- Feb 7, 2020
- 39
My job involves supporting around a 100 users. For those I've got a corporate/endpoint suite that I'm using.
Due to my line of work, a lot of systems belonging to family/friends pass through my hands. Back in the pre-Windows 8 days I used to install a number of (mainly) free AV solutions. Continuing to do up to this day, even though the free defender has raised the level a lot.
Bottomline, there are still a lot of free AVs out there, and I'd like your opinion. My basic criteria are rock-level stability, detection and performance on low-to-medium risk users (ie not downloading illegal stuff, might visiting some porn etc). They are mainly laptop users, some with underpowered systems, therefore I would not mind losing some detection, in order to gain performance.
I've used avast, AVG, avira, bitdefender, kaspersky and obviously windows defender.
* From everything that I've used so far, I think Bitdefender was the lightest of them all. However my experiences with Bitdefender over the last 15 years have all failed miserably one way or another, even with paid products. Used to have firewall problems, with the program blocking internet access (critical) or the antivirus turned off and could not turn on (ditto). Today was my last attempt to use this software. Next time I'll try will be in 2030, wasted too much time with it....
* I don't feel avast is very low on resources nowadays. And I don't like the nagware plus all the modules loaded (which I de-select during installation) are too much a fuss
* Kaspersky seems a bit heavy. I really can't understand how the heck the av-comparatives present it as a low-resource app. I've used all home/endpoint and free versions and they all were heavy (free seemed to be a little on the light side). The endpoint products were a hell to upgrade. The home/SOHO products though were/are as sturdy as it goes! Home the free product follows on the same genre.
* Avira: Seems excellent regarding detection, but also seems very heavy on resources
* AVG: did not like it for some reason, have not used it for 10 years or so
So far, if I had to choose one from the products mentioned above, I'd go with Kaspersky free. But I don't have any information regarding other solutions. Is there an EMSIsoft free antivirus product available (have never used EMSI)? What about the free Sophos home?
Again, criteria are rock-solid stability, excellent performance without sacrificing much on av detection, for users with fairly-safe habits and low-to-medium powered rigs.
Due to my line of work, a lot of systems belonging to family/friends pass through my hands. Back in the pre-Windows 8 days I used to install a number of (mainly) free AV solutions. Continuing to do up to this day, even though the free defender has raised the level a lot.
Bottomline, there are still a lot of free AVs out there, and I'd like your opinion. My basic criteria are rock-level stability, detection and performance on low-to-medium risk users (ie not downloading illegal stuff, might visiting some porn etc). They are mainly laptop users, some with underpowered systems, therefore I would not mind losing some detection, in order to gain performance.
I've used avast, AVG, avira, bitdefender, kaspersky and obviously windows defender.
* From everything that I've used so far, I think Bitdefender was the lightest of them all. However my experiences with Bitdefender over the last 15 years have all failed miserably one way or another, even with paid products. Used to have firewall problems, with the program blocking internet access (critical) or the antivirus turned off and could not turn on (ditto). Today was my last attempt to use this software. Next time I'll try will be in 2030, wasted too much time with it....
* I don't feel avast is very low on resources nowadays. And I don't like the nagware plus all the modules loaded (which I de-select during installation) are too much a fuss
* Kaspersky seems a bit heavy. I really can't understand how the heck the av-comparatives present it as a low-resource app. I've used all home/endpoint and free versions and they all were heavy (free seemed to be a little on the light side). The endpoint products were a hell to upgrade. The home/SOHO products though were/are as sturdy as it goes! Home the free product follows on the same genre.
* Avira: Seems excellent regarding detection, but also seems very heavy on resources
* AVG: did not like it for some reason, have not used it for 10 years or so
So far, if I had to choose one from the products mentioned above, I'd go with Kaspersky free. But I don't have any information regarding other solutions. Is there an EMSIsoft free antivirus product available (have never used EMSI)? What about the free Sophos home?
Again, criteria are rock-solid stability, excellent performance without sacrificing much on av detection, for users with fairly-safe habits and low-to-medium powered rigs.