Free AntiVirus Without Annoying Ad Pop-ups?

[The Boomking]

I've been getting blasted by tray popups from AVG all week, and I've gotten really tired of it. AVG used to be okay in my book but the constant ads have gotten to be too much. So I'm looking for a change.

I've been researching different free AV software but all I've seen so far are conflicting reports on whether or not they have popup ads. (Especially confusing when some of them used to be ad-free, but now have ads (or vice versa)). Do you guys have any good alternatives?

The software I'm looking for should be free, and have no nag screens or tray popups or at least offer the option to turn them off completely. Ads/banners within the program UI is fine, but when I don't actively have a window for it open I don't want to be reminded to go Pro or something similar every day. Of course, I'd like the software to actually be a quality AntiVirus, too.

I'm aware I may be asking too much; it's possible that no such program even exists... But either way I want to hear your suggestions and advice. And please no 'just buy it', I'm on a limited student budget right now and I don't have that option.

[Yunru]

You could get avast. It does have adds, but you can disable them (you better read up how to do in). Just be sure you make some fake email for free version.

Also when you fresh install this program -- go under un-install and remove some usless programs that come with it on 1.st instalation (saves you ram).

[Colmadero]

I can vouch for MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials). It's free, ads-free, efficient and would only nag you if you haven't ran a scan in sometime (easily circumvented by just scheduling daily scans at something like around 4 am)

Link here

[vqkatsuko]

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...tials-download

Windows 10 and Windows 8 Both come with Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows Defender.

Unless you are asking for a virus, that is all you should need.

[ToastedBread]

How about Panda Antivirus Free? Anyone knows if it's good, and if it has ads?

[Djuntas]

ROFL, you also OP? Fuck its annoying yes. I went into the advansed settings to see if I could uncheck something there.

Think Im gonna switch to Microsoft myself.

[The Boomking]

It was under my impression that MSE wasn't very good, but I don't know. I'm more internet savvy than the average Joe but I can't count on just myself to successfully avoid bad stuff every time.

Yeah, Yunru, I've heard about Avast and the bloatware it installs, and that can be dealt with. I had also heard conflicting reports on Panda, but it seems like one of the better ones? Same deal with Avira.

[minteK917]

It was under my impression that MSE wasn't very good, but I don't know. I'm more internet savvy than the average Joe but I can't count on just myself to successfully avoid bad stuff every time.

Yeah, Yunru, I've heard about Avast and the bloatware it installs, and that can be dealt with. I had also heard conflicting reports on Panda, but it seems like one of the better ones? Same deal with Avira.

There is no real difference when it comes to catch between all anti virus. The only reason for the existence of anything beyond MSE is for store to rip off old people.

[Ozafy]

I went from AVG to Avast to Panda for the reasons you described. Panda was ok in the ad department but it was to picky for my liking (disabled several programs I knew were safe ) so now I'm on MSSE.

[Lathais]

It was under my impression that MSE wasn't very good, but I don't know. I'm more internet savvy than the average Joe but I can't count on just myself to successfully avoid bad stuff every time.

Yeah, Yunru, I've heard about Avast and the bloatware it installs, and that can be dealt with. I had also heard conflicting reports on Panda, but it seems like one of the better ones? Same deal with Avira.

It used to not be that great, but I think it was around the time W8.1 released they really stepped up their game. It's really all you need anymore.

[Djuntas]

hm quick question. Windows defender vs MSE? Is it the same thing on Windows10 ?

[Artorius]

hm quick question. Windows defender vs MSE? Is it the same thing on Windows10 ?

Same thing.

- - - Updated - - -

And guys, you don't need anything besides an Ad-Block and maybe a no-script, Window's default antivirus is good enough and in the end what matters the most is common sense.

[Djuntas]

Same thing.

- - - Updated - - -

And guys, you don't need anything besides an Ad-Block and maybe a no-script, Window's default antivirus is good enough and in the end what matters the most is common sense.

Meh, google seems to remove the worst pages aswell.

Lets just say that with all my horrible 0 care google for streaming....well anything (no not always porn xD, Im more thinking tv shows and anime etc), I have noticed a trend in the last year's....Internet has gotten way safe. In over 1 year I havent got a infection on my laptop I stream with giving very little care...I think google weeds out the worst results.

My PC is the same. AVG and malware never found anything, but I also keep my PC "virgin" :P with that common sense you mentioned hehe.

[Javelin3o4]

Its all fun and games til you get Cryptolocked.

[Darkstrike]

https://www.360totalsecurity.com/en/ free , install both engines avira+bitdefender and you are fine , also install malwarebytes antimalware free https://www.malwarebytes.org/antimalware/

[Deleted]

There is no free active anti-virus that can protect you from stupidity. If you click random banners /links in web / mail then you will get a virus.
What i recommend is the free anti-virus that comes with windows 7 and forward. If you starting to feel paranoid, run full scan free version of malwarebytes.

If you want fool proof anti-virus. go for Symantec Endpoint Protection. Its expensive but it even stops those crypto viruses that encrypt all your data.

Also id classify anti-virus with ad popups as a virus

[c313]

MSE, Malwarebytes (is it bad to have both?) And Sandboxie for internet browsing. My combo so far

[Flatspriest]

MSE, Malwarebytes (is it bad to have both?) And Sandboxie for internet browsing. My combo so far

I don't know about Sandboxie, but it is great to have both MSSE and Malwarebytes. MSSE is mainly for virii and Malwarebytes is for, you guessed it, malware. They do different things and those things are not always the same. There are things that Malwarebytes will detect and get rid of that MSSE doesn't even see...and vice versa.

[Yunru]

Spybot- search and destroy is also great to remove all the junk you get from internet this days.

[Ciddy]

How about Panda Antivirus Free? Anyone knows if it's good, and if it has ads?

I'm not sure about ads, but I'm not a fan of anything related to Panda Antivirus. I didn't care much for it to begin with, but then this happened last year. Basically...they released an update that made Panda flag itself as malware.

I know false positives in AV programs are not unheard of (I still remember the McAfee update that fucked Windows XP all over the place, and AVG did a similar one a few years back), but I thought the Panda one was especially fail.