Best anti-virus for my mom

I'm pretty good with computers but when it comes to anti-virus I'm out. I've never used any. The program has to be free, working with Windows XP Pro x86, and somewhat easy to use. Also the computer is a bit old so it can't be too taxing on the hardware.

Any suggestions?

asked Aug 16 '11 at 08:45

Yarvaxea
4.0k●56●72●113

edited Aug 16 '11 at 14:30

ryebread761
7.5k●214●241●322

10 Answers:

oldest newest most voted

Microsoft Security Essentials is a great anti-virus and it does not take up much ram

answered Aug 16 '11 at 08:53

Windows 7
121●3●4●7

edited Aug 16 '11 at 08:53

Yeah, I've been using it on my netbook and it runs great while other programs slow it down.

(Aug 16 '11 at 09:16) Liam Quade

1	Ubuntu! haha On a serious note, Microsoft Security Essentials. answered Aug 16 '11 at 17:00 JordanV 4.1k●62●82●124 in fact any of Linux distros :) (Aug 16 '11 at 18:14) Ivan Tomica

Avg - Its free and effective, however it can slow down pc's, this has never been a problem for me though and i have a really slow toshiba laptop! Also i like the fact that it dosent send popups all the time saying whether a file is safe

answered Aug 16 '11 at 08:51

Hugh Nixon
81●16●18●23

AVG is not effective at all, at least not in my experiences. I would NOT recommend it.

(Aug 16 '11 at 17:01) DazOwen

AVG used to be fine until they revamped the interface last year, now it sucks and is all bloatware.

(Aug 16 '11 at 19:43) Duodave

Paying for AntiVIRUS program is so 2008! I've always used Microsoft Security Essentials for my laptop and PCs. google it. download and its all yours FREE* for a lifetime.

*its FREE as long as you have any Genuine copy of windows. else you don't deserve to have it. :))

It detects scans and removes viruses that AVG itself FAILS to remove and detect!. AVG is weak along with other free antivirus. (my friend bought one, and it still contained a virus)

Best thing about MS Essentials? You can have it TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER antivirus. so you don't have to choose (as long as you have enough RAM) you can have both MSE and AVG (but I myself Use MSE + AVIRA Premium Sec Suite.) I just wanna have it tho MSE can stand alone 'cause it's got a very good firewall) and I don't trust MS Defender that much.

answered Aug 16 '11 at 09:03

xedric14
941●71●77●90

OOps, didn't read your description, i was using windows 7 x64. but MSE has a version for win XP x86,. you can have it alone (but you have to scan once a week because you only have MS defender as a firewall but that will do if you have low ram its secure enough. (I would also recommend USB Disc Security this is also very low consuming when it comes to RAM. its not really an antivirus but it kills the command that triggers its startup.)

(Aug 16 '11 at 09:08) xedric14

You cannot run MSE with another antivirus. It says this during installation.

(Aug 16 '11 at 09:36) Josh_M

xedric please keep the personal comments out of the thread. rather a person does or does not want to pay for security software is up to them. i personally use zonealarm extreme security because it is right up there with the best, plus it is one of the 3 easiest to configure.

(Aug 16 '11 at 10:36) ChuckysChild

0	I have been using Kaspersky Internet Security 2011 and had no problems at all; it is not as annoying as some other security software. answered Aug 16 '11 at 09:51 Alex Melton 823●70●81●91

0	normally i would suggest staying away from Microsoft Security Essentials, but with this being a xp machine i would have to agree with windows 7 about using mse. answered Aug 16 '11 at 10:29 ChuckysChild (suspended)

0	I would recommend you Avira AntiVir Personal. It is free, it is simple, and very good in fact. I used him for years and never had problems with it. http://www.avira.com/en/avira-free-antivirus answered Aug 16 '11 at 14:23 Ivan Tomica 1.3k●27●33●52

stay on topic. if you have nothing to offer to help the op do not reply

answered Aug 16 '11 at 19:39

Drmgiver
1.2k●2●5●22

edited Aug 16 '11 at 23:23

ChuckysChild
(suspended)

Linux is not some super secure operating system. It is only less targeted than windows due to a smaller userbase. It has virus's too, as does Mac OS.

(Aug 16 '11 at 22:29) EnvoyOfTheEnd

Untrue. It actually has a larger userbase than Windows. Just not on the desktop. Everywhere else it is akin to kicking a small puppy. It is more secure based on it's Open Source nature. There actually are NO viruses for it in the wild. And, even if one would make one, based on its open source nature, it would be patched over in hours. Not months and months like Windows or Mac, which yes, there are viruses for in the wild.

(Aug 16 '11 at 23:18) Drmgiver

0	KasperSky Is running at very good level in Antivirus with smooth functioning for Computers. answered Aug 16 '11 at 23:25 PratikBhatt (suspended)

I use Ad-Aware on both my desktop & Notebook PCs. Additionally I scan nightly with Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. I stay clean as a whistle. Both have free versions. I have used both programs with Win XP on the Notebook, so they should run on your Mom's machine.

answered Aug 17 '11 at 00:09

Mathman
1●1

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