Avira AntiVir Personal 10 – Is It The Best Free Antivirus Available?

If you were building a wish list of the features that you would like to see in a free anti-virus program, I’m sure you would include the following:

An easy to use and understand, yet comprehensive, user interface.

An on demand scanner to seek out viruses, Trojans, backdoor programs, hoaxes, worms, dialers and other malicious programs.

And, perhaps most important, the ability to stop a detected malicious program  dead in its tracks.

The ability to repair, delete, rename and quarantine programs, or files.

Well you’re in luck. Avira AntiVir Personal will meet, and even exceed, all of your wishes. This anti-virus program offers comprehensive protection, driven by an easy to use interface.

Avira AntiVir Personal is not just another free AV solution. Avira may just be the best free AV solution available. It’s certainly the most popular in its class, and with good reason, in my view.

I’ve been using Avira, in one release or another for years on a Windows XP Professional machine, and I have never had to deal with an infection on that particular computer.

I’m not suggesting that Avira is the only reason this machine has never been infected, but – it is the foundation on which all of the other security solutions, specific to that machine, are built. Regular readers are well aware, that I faithfully follow the Three Commandments of Safe Surfing:

Stop – consider where you’re action might lead.

Think – consider the consequences to your security.

Click – only after making an educated decision to proceed.

If you’re a typical, or an average user, you should find that Avira AntiVir Personal will meet, and even exceed, all of your requirements.

As an indication of this programs popularity, Download.com reports 100+ MILLION total downloads – 665,000 last week alone.

Fast facts:

Highly Configurable

Protection from viruses, worms and Trojans

Includes anti-spyware and anti-adware features

Protection against expensive dialers

Protection from hidden rootkits

Protection from phishing

Extensive malware Recognition

Monitors every action executed by the user or the operating system

Reacts promptly when a malicious program is detected.

Automatic updates of antivirus signatures, engine and software – I have to admit, I love this feature

Now in Version 10.0.0.567 (updated April 22, 2010)

Quick Summary:

Easy to download, easy to install, easy to configure, easy to use, and very effective.

System requirements: Windows 7, XP, Vista (32-bit and 64-bit).

Download at: Download.com

Note: Free for home-users only.

If you find the nag screen annoying, take a look at “Remove Avira Notifier – Here’s How”, on this site. If you’re running a 64 bit system, then checkout my buddy G’s site –Disable Avira Notifier in Windows 7.

Note: Since we’re talking about Avira, you should be aware that Avira offers a free Avira AntiVir Rescue System, “which is a Linux-based application that allows accessing computers that cannot be booted anymore. Thus it is possible to repair a damaged system, rescue data, and scan the system for virus infections”.

If you are an active computer user, you should consider adding this application to your antimalware tool box.

If you found this article useful, why not subscribe to this Blog via RSS, or email? It’s easy; just click on this link and you’ll never miss another Tech Thoughts article.

Free Avira AntiVir Personal Protection – Get the Real Deal!

Avira AntiVir Personal is not just another free AV solution. This application may just be the best free application for monitoring interactions with your operating system, to ensure that if a malicious program is detected it will be stopped dead in its tracks! It’s certainly the most popular in its class, and with good reason.

Avira AntiVir Personal offers effective, on demand scans for viruses, Trojans, backdoor programs, hoaxes, worms, dialers and other malicious programs. It’s simple interface provides easy access to a command structure, that makes it easy to repair, delete, block, rename and quarantine programs, or files.

I’ve been testing Avira in one release or another for years, and I continue to be impressed with its performance. I have come to rely on it as my primary anti-virus application on my test platforms.

If you’re a typical, or an average user, you should find that Avira AntiVir Personal will meet, and even exceed, all of your requirements.

As an indication of this programs popularity, Download.com reports almost 70 MILLION downloads, making it the leading antivirus software, offered for download on this site.

Fast facts:

Highly Configurable

Protection from viruses, worms and Trojans

Protection against expensive dialers

Protection from hidden rootkits

Protection from phishing

Extensive malware Recognition

Monitors every action executed by the user or the operating system

Reacts promptly when a malicious program is detected.

Automatic updates of antivirus signatures, engine and software – I have to admit, I love this feature

Now in Version 9.0.0.415

Quick Summary:

Easy to download, easy to install, easy to configure, easy to use, and very effective.

System requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Win 7, UNIX

Download at: Download.com

Note: Free for home-users only.

If you need more convincing, watch the CNET video review of Avira AntiVir Personal – Free Antivirus ( 2:17 mins.)

If you find the nag screen annoying, take a look at “Disable Avira Notifier”, on this site.

If you enjoyed this article, why not subscribe to this Blog via RSS, or email? It’s easy; just click on this link and you’ll never miss another Tech Thoughts article.

Free Avira AntiVir Personal – A Real Virus Killer!

Are you looking for a free application that monitors your interactions with your operating system to ensure that if a malicious program is detected it will be stopped dead in its tracks?

How about an application that offers on demand scans for viruses, Trojans, backdoor programs, hoaxes, worms, dialers and other malicious programs? Or a free program that allows you to repair, delete, block, rename and quarantine programs, or files.

Well you’re in luck. Avira AntiVir Personal will meet, and even exceed, all of your requirements. This anti-virus program offers all of this comprehensive protection within an easy to use interface.

In the time I have been running Avira on my systems, including a system with Windows 7 Release Candidate, I continue to be impressed with its performance, and I have come to rely on it as my primary anti-virus application. I highly recommend this one.

