Anti-Virus

By now, I hope you've read my Viruses Page and know what a virus is. If not, please take a moment to read that page.

This page is a short list of anti-virus programs that are either free or open source. As for paid programs, there are enough of them out there that have their own advertising agencies, so I'll leave the paid programs to the ad agencies. We're here to help you fix and keep the computer running for cheap or free.

Please bear in mind, though that there is no one program that is perfect or any suite that covers everything for everyone. Some suites may have a stronger suit in one area, others in another area. The point is, experiment and see what program best fits you. So, without further ado...

Also, be aware that there are programs out there that scan for viruses but don't remove them. These are known as anti-virus scanners. Typically, they are online scanners provided by the same company that makes paid programs. The idea there is to let you know you have a virus, but get you to buy the software to rid the computer of a virus.

What do I consider the best anti-virus program? AVG, made by Czech Republic based Grisoft. I chose this one because it has been recognized as one of the best free programs and has even stood up to some of the best paid programs. Disclaimer: AVG is also available in a paid version.

Other programs in the free/open source arena are: