Best PC free antivirus and firewall

[S3M]

Just wondered what everyone's thoughts on what is the best free antivirus software.

Normally I go with AVG, but wonder if there is a better one. Not keen on Comodo I've had it crash my PC in the past due to the crap way they update there software. There firewall also doesn't work with AVG at the moment either, which is a pain.

[speedlolita]

I personally don't use any AV, though in the past I've used MSE.

Before that it was AVG and Avast but they're both awful now.

[nakamura]

Why is AVG awful?

[Asura]

These days I use a combination of Microsoft Security Essentials, webmail, and I'm very careful about what I download.

Then again, I'm not someone who downloads things like torrents, game ISOs, no-disc hacks and the like.

[Pulstar]

It's best to use router firmware with updated features. I use Gargoyle for my TPLink but there are other options available, If you do that, then the standard Windows firewall ought to be enough.

As for malware, it's a bit trickier. Your savviness can save you a lot of trouble, and Microsoft keeping its OS's patched up to combat zero-day exploits is the only strategy to combat the more malevolent types of malware. Standard AV utilites are becoming a thing of the past.

[Mayhem]

I've used Comodo for ages and it's never crashed any of the machines it's been installed on. Curious...

[paulus]

Ten Antivirus programs are tested in this weeks Computer Active Mag, Kapersky found the most of the test threats & Avast was the best of the free ones at number 4 (AVG was 8th out of ten). I use Avast, never caught a virus yet

[charlesr]

I use Avast, never caught a virus yet

Or so your virus and trojan laden PC would have you believe

[MiG]

Ten Antivirus programs are tested in this weeks Computer Active Mag, Kapersky found the most of the test threats & Avast was the best of the free ones at number 4 (AVG was 8th out of ten). I use Avast, never caught a virus yet

If you bank with Barclays you can get Kaspersky for free, which is what I use..

[k0pp0]

If you bank with Barclays you can get Kaspersky for free, which is what I use..

Kaspersky is one of the few tools that caught Conficker.. Which was huge (if you don't know).

Conficker would bury itself in Mcafee threads.

I just use the default Windows virus scanner and safe browsing/downloading and always patch/update.

[S3M]

I've used Comodo for ages and it's never crashed any of the machines it's been installed on. Curious...

Managed to corrupt it's own main driver during a update, had to roll back the whole thing.

Don't have a Barclays, but I do update Windows as soon as possible and use Spy bot as a malware detector.

[speedlolita]

I only update per service pack..