What's good for free antivirus

[hermetic]

these days? I'm just a 'small' user, email, DU, FB, cats. But I don't want to click on something and get worms and stuff. I used to have Avira, and it served me well for many years, but their 2013 version is no longer compatible with my XP. I have Malwarebytes, is that enough? Should I also have Ad-Aware; will they work together, A-A and Mal? I use FF so I have Adblock, but that's not the same as Ad-Aware, right?

I've just read downthread here, so much great info. I updated FF a couple of months ago. Just looking to KISS.

Thanks for any advice. Happy Friday night!

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

1. I've had good results in the past...

...with: Security Essentials from MS and AVG. Both are free.

Good luck.

[walkerbait41]

2. What has worked for us

The free AVG. runs on win 7 no problems with it

[RC]

3. As an additional clue on Google searches, I use WOT

http://www.mywot.com/ It provides a visual clue to the safety of web sites. Nothing to do with viruses though.

[mockmonkey]

4. Malwarebytes

The free version does not work in real time it only works when you use it to scan manually.

I use free Avast for my anti-virus and I do a boot scan of my computer with that about once a week. You probably wouldn't have to if you only go to known good sites and never open attachments in e-mails even the ones saying that they are UPS or FEDEX holding a package for you. So many scams so little time.

I also use Microsoft Safety Scanner about every two weeks.

http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx

I haven't used Ad-Aware in a long time, it's different from what I use to use.

I've also used AVG in the past. It worked ok.

Whatever you download watch for the little boxes that want to add crap to your computer.

[DinahMoeHum]

5. Microsoft Security Essentials is a good one.

n/t

[woo me with science]

6. "cats"

[bananas]

7. Windows XP at risk as antivirus vendors jump ship

http://www.infoworld.com/t/anti-virus/windows-xp-risk-antivirus-vendors-jump-ship-217806

[hermetic]

8. Interesting

Thanks, bananas. I went with Avast. What I don't like about it is that it updates at random times which makes the computer unusable for 10 - 15 minutes. And I always seem to be right in the middle of something important when it happens. grrrrr

I do have cats, woo, so I guess I'm safe.

[Mnpaul]

9. There is a setting for that

If you click on the icon in the taskbar and then on settings(next to account) you can set it to ask before updating. I set update intervals for 1440 minutes (one day).

[hermetic]

10. I found it!

They sure don't make it easy to find, do they. Much thanks, Mnpaul.