Best free alternative to Norton Anti-Virus?

[Scuba]

Using NAV, I've managed to keep my laptop "clean" since I bought it in 2008. I'm still using the original Windows Vista 6.0 (and am thankful that I never went to Windows 8).

Norton has run without causing any problems, and has done the job in terms of keeping me virus-free, in addition to a few other little doo-dads.

The last thread I could find on this topic was in early 2014 - http://www.democraticunderground.com/101683575

I'd appreciate any comments on the reviews in that thread and anything else that's relavent.

Thanks in advance!!

[CurtEastPoint]

1. AVG Free version

[TreasonousBastard]

2. There is no "best" all of them have good and bad points, but I second...

the vote for AVG, although some versions of it are pretty bloated.

Avast is another one that does a pretty good job.

Why are you thankful you never went to 8? Lots of people seem to hate it, but most people I know (including myself) that actually use it say it's pretty good.

And the built in protections in 8 are all most people need.

[Scuba]

3. My GF has 8 on her Dell. It's very difficult to use due to windows opening and closing randomly ...

... with mouse movement, as well as great difficulty with windows going "full screen" with no apparent way to re-size or close them.

Frustrating.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. That would be frustrating, but I'm not sure what's happening with hers...

mine is set up so I almost never see those "tiles" unless I want to and when I turn it on it looks exactly like my old XP and 7 computers. Even got rid of that login screen.

[Galileo126]

5. I have AVG also

But I agree, TB - AVG can be bloated, with many things running in the background. I just turn off the things I feel I don't need.

On a good note, AVG does catch the harmful stuff. And if I'm unsure, I just run Malwarebytes once a week for sanity.

[polly7]

4. I've always liked Avast and never had any problems with it. nt.

[ColesCountyDem]

7. I have Panda, and it does a great job.

[trillion]

8. I'm using Microsoft Security Essentials named Defender again which is the free built in antivirus

The entire Microsoft Corporation uses it - and I do know this first hand. It hasn't given me any issues. Why buy anti-virus when Microsoft builds it in? I know the people who want to sell you anti-viruses will tell you otherwise. I don't want the other venders installing spyware, crapware, adware, malware and other crap on my machines which many "free" ones do.

here's a more indepth look:
http://www.howtogeek.com/225385/what%E2%80%99s-the-best-antivirus-for-windows-10-is-windows-defender-good-enough/

[hobbit709]

9. I use it in conjunction with Malwarebytes(the paid version) with no problems.

Malwarebytes catches things MSE doesn't but it works well enough for me.