which anti virus software to use?

[blueroangirl]

Hi my son has just bought himself a laptop with xmas money. It is a Windows 7 one and comes with a free trial of Norton. What would people recommend? Thanks.

[JennyBee]

Here's a link to a thread with some suggestions on it: http://www.cockersonline.co.uk/discuss/index.php?topic=59977.0.
I would not use Norton, it is a terrible bit of software and caused all sorts of trouble with my laptop

[Robbie34]

Avast is excellent and is free.  Updates itself without any problems, and tells you when it has done so.

http://www.avast.com/index.html

[Guelder Rose]

I also use Avast and have not had any problems - unlike when I paid out for Norton and had nothing but trouble with my PC until I got rid of it!

[Jane S]

I also use Avast now - never have any problems with it and it doesn't slow my computer down (unlike some of the more bloated antivirus programs)

[superscot]

Nod 32 works a treat ...

[Joules]

After the last discussion on here I got the Kaspersky anti virus from PC World.  It was half price - about 20 quid when I bought it and seems pretty good.  It comes out well on all the surveys too. 

I changed from Norton as it is not meant to be that good and really slows your PC down too 

[MegandMolly]

Kaspersky is free if you bank with Barclays 
thou I've been using the AVG 9 that's a free download

[suzysu]

I found Norton a pain...have never had any problems with AVG 

[Selwoc]

Another Avast user here. It does a great job of protecting a PC against both email and Internet infection.

[dazla]

I too use the free avast and also use the free malware cleaner Malware Antibytes.

I have never seen avast mess up a pc- I have seen norton and mcafee render computers unbootable.

No av program is perfect and most will allow you to install programs that most reasonable people would class as malware for fear of being sued by the program owners, prevx is an exception but the free version will only notify you and not delete that baddies

[beebee]

Avast here too, and Malware, never had problems.

[elaine.e]

I have Norton, which definitely slows everything down but has kept me trouble free. The subscription runs out in 9 days and I want to change to a free one, probably Avast as it's had lots of recommendations on here.

If I change, do I have to get rid of Norton first then download Avast? Probably a bit of a stupid question, but my understanding of computers and software isn't great 

[Emma xx]

I have AVG free on my laptop and its seems to do a pretty good job. Although, i just hand it over to my dad when he comes home and ask him to make sure my laptop isnt about to blow up as i have noooo idea about that stuff xx

[MegandMolly]

I had AVG9 on everything here (2 laptops and 2 towers) and was quite happy until it allowed a virus off a facebook page onto two computers 
Computer shop man managed to retrieve my degree essays for me  and recommended the Microsoft security essentials software (free download)

Elaine - when I got rid of the Norton that was preinstalled on my laptop , I had to remove it first then install the new software, as the Norton blocked the download of the new software