Can anyone recommend a good, free, second-line antivirus scanner?

Question

Hi.

I am currently using Comodo Pro as a firewall and ESET Nod32 as my anti-virus program, and have never had any problems. But I read that no anti-virus software can detect 100% of threats, and so it is good to have a second-line anti-virus program to perform scans as well.

I don't want one which runs in real time and takes up system resources and slows down my computer, and I don't want to have to pay for another anti-malware program. Can anyone recommend a good free anti-malware scanner that I can use when I want to scan selected files/systems, and one which I can update when I want from the web, and does not run in the background and update itself automatically and slow down my computer?

If it makes any difference, I am using an Asus laptop running XP Pro.

any help greatly appreciated.

thanks.

Answer 1

I agree with Sly Old Mole, you can also use the following:

Scan online with Housecall:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com

or  BitDefender;

http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html

You can also remove the crapware installed on Asus with Decrapifier:

http://www.download.com/PC-Decrapifier/3...

More details here:

http://cotojo.wordpress.com/2008/05/08

Or use RevoUninstaller:

http://www.download.com/Revo-Uninstaller...

It's faster and better than add / remove applet.

When you run it highlight the item then select uninstall in next window select Advanced and click Next, follow prompts when uninstalled it will scan registry and drive for leftover files / folders, tick ONLY the bold items and follow prompts.

Answer 2

i run avast,,,there is a free version(for home use)works great..fyi...most software apps have an option not to auto update,,,,also,if you type msconfig into the run command,,,then in start up you uncheck the prog that you do not want to load at start up...

Answer 3

You are right no AV works 100% I have used Nod32 & its very good however it does miss some forms of spyware, is it good to have a second-line anti-virus program to perform scans as well - the answer is NO, the safe thing to do is what we call a free on line scan to check if your AV is missing any virus, try this one:

http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html

I would recommend that you run some antispyware programs with Nod32 here are two free & good one's:

http://www.superantispyware.com/

http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Ant...

Tip:

Asus put a lot of Asus c**p on your laptop if you remove the Asus c**p your PC will run faster.

Answer 4

Clamwin

http://www.clamwin.com/

Answer 5

AVAST

www.avast.com

There is a free home edition to download and it automatically keeps updating and its one of the Top most rated antivirus ;)

Answer 6

It's better  just to surf the Internet and decide yourself which one is better for you.

"If you decided to install a security tool to protect your computer you have several options. You can choose between firewall, antivirus, anti-spyware and a security suite which includes features of all the mentioned.

Antivirus software is computer program which detects, neutralizes or deletes malicious software. Originally this type of program was called that way because it was supposed to fight only computer viruses. Nowadays these programs combat various types of malwares, trojan horses, worms, adwares and ..."

Answer 7

I use AVG Free Edition you can download it from www.majorgreek.com

Answer 8

You can find good removers here :

http://www.pcthreat.com/