Virus Question (quoted)

[fallenxlionheart]

Just installed AVG Free on Vista x64 as the following forum from Grisoft mentioned " AVG Free is possible to install on 64-bit systems."

http://forum.grisoft.cz/freeforum/re...,backpage=,sv= (http://forum.grisoft.cz/freeforum/read.php?7,78862,backpage=,sv=)

I looked at the processes in task manager and discovered that it was running as a 32bit software i.e avgcc*32 . The installation also placed the AVG folder in C:\Program Files(x86) earlier on.

1) Is the virus checking capability going to be affected as it may not detect 64bit viruses (if there are any)?
2) Should i go back to avast! Free which has native 64 bit support? I switched to AVG for the less memory usage.
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(this is a quote from a member of notebook review (system64 bit) and i had just about the same question as him

[NasGhost]

You should drop both and use Avira.

[fallenxlionheart]

its great that u say that...but that dosent change the fact that im a big AVG fan....all im asking is that the fact that its not a 64bit application affect its virus scanning abillites

[DRY_ICE]

As long as they list support for x64 operating systems, which I checked and they do, you should be fine.

[NasGhost]

its great that u say that...but that dosent change the fact that im a big AVG fan....all im asking is that the fact that its not a 64bit application affect its virus scanning abillites

It does work in both x32 and x64 Windows OSes, click http://free.avg.com/faq.num-1237#faq_1237 for more detail ( click the "legacy OS" part ), however, the fact remains that AVG is still mediocre at best. Both Avast and Avira are superior to it, and Avira does a pretty nice job with handling resources. AVG has more false positives, worse detection rates, and the free version doesnt even include rootkit detection, which can be a nightmare. Avira is not perfect, but it is better than Avast, which is better than AVG, which is why I suggest it.

[Anewbus]

It does work in both x32 and x64 Windows OSes, click http://free.avg.com/faq.num-1237#faq_1237 for more detail ( click the "legacy OS" part ), however, the fact remains that AVG is still mediocre at best. Both Avast and Avira are superior to it, and Avira does a pretty nice job with handling resources. AVG has more false positives, worse detection rates, and the free version doesnt even include rootkit detection, which can be a nightmare. Avira is not perfect, but it is better than Avast, which is better than AVG, which is why I suggest it.

Hmm, I'm an AVG fan as well and I can tell you that it is far superior to Norton on all levels, especially detection. I used to use Norton, but then tried free AVG one day and it caught a virus in my root directory that Norton totally missed! This was years ago though and perhaps they took away rootkit detection somewhat recently and I just didn't know it.
I do know that the have been some "version" issues not very long ago, but it seems they have cleared up.
That said though, I think I will go check out the other two you mention for giggles of nothing else. Are they free with free updates as well? I believe virus detection should be free to all and not something one has to pay $60 to $100 or more a year for.:cool:

[NasGhost]

Hmm, I'm an AVG fan as well and I can tell you that it is far superior to Norton on all levels, especially detection. I used to use Norton, but then tried free AVG one day and it caught a virus in my root directory that Norton totally missed! This was years ago though and perhaps they took away rootkit detection somewhat recently and I just didn't know it.
I do know that the have been some "version" issues not very long ago, but it seems they have cleared up.
That said though, I think I will go check out the other two you mention for giggles of nothing else. Are they free with free updates as well? I believe virus detection should be free to all and not something one has to pay $60 to $100 or more a year for.:cool:

Norton? Norton is garbage too, thought admittedly, Norton has gotten better with their 2009 version, but all of their others are just plain crap, and while 2009 is better, it still leaves you wanting something more.

AVG was good up until version 7.5 I believe, after that they began taking a few features out of their free version, likely to encourage people to pay for it.

Personally I would say stick with Avira. It has relatively low memory usage ( unless you feel that ~60MB, which is what it currently has for me, is high ), has one of the best detection rates of any Antivirus, including the two best paid ( Kaspersky and NOD32, respectively ), and is completely free. Its only flaw ( IMHO ) is when it updates, an ad pops up. It usually updates like everyday or every other day or so, but if you can handle that, then its likely your best bet.

[fallenxlionheart]

my avg is completly up to date and yet i still have rootkit detection....idk were thats coming from

[NasGhost]

my avg is completly up to date and yet i still have rootkit detection....idk were thats coming from
I believe there is a separate download for AVG for rootkit detection, not sure if its free though.

[DRY_ICE]

If this is going to become an alternative discussion I vote G Data Internet Security 2010. $40 for 3 licenses and the best detection available - no speculation just fact.

[fallenxlionheart]

can you show me a source? (no disrespect i just am curious)

[DRY_ICE]

It uses Avast and BitDefender engines in combination... definitely sounds good right? And it detected more garbage than any other suite tested recently.. plus it's cheap as hell.

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/61695/review/internet_security_2010.html

That's one link. I forgot what test it beat the popular ones out in I think it was AV-test, but I could be wrong. Anyway, when I was looking for solid program I came upon this. I use it alongside some spyware removal tools.