Many of the regulars here will know I am a huge Linux fan and hence have strayed away from Windows world for a number of years. So one could say, I'm out of touch!
However, my son's girlfriend has just bought a Windows 7 laptop for University and has asked me to install anti-virus software for her. Needless to say, as a student she's broke and so I need a free option.
So my question is, what are you all using now, that has a reasonable footprint (i.e. not a huge performance hit and bloated) and you find generally effective?
Free Avast on all mine XP home, except and old Win98se dual boot with XP home So that runs Avast plus Achilles Shield on 98se
Microsoft Security Essentials is free and is supposed to be good. Have a look for it on Google.
Winpatrol FREE...i use paid version but used this for a year and very impressed,informs you of changes made to your system and informs you and protects.
Free Avira, for a few years with no probs
IMHO for W7 Microsoft Security Essentials with Windows Firewall plus Malwarebytes and/or Superantispyware is all that's needed - hardly know it's there but never had a problem.
Avast AV
WIndows defender - realtime antispy
Malwarebytes - weekly scan for malware
Spywareblaster - spyware blocker
Haven't seen a porblem for years with this combination
ocasional scan with Hitman pro + Super antispyware just to check others doing the job
However whatever AV you use you need commonsense when browsing to back them up ;0)
kad60
Win Patrol is not a anti-virus program.
Good old AVG - the free version - is the only anti-virus product currently installed on all my computers. I've used it for years, and haven't had any problems with viruses for as long as I can remember.