Free vs Paid AV

[noaccount]

To blast the misconception that freeware antivirus is not equally talented at recognizing malware as paid products, we grabbed five antivirus solutions for comparison and threw them in the ring with 16,704 malware samples (trojans, backdoors, exploits, spyware, worms, etc.). The purpose of the test was not to reveal detection differences between the free and paid product from the same company, but compare a free product from one company with a paid product of another.

In the freeware corner, there was Microsoft’s Security Essentials and Avira’s AntiVir Personal (version 9, as the test was conducted before version 10 came out). Paid products included Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 and ESET’s NOD 32 at first. The fifth product included has a little of both worlds: avast! Pro Antivirus 5.0 brings script shield and sandbox capabilities to the table on top of the features included in the free version.

Complete review, considerations, conclusions, etc
http://news.softpedia.com/news/AntiVirus-Free-Vs-Paid-Detection-139005.shtml

[Flatlands]

Free works for me on this one. Avast5

[noaccount]

avast! 5 tested was actually the shareware but what makes you prefer avast! to avira? no nag screen?

[Flatlands]

avast! 5 tested was actually the shareware but what makes you prefer avast! to avira? no nag screen?

Nag screen?? I have never tried this avira, never needed to as Avast was always there if needed. Only needed it 3 times that I know of in 8 years, befor that I had Symantec Corporate furnished to me.

[Amature Programmer]

I use Norton 360 but once its gone i will download avast5 or bye 200 days if the next one is out that but im going to downlod avast.

[sujay]

avast! 5 tested was actually the shareware but what makes you prefer avast! to avira? no nag screen?

Avast free is the most complete free antivirus...

[Dorkiss]

No more than 8 minutes and 13 seconds passed and the avast! lady announced the scan completed
~from the softpedia article

Does avast 5 really scan that fast?

[leofelix]

Does avast 5 really scan that fast?

I believe that scanning speed depends on you HD capability as well, how many files are stored and how many infections are alive.

I found especially interesting the following paragraph

After the first round of experimenting, the percents recorded were as follows: Avira AntiVir Personal 9 leads with 94% detection and elimination rate, followed by avast! Pro Antivirus with 91.6% and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 with 91%

[Swarup]

Avast free is the most complete free antivirus...

I do not agreed with you sujay , I think Avira free is best with high detection rate , low memory consumption during scan time and scan very fast

After the first round of experimenting, the percents recorded were as follows: Avira AntiVir Personal 9 leads with 94% detection and elimination rate, followed by avast! Pro Antivirus with 91.6% and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2010 with 91%

and currently I am using Avira Premium security Suit 10

[Joe_Black40]

[QUOTE=swarup1987;171167]I do not agreed with you sujay , I think Avira free is best with high detection rate , low memory consumption during scan time and scan very fast

Disagree.Only with detection rates,but as prevention power,avira is no match for avast.
I have valid licenses for Avira premium,NOD32(i've won it on wilders),KAV,NAV,F-Secure...and yet,i use Avast.That's my choice.