----------------------------------- ecookman Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:21 pm i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- currently i have no virus checker...ya bad...i know suggestion for free ones????? i am currently looking at avast...but are there better free ones that are a full version not a trial ----------------------------------- Insectoid Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:51 pm RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- AVG is one...I'll find some others, they've slipped my mind. DON'T download 'antivirus 2008/2009/etc. This is a virus. I believe majorgeeks.com has some good links. ----------------------------------- btiffin Thu Dec 04, 2008 10:04 pm RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- Windows http://www.clamwin.com/ GNU/Linux http://www.clamav.net/ Cheers ----------------------------------- syntax_error Thu Dec 04, 2008 10:09 pm RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- I second AVG. ----------------------------------- andrew. Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:34 pm RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- I use Avast! I find it better and faster than AVG and it also doesn't slow your computer down at boot up. Oh yeah, I just looked at Clamwin and it says that there is no real-time scanning, so that means you have to scan a file as you download it. Personally, I wouldn't go with Clamwin especially because it's open-source and it would be easier for hackers to get by it. ----------------------------------- [Gandalf] Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:42 pm Re: RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- Personally, I wouldn't go with Clamwin especially because it's open-source and it would be easier for hackers to get by it. True, that's why Linux is riddled with security problems. Same with FireFox. AFAIK, AVG 8 became a lot more bloated than AVG 7, you might want to give the previous version a try. ----------------------------------- bugzpodder Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:15 am RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- if anyone wants to know about firewalls, i saved a link: http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php#firewalls-ratings ----------------------------------- rdrake Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:46 am Re: RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- Personally, I wouldn't go with Clamwin especially because it's open-source and it would be easier for hackers to get by it. True, that's why Linux is riddled with security problems. Same with FireFox.The sheer amount of sarcasm in those two sentences is staggering. I'm proud of you :-). In the past AVG's worked pretty well for me. ----------------------------------- ecookman Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:10 am RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- ya... i had AVG (free version)...but dissapointed of how it really bogged down your computer...all...the...time!!! then comes the really annoying part...the freeversion is now a trial the version of AVG I had expired so then i got Windows Defender...to only realize it only picks up spyware thanks for the help! p.s. what is wrong with fire fox..i like it ----------------------------------- Insectoid Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:57 am RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- *sarcasm* ----------------------------------- Zeroth Fri Dec 05, 2008 11:14 am Re: i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- ecookman, he was being sarcastic. You just spouted off, mindlessly, one of the claims of propietary software makers(like Microsoft). Here's the thing: security through obscurity is not a good tactic. "Oh the hacker's don't know how we scan for viruses... they'll never crack it!" Yes, and no one's been able to crack software ever, eh? The problem is that, in propietary software, often the only real security IS the security through obscurity. Whereas open-source software has to actually have real, verifiable security, with algorithms that can be checked. In the security industry, since the very beginning, has always been the approach that encryption algorithms are never closed off. They want people to analyze and break the algorithms. Here's a little known secret: hacker's don't read the source code of the antivirus programs to trick them. They just install and run the programs, and see if that catches the virus. So, ecookman... learn more. Don't be a mindless sheep. Analyze, be pragmatic. Accept nothing at face-value. Be a critical thinker. ----------------------------------- ecookman Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:23 pm RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- well sorry i figured you guys knew something i didn't... and i didn't pick up on the sarcasm...my bad and if you were a true hacker...you probally would read the source code ----------------------------------- Tony Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:24 pm Re: RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- Actually the statement was made by andrew., not ecookman. it's open-source and it would be easier for hackers to get by it. Zeroth is spot on though. Take RSAedit: and if you were a true hacker...you probally would read the source code If you were a true hacker... you wouldn't be distributing malware. ----------------------------------- Zeroth Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:25 pm Re: i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- Whoops sorry. ----------------------------------- md Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:18 pm RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- /me notes that virus scanners are useless. So you write your virus. Then you download all the popular antivirus software onto your virtual machines. Then you infect the virtual machines and see which virus scanners detect it (usually none). Then if it is detected you make changes and try again. Repeat until no scanners detects your virus. Now you release it! Virus scanners cannot work. At best they can help keep you from being infected by old virus, which would not be able to function anyways if you patch your computer. ----------------------------------- Tony Fri Dec 05, 2008 2:55 pm RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- Most scanners rely on "virus signatures" published by companies. If they are not aware of the virus (and/or don't deem the virus to be enough of a threat to warrant profiling), then it will never be detected. That is, if one writes a virus, makes sure (by trial or otherwise) it's not initially detected by the current software, and keeps it low-key (while avoiding honeypots) -- then it will continue to pass all scanners, indefinitely. ----------------------------------- btiffin Fri Dec 05, 2008 3:15 pm RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- /me ditto md. Well, and adding; run an operating system that wasn't designed for monkeys by pickpockets. Cheers ----------------------------------- bugzpodder Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:02 pm RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- but the point of virus scanners is exactly to detect known viruses/malware. ----------------------------------- bugzpodder Fri Dec 05, 2008 10:04 pm Re: RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- Well, and adding; run an operating system that wasn't designed for monkeys by pickpockets. Unfortunately such as OS works a lot better for me. ----------------------------------- ecookman Sat Dec 06, 2008 5:57 pm RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- o.k that made no sense...but i think i get what you are trying to say ----------------------------------- dc116 Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:47 pm RE:i need free virus scanners ----------------------------------- Avast! is not a trial version. You simply have to register every year (for free).