For personal use; for students, teachers, and home users, there are two great antiviral packages that will cost you nothing. That's right, Zero Dollars!

Microsoft Security Essentials

Microsoft Security Essentials is my current choice, especially for Vista and Windows 7. It is free for all home users and businesses with fewer than tem PC's. You need to know whether you need the 64 or 32 (x86) version which you can check by going to the System icon in the Control Panel. Either version can be downloaded from Microsoft by clicking this link.

AVG Antivirus

AVG Antivirus is much faster than Norton., McAfee, or Computer Associates and, to my mind does a better job of protecting you.

First, download the latest version from here and save it somewhere (Right-click and choose Open in a New Window so you won't lose this page): AVG_AntiVirus_Free_Edition ( Just below the bold yellow DOWNLOADS are the links for downloading)

While it is downloading, uncheck the box labeled "Close this dialog box when download completes" if it is checked and then never recheck it as it is far more useful to have the choices, always. Once the download completes,click on the Run button and say run it anyway if you are prompted with a security warning.

When the AVG Free Setup starts, choose Next, accept the license agreement, and choose Custom on the next screen.  Click Next and Yes until you get to the Component Selection, uncheck Additional Installed Languages, uncheck the E-mail Scanner, then check the Plugin for Microsoft Office, and choose Next.  On the following screen, uncheck the Install AVG Security Toolbar checkbox and finish the installation.

When the First Run wizard begins, change the time for scheduled scans to a time when you won't mind the computer being very slow and I would suggest you go ahead and let it optimize the scanning when you are prompted.

And that's it; you're done until the next time there is another new version.

As always, should you have any questions or problems, please feel free to contact me by Email or by phone.

Sincerely,

Davis M McCarn
Computer-Help.Net
184 Eaglecrest Drive
Matthews, NC 28104
(704) 882-7551 or
(704) 609-1970 cell
Email: davism@computer-help.net

© Davis M McCarn 2005 All Rights Reserved