[FireSpawn]

So, my 30 day trial of Norton just ran out, and I'm looking for a decent antivirus that will at least provide some modicum of safety. I am also dirt poor, so it's price (read: "if it's free or not") is a large deciding factor in what I download.

I would like some of your input as to what are safe and somewhat reliable security programs. I'm looking to install Avast on a temporary basis untill a better one has been found or not.

[SpardaSon21]

I use Microsoft Security Essentials.  It has worked so far for me.

[CommanderDJ]

Same here. MSE is decent.

[Klaustrophobia]

mse or avg.  i also use spybot's immunize (not sure if this has ever actually blocked anything or not, no way of knowing) and keep malwarebytes installed and updated whenever i remember.  i've gotten a couple things that could block mwbytes from installing or updating, but not from running if it was already installed, so having it already saved me some headache.

[LHN91]

I honestly don't care for avg, but I use both mse and avast and haven't had any issue with either beyond avast's autosandbox needing to be disabled either often or completely.

[FireSpawn]

Well I've installed avast as I can't install mse. Now only time and my random bouts of chronic laziness will decide my rig's security.

[Fury]

And why exactly you can't install MSE? Illegal copy of Windows?

[KyadCK]

And why exactly you can't install MSE? Illegal copy of Windows?

Or Windows8, or XP or earlier (I think).

Still find it funny that MSE doesn't work on Win8 yet. 

[Mongoose]

Works fine on XP, if that little icon in my system tray is any indication.

[SpardaSon21]

You just need SP3 if you want to install MSE on XP.

[Fury]

Still find it funny that MSE doesn't work on Win8 yet. 

Huh? MSE is built-in into the security software Win8 comes with.

[TwentyPercentCooler]

I've been using Avast! for a pretty long time with no issues. The auto-sandbox is way less annoying than AVG's firewall, as far as I'm concerned. Both are very solid, though.

[The E]

Still find it funny that MSE doesn't work on Win8 yet. 

Really. Huh. I wonder what I am using instead then.

(And yes, Fury's right, the only reason why you can't install MSE on Win 8 is because it's installed as part of the operating system)

[Androgeos Exeunt]

Yes, it's that essential.

[jr2]

Why can't you install MSE? That'd be my vote, BTW, with AVG Free being 2nd and Avast Third. 

[FireSpawn]

Why can't you install MSE?

Because I had to install a "Privately modified" version of Win7 after I got a particularly nasty virus that kept the PC from booting up.

[jr2]

Ah.  Ok, since you have a license for 7, check your PMs.

[KyadCK]

Still find it funny that MSE doesn't work on Win8 yet. 

Really. Huh. I wonder what I am using instead then.

(And yes, Fury's right, the only reason why you can't install MSE on Win 8 is because it's installed as part of the operating system)

That would explain it. However. That is stupid as hell. People sell OEM comps with copies of Nortan or Mcafee, think of all the pain.

[LHN91]

iirc windows 8 disables mse automatically when it detects another antivirus is installed.

[KyadCK]

iirc windows 8 disables mse automatically when it detects another antivirus is installed.

MS should put money into advertising the fact Win8 has anti-virus installed already so people don't install Nortan or McaFee at all. Those two are still the leading cause of problems on computers I fix because they have the half-assed OEM-consumer version that acts like a suicide bomber when the licence runs out.