As an indication of this programs popularity, Download.com reports, it is the leading antivirus software, offered for download on this site.

Fast facts:

Highly Configurable

Protection from viruses, worms and Trojans

Protection against expensive dialers

Protection from hidden rootkits

Protection from phishing

Extensive malware Recognition

Monitors every action executed by the user or the operating system

Reacts promptly when a malicious program is detected.

Automatic updates of antivirus signatures, engine and software – I have to admit, I love this feature

Now in Version 9.0.0.394

Quick Summary:

Easy to download, easy to install, easy to configure, easy to use.

System requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Win 7, UNIX

Download at: Download.com

Note: Free for home-users only.

If you find the nag screen (notifier) annoying, take a look at “Disable Avira Notifier”, on this site.

Free Avira AntiVir Version 9 Adds Anti-spyware And Anti-adware Functions

So, what are you looking for in a free antivirus application? How about an application that offers on demand scans for viruses, Trojans, backdoor programs, hoaxes, worms, dialers and other malicious programs?

As well, you’re probably looking for a program that monitors your interactions with your operating system, to ensure that if a malicious program is detected it will be stopped dead in its tracks.

Finally, you’re looking for a free program that allows you to repair, delete, block, rename and quarantine programs, or files.

Well you’re in luck. Avira AntiVir Personal will meet, and even exceed, all of your requirements with the latest release of Avira AntiVir Version 9, which now includes anti-spyware and anti-adware features. This free anti-virus program offers all of this comprehensive protection within an easy to use interface.

In the 18 months I have been running previous editions of Avira on my systems, I continue to be impressed with its performance, and I have come to rely on it as my primary anti-virus application.

As an indication of this programs popularity, Download.com reports, it is the second most popular antivirus software (out of 305 products), offered for download on this site. Avira AntiVir Personal has been downloaded almost 34 million times, from this site alone.

Fast facts:

• Highly Configurable
• Protection from viruses, worms and Trojans
• Protection against expensive dialers
• Protection from hidden rootkits
• Extensive Malware Recognition
• Version 9 includes anti-spyware and anti-adware features
• New User Interface
• Faster Scanning up to 20% faster than previous versions
• Protection from phishing

Note: Free for home-users only.

System requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista

Download at: Download.com

Stop Viruses Dead with Free Avira AntiVir Personal

So, what are you looking for in a free antivirus application? How about an application that offers on demand scans for viruses, Trojans, backdoor programs, hoaxes, worms, dialers and other malicious programs?

As well, you’re probably looking for a program that monitors your interactions with your operating system to ensure that if a malicious program is detected it will be stopped dead in its tracks.

Finally, you’re looking for a free program that allows you to repair, delete, block, rename and quarantine programs, or files.

Well you’re in luck. Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic will meet, and even exceed, all of your requirements. This anti-virus program offers all of this comprehensive protection within an easy to use interface.

(Click pic for larger)

In the 10 months I have been running Avira on my systems, I continue to be impressed with its performance, and I have come to rely on it as my primary anti-virus application. I highly recommend this one.

As an indication of this programs popularity, Download.com reports, it is the second most popular antivirus software (out of 305 products), offered for download on this site. Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition has been downloaded almost 19 million times, from this site alone.

(Click pic for larger)

Fast facts:

Highly Configurable

Protection from viruses, worms and Trojans

Protection against expensive dialers

Protection from hidden rootkits

Extensive Malware Recognition

Version 8.2.0.334 includes new Virus Engine update

New User Interface

Faster Scanning up to 20% faster than previous versions

Protection from phishing

System requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista

Download at: Download.com

Note: Free for home-users only.

Instant Messaging Safety – Sensible Guidelines

I’m always amazed when I see my younger friends communicating with each other using instant messaging applications. Their use of instant messaging for rapid communication, as opposed to voice contact, is a phenomenon that I must admit has never appealed to me.

I excuse myself on this one by convincing myself that I’m an ancient fossil; after all my computing experience goes all the way back to the dark ages of MS-DOS 1. Not quite the days of the Dinosaurs; but close.

My comfort zone in communications is a telephone used the old fashioned way for immediacy, or email where immediacy is not an issue. The reality is however, that programs such as MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, and a basket full of other IM applications are extremely popular with the tech savvy younger generation, like my younger friends, who want real-time contact with each other.

Regrettably, from a security perspective these applications can present considerable risks. Generally, this security risk takes place when these programs are used to share files, folders, or in some cases even entire drives. Instant messaging, unfortunately, is a primary channel used by cyber criminals to distribute malware.

As Don Montgomery, VP of Marketing at Akonix Systems, Inc. a leading provider of IM Security Appliances explained recently, “For the past six years, we’ve tracked malicious IM activity, and we see that hackers continue to attack this increasingly popular collaboration tool.”

As Wikipedia explains it, hackers use two methods of delivering malicious code through IM: delivery of virus, Trojan, or spy ware within an infected file, and the use of “socially engineered” text with a web address that entices the recipient to click on a URL that connects him or her to a website that then downloads malicious code. Viruses, worms, and Trojans typically propagate by sending themselves rapidly through the infected user’s buddy list.

Follow these tips to ensure you are protected when using instant messaging.

• Don’t click on links or download files from unknown sources
• Check with your contacts to ensure links or files originated with them
• Use secure passwords comprised of letters and numbers using upper and lower case characters
• Protect personal/confidential information when using IM

If you’re curious about the latest instant messenger hoaxes checkout Doshelp.com