Using MSE when I really need to use an AV, else I'm using none. Just watching what I click on. But this only works if you're the only one working on the machine...
you guys should couple Microsoft Security Essentials with the free Comodo Firewall and its Defense+ functions.. works great i use it on win 8 and win 7
The best free antivirus solution is Avast who offer,in my conception,a good protection for free version of AV.The payed one I think is good to use KAV or Symantec.
I found Avast to be resource hog slowing PC down like ball and chain (on par with Norton AV), not to mention its ugly GUI blasphemising Windows UX design concepts and annoying “virus db has been updated…” notifications popping up during presentations, including nuts driving sound effects. Before MS released Security Essentials I was happy with NOD32. Because MS significantly improved its firewall, I have no need to use extra AV nor FW since Windows 7.
As an addition to your usual anti-virus software I recommend you to also scan your computer with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware tool, then and then. It can find malware that other anti-virus fails to find. Best of all, it is free!
Avast 8 (currently RC2) does work well, they resolved the issues regarding Windows 8 BSODS that plagued Avast 7.x series. The issues with Avast 7.x weren't actually there when Windows 8 was released, they started with an update for one of the networking components and the Avast team never seemed to be able to make Avast 7.x series compatible even with patches. Avira also have a Windows 8 compatible antivirus now, both for paid and free versions. It too is still in testing (has been for a while), and is currently at 'Update 10' (build 13.0.0.3393). A free signup to the beta program is required to access these downloads. Avira does have the occasional advertising popup relating to its own paid products, but that only occurs once a day during auto-update. It might seem annoying, but you have to remember that it, like Avast, is only good as a free product because of the paid versions. It's simply not economical for an antivirus to be completely free and provide numerous updates a day like Avast and Avira (as well as the paid programs like Kaspersky), and keep up to date with counteracting new threats.
Ive had Comodo lock up a HDD completely before. I am a avast! and Malwarebytes user myself but on the PC I sell I install either Avast or AVG. I am giving Bitdefender a shot on this next load. Just gotta get some Offline installation Files.
Been using Comodo for 10 years , free CIS , av included , updates itself every 3/4 days , had no lockups ,no worms, viruses. so what it gives too many popups , just tell it that it's a safe app. why pay money for paid firwaLL/AV , they all give same problems.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus free (they have 5-6 free utilities/tools) + Glasswire Firewall free + Ccleaner free + Ashampoo WinOptimiser free + Tor (client only) browser... Anyone knows if Malwarebytes has a free version nowadays? I am finding it indispensable against all kinds of malware nowadays but I am using a hara-kiri-ed (full) version... Btw, I am using OpenVPN or L2PT tunnelling protection, using an inexpensive paid subscription to SmartDNS service...