that just recently [on XP] and it worked fine, ran light, regular updates and most importantly, I got no infections. There's a thread on here about it somewhere.

Just heed the advice you're being given here though, don't run two AV's at once. And any of the top rated free AV's will give you just as good protection as stuff you'll pay for.

[bo.elam]

Originally Posted by net4hack

I have MS Security Essentials installed on my Windows 7 Ultimate laptop. At the moment Comodo Internet Security Free (Anti Virus + Firewall) is running along this one.

Is this the best combination or shall I opt for some thing else like the following to avoid conflicts?

1. MSE + Panda Free AV ()+ Comodo Free Firewall
2. MSE + Avira Free + Comodo Free Firewall

Other security softwares installed are Spy Bot Search and Destroy, Ad-Aware, Spyware Guard ( Javacool) , Spyware Blaster (Javacool) etc

I suggest you stick to MSE and Windows firewal. Uninstall Spybot, AdAware
and Spyware guard. You can leave Spywareblaster since it gives protection
with no conflict. Then add a different layer of protection by using Sandboxie.
If you never heard of Sandboxie, don't worry most people have not. This is
the link to their website. It will keep you clean and works perfectly with MSE
and the Windows firewall. In my opinion it will do better for you than all
the applications that you have now COMBINED.
http://www.sandboxie.com/

Bo

[net4hack]

Uninstalled comodo IS and have installed sandboxie now. Let me give it a try.

[bo.elam]

Originally Posted by net4hack

Uninstalled comodo IS and have installed sandboxie now. Let me give it a try.

Good for you, do some reading about it. There is plenty.
Bo