Vista Defender vs Avast Home Edition???

[amigadave]

Does anyone have any recommendations regarding using Windows Vista Defender vs Avast Home Edition (Free version) to protect a Windows Vista 32bit system?

I have depended on Avast's free version for years on most all of my Windows systems and those that I have built for friends and family members.  When I got my replacement Dell system they gave me Vista Ultimate 32bit and I started using Defender as my only virus protection, but now I am wondering if I should maybe go back to using Avast.  

Edit: Should I use both???

[tribz]

I dont think Defender is an AV product, just spyware/malware.

[ChuckT]

We got a special from Amazon.  We got Norton for three computers for a low price.

I downloaded Commodo for free but there are like three hundred processes which generate alerts that some program is trying to access the internet.  It drives me crazy because it said that my thumbdrive with U3 was trying to access the internet.

I turned down Avast because it was only anti-virus (you have to buy anti-spyware seperately) and we are on the internet so we need anti-spyware and anti-malware.

Remember that you need something that is pro-active and not reactive which means that spyware and malware strike first from the internet.  You want to prevent it rather than just correct an infection.

[amigagr]

as tribz said defender is an antispyware. of course you need an antivirus too.
try the free avg it has a build in antispyware too.

[Iggy]

Just my personal opinion, but Norton and McAfee (the two big anti-virus programs I've dealt with) miss a lot of viral infections, malware and adware. Why don't you try Kaspersky's anti-virus software? It's got a good rating, a 30 day trial period, and it's been the most effective program I've used  (under Windows).

[amigadave]

Thanks for all the advice.  I will use Avast and Defender together.  I will never ever use Norton or McAfee again and feel for those that do use it, but to each their own.

My ideal solution would be to ONLY run MacOSX, MorphOS2.x, a good flavor of Linux and AmigaOS3.9 (perhaps AmigaOS4.x and IcAROS someday) and run Windows only in a virtual machine on the rare occasions that I need it, without any internet or email access while running Windows.  Just have to sell this Dell tower so I can raise the money for a decently spec'd Mac desktop to sync with my MacBook laptop (and now iPhone).

[motrucker]

I still use AVG. It catches everything that tries to get in. I prefer the Pro version but I have the free version on my Vista machine & have had no trouble at all!

[Ni72ous]

Try Avast free edition, better than AVG imo, based on the fact that AVG let a virus through on three of the four windows machines i have in my house, i would never use norton and McAfee has failed for me also.

[jj]

AVG is fine to be honest.  Its a bit more resource hungry these days but nothing compared to norton etc.
 
I was going to use avast due to the smaller footprint but the free version does not scan emails, making it pretty pointless.
 
I have been using AVG free for years and years never had a virus issue.
 
For spyware/malware you cany best spybot S&D , great program and also blocks known infections in the first place