Softpedia posted today a small review of three anti-virus software that are free to use, complete with screenshots. Consider using Microsoft's or Adaware's anti-spyware utilities too to keep your XP healthy.
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Member since:2006-08-14
@moleskine
The problem is that users and techies are all at different levels. Although I've never used AV software, I would be the first to recommend something to, say, my parents.
I do believe it is possible to get by without AV software, but only if you know your OS very well. I know I do, and so do a lot of others, but I wouldn't expect non-technical people to live without AV.
The problem here is that one person argues AV is unnecessary without stating for whom and in what situation. Then everyone else bites and it becomes messy.
Conclusion : Those who would get infected without AV will need it. Those who don't get infected without AV, don't need it.
Why can't we all just celebrate the fact that there are at least 3 fully functional and well rounded pieces of gratis AV software that blow Symantec/McAfee away. It's about time too 
Edited 2006-10-17 11:41
Member since:
2005-11-05
AVG anti-virus here, together with Comodo firewall, spybot and adaware, and spambayes for email filtering, also all free. Anyone who thinks stuff like this isn't necessary when running Win32 is asking for a world of pain. What's more they are all nicely designed and do what they say on the tin.
FWIW, I enjoy open office, gimp, abiword, filezilla, trillian, ventrilo, picasa, google earth, winamp and azureus, firefox, thunderbird and opera, among others. They are all free too.
The days when "free" meant "rubbish" are long, long gone.