Never had virus problems on AMIGA...can it be archieved on a PC?

[gaula92]

Hi there!
I need some advice guys. I never had a virus problem with my AMIGA or Linux machines, but my girlfriend is a Windows user and I doubt she wants to change her OS nowadays, so I need a similar situation on Windows. Being the nice comunity you are, and being a bit sorry for the offtopic, I would like some advice regarding a secure, clean and free antivirus software for Windows XP systems...no malware, no registration popups---is there any hope?

Thanks in advance!

[rkauer]

 Avast is a good option for the XP as Anti-virus.

 SpybotSD is excellent for spyware (needs a bit fiddle after the installation).

 Both are freeware.

[orange]

I'd recommend KAV, its very good. But more important is 'prevention' because no av can protect you 100%.

so install only programs you really really need, the fewer the better.
get them from reliable sources.
don't use IE/OE,autorun, screensavers.. and other crap
install a good firewall.
update av signatures

I turn on KAV only when about to run some new .exe, so it takes 0% CPU time.

there is also this interesting site (and probably more similar). It will check given file with many updated av software. Nice for suspicious files like the ones from p2p networks.

Just get Webroot AntiVirus with AntiSpyware; if you set it to auto-update (which you should) it will pick up and block everything, and it includes a good firewall. It's about $40 at any of the large office supply chain stores, and well worth it. I would avoid free antivirus solutions, the last one I saw that was any good was Disinfectant, which was for Mac System 6/7 circa 1995.

the other good thing about webroot is it's a site license so you can install it on as many PCs as you like....

[meega]

I use AVG antivirus and ZoneAlarm firewall - they've done a good job here - both are free editions. I think I've had a few "false positives" from AVG, but that is better than a failure to detect if you ask me. I like ZoneAlarm because it lets me control what goes out as well as preventing others from getting in.

As orange says, prevention is better than cure, so if you are careful where you go then there is less risk anyway - but not nil risk these days because of drive-by attacks. I do not use Intranet Expander or Outlook anything. I think the best browser is Firefox with the NoScript add-on, but Opera is good too.

And if you never got LAMER'ed on your Amiga then you've never lived ;-)