Avast or Avira?

Anupam · 06. Oct 2011, 08:48 PM

Need opinions from you guys.

As mentioned in the other thread, I have an old PC on my hands... with Celeron 1 GHz, 512 MB SDRAM.

I have been a long time user of Avast, and have put it on the computer of people I know. I thought Avira had gone down the drain after reading the many comments against it in recent past.

But, after trying out Avira recently, I find its not bad, as it is made to be. Infact, its still a very good alternative, and maybe along par with Avast.

So, I need opinions on which to install on this old PC. This computer will be used by a non-techie lady, so we have to think from that point of view.

One thing with Avira is that it will be light on the system, and will use minimum resources, with no shields being there like Avast.

One thing I was concerned about was the updates with Avira. But, I have observed that the updates can be scheduled nicely with the built-in scheduler. So, that concern is now over.

But, on the other hand, Avast has different shields which offer more protection. The lady will be primarily doing surfing on the PC. So, from that point of view, the web shield of Avast will be good.

I won't be installing firewall on the PC, so I think network shield would work good too.

She is not techie enough to understand the use of Sandboxie. So, I rule that out.

If I go with Avira, I might have to install AVG LinkScanner, to make sure she is safe while surfing. I will definitely be installing WOT on the browsers in any case.

So, which one will be good.. easy to handle, easy to use, and will offer better protection?

In terms of being lighter, I am tilting towards Avira, but in terms of more protection, I am tilting towards Avast. Opinions are welcome

jim · 06. Oct 2011, 09:34 PM

I too have been using Avast for years and NEVER had a successful attack. I have installed it on most of my family's laptops and PCs and most of them (daughter and son-in-law in particular) are totally computer ignorant. It works for them. I regularly do checks for them and have to get rid of loads of adware and tool bars that they haven't opted out of (particularly the grandkids) but they have never had a virus.

Anupam · 06. Oct 2011, 10:27 PM

Same here jim, except that Avast has been unable to protect against the malware from the USB drives on some occasions. Has happened with me too, and with the people on whose PCs I installed it. But, I think that can happen with any antivirus.

kendall.a · 06. Oct 2011, 10:59 PM

Mse....mse.....mse......

Anupam · 06. Oct 2011, 11:03 PM

LOL .. nah Kendall, MSE won't be installed. Although, its a good option, but I am not keen to go after MSE since the advent of version 2.0, which is not getting a good response, and the detection rate is low too.

It has to be Avast, or Avira, and considering what I ran into, it might be Avast.

Details in Avira thread

.

Anupam · 07. Oct 2011, 08:46 PM

I have decided to go with Avast, since I think the different shields will offer good protection, and Avast is free from the quirks which Avira has. Avast will be basically trouble free, reliable, and stable.

geohac · 08. Oct 2011, 12:39 AM

You made a good choice.

MidnightCowboy · 08. Oct 2011, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anupam

Avast will be basically trouble free, reliable, and stable.

Then it will be truly unique amongst this genre of software

Anupam · 08. Oct 2011, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidnightCowboy

Then it will be truly unique amongst this genre of software

Of course it is

26Dolphins · 08. Oct 2011, 02:18 PM

If you're keeping the system for a few days, why don't you see how it goes with Avast (resource wise) and if that's too heavy, test it with Avira?

06. Oct 2011, 08:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Anupam Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 9,484	Avast or Avira? Need opinions from you guys. As mentioned in the other thread, I have an old PC on my hands... with Celeron 1 GHz, 512 MB SDRAM. I have been a long time user of Avast, and have put it on the computer of people I know. I thought Avira had gone down the drain after reading the many comments against it in recent past. But, after trying out Avira recently, I find its not bad, as it is made to be. Infact, its still a very good alternative, and maybe along par with Avast. So, I need opinions on which to install on this old PC. This computer will be used by a non-techie lady, so we have to think from that point of view. One thing with Avira is that it will be light on the system, and will use minimum resources, with no shields being there like Avast. One thing I was concerned about was the updates with Avira. But, I have observed that the updates can be scheduled nicely with the built-in scheduler. So, that concern is now over. But, on the other hand, Avast has different shields which offer more protection. The lady will be primarily doing surfing on the PC. So, from that point of view, the web shield of Avast will be good. I won't be installing firewall on the PC, so I think network shield would work good too. She is not techie enough to understand the use of Sandboxie. So, I rule that out. If I go with Avira, I might have to install AVG LinkScanner, to make sure she is safe while surfing. I will definitely be installing WOT on the browsers in any case. So, which one will be good.. easy to handle, easy to use, and will offer better protection? In terms of being lighter, I am tilting towards Avira, but in terms of more protection, I am tilting towards Avast. Opinions are welcome __________________ Anupam

06. Oct 2011, 10:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
Anupam Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 9,484	Same here jim, except that Avast has been unable to protect against the malware from the USB drives on some occasions. Has happened with me too, and with the people on whose PCs I installed it. But, I think that can happen with any antivirus. __________________ Anupam

06. Oct 2011, 10:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
kendall.a Foundation Editor/Forum Manager Intern Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 1,814	Mse....mse.....mse...... __________________ <-------Is looking for his brain....

06. Oct 2011, 11:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
Anupam Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 9,484	LOL .. nah Kendall, MSE won't be installed. Although, its a good option, but I am not keen to go after MSE since the advent of version 2.0, which is not getting a good response, and the detection rate is low too. It has to be Avast, or Avira, and considering what I ran into, it might be Avast. Details in Avira thread . __________________ Anupam

07. Oct 2011, 08:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
Anupam Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 9,484	I have decided to go with Avast, since I think the different shields will offer good protection, and Avast is free from the quirks which Avira has. Avast will be basically trouble free, reliable, and stable. __________________ Anupam

06. Oct 2011, 09:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
jim Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: near Ashford Kent England Posts: 304	I too have been using Avast for years and NEVER had a successful attack. I have installed it on most of my family's laptops and PCs and most of them (daughter and son-in-law in particular) are totally computer ignorant. It works for them. I regularly do checks for them and have to get rid of loads of adware and tool bars that they haven't opted out of (particularly the grandkids) but they have never had a virus.

08. Oct 2011, 12:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
geohac Full Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: USA Posts: 49	You made a good choice. __________________ "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

08. Oct 2011, 02:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
26Dolphins Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 440	If you're keeping the system for a few days, why don't you see how it goes with Avast (resource wise) and if that's too heavy, test it with Avira? __________________ 26Dolphins

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