OK, I know I have asked this before, but I accidentally chose a best answer before more people can answer. I’ve used both and So here is it
again:-
AVG 8 FREE
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Anti-virus=yes
Anti-Worm=yes
Anti-Trojan=yes
Anti-Spyware=yes
Anti-Adware=yes
Anti-Rootkit=NO
E-mail Scanner=yes
Anti-Spam=NO
Internet Protection=NO (Except the Link Scanner which doesn’t scan for viruses but for risks)
Intruder Protection=NO
Torrent/P2P Shield=NO
Messenger Shield=NO
Boot Scan=NO
Interface=Enhanced
Compability with Internet Explorer=yes
Compability with Internet Explorer 7=yes
Compability with Firefox=yes
Compability with Firefox 2=yes
Compability with Firefox 3=NO
Compability with Opera=NO
Scheduled Scanning=yes
Virus detection=To the standard of free anti-virus programs
avast! Home Edition 4.0
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Anti-virus=yes
Anti-Worm=yes
Anti-Trojan=yes
Anti-Spyware=yes
Anti-Adware=yes
Anti-Rootkit=yes
Anti-Spam=yes
Internet Protection=yes
Intruder Protection=yes
E-mail Scanner=yes
Torrent/P2P Shield=yes
Messenger Shield=yes
Boot Scan=yes
Compability with Internet Explorer=yes
Compability with Internet Explorer 7=yes
Compability with Firefox=yes
Compability with Firefox 2=yes
Compability with Firefox 3=yes
Compability with Opera=yes
Interface=simple
Scheduled Scanning=NO
Virus detection=Good like the paid-for antivirus programs.
WORST OF ALL, WHY THE FREE VERSION OF avira AntiVir?????
LOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!
avira AntiVir Personal
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Anti-virus=yes
Anti-Worm=yes
Anti-Trojan=yes
Anti-Spyware=NO
Anti-Adware=NO
Anti-Rootkit=yes
Anti-Spam=NO
Internet Protection=NO
Intruder Protection=NO
E-mail Scanner=NO
Torrent/P2P Shield=Not Stated
Messenger Shield=NO
Boot Scan=NO
Compability with Internet Explorer=yes
Compability with Internet Explorer 7=yes
Compability with Firefox=yes
Compability with Firefox 2=yes
Compability with Firefox 3=Not Stated
Compability with Opera=Not Stated
Interface=Enhanced
Scheduled Scanning=Not Stated
Virus detection=Good like the paid-for antivirus programs.
DON’T THESE FOOLS WHO SWITCH FROM AVAST HOME TO AVG OR AVIRA ANTIVIR FREE KNOW THAT THEY ARE DOWNGRADING THEIR PROTECTION. PLS DO NOT GIVE ME ANSWERS THAT SAY IT IS PERSONAL TASTE AND ALL BECAUSE I DON’T THINK IT IS A PERSONAL TASTE TO DOWNGRADE YOUR PROTECTION! THEY SAY THEY ARE FAST AND ALL BUT DO YOU AVG & AVIRA USERS KNOW WHY??? IT IS BECAUSE IT ONLY HAS 1% OF THE FEATURES AVAST HAS!!!
oni-kun, i am talking about the free version which has terrible virus detection rates?
Did you guys know that if you do a Google search on free anti virus, AVG is the 1st to pop up. avast comes 4th.

And what is the point of all of this?AVG has the highest detection rate of IN THE WILD spyware, not millions of malware we will never see except if we go to some Russian web torrent server.
AVG will be the one who will defend the greatest against active malware.
The truth about AVG:
AVG detection rate only 82% this is very poor.
AVG stands for Anti Virus Guard however AVG does not guard
AVG fails a simple virus test namely this one:
AVG 8 eats memory this will slow down your PC.
AVG is well known for missing viruses because of it poor detection rate.
is avg free the best antivirus software to have on my computer at home? NO
Both Free Avast or Free Avira are better, if you look at detection rates Free Avast 86%, Free Avira over 94%, both free Avast & Free Avira guard, both free Avast & Free Avira pass the virus test, both free Avast & Free Avira use less memory than AVG.
I would like to know why people use AVG.
Basically,I’d say lack of knowledge.They know their friend has it so they use it and swear by it, but most have never used anything but AVG.I’ve used Avast for over 3 years and will never use anything but it.I’ve actually seen some idiots on here say they don’t like the looks of the Avast program interface.I don’t know about you, but i surely don’t choose my programs by the way they look,I do it by the way they perform.
AVG was very popular up to V7,5, when it was simpler GUI, separate anti-spyware, anti-rootkit etc. Along comes the all new shiny V8, with all whistles and bells, less functionality and lower detection rates.
Avira is good as an AV BUT it lacks the fuller functionality of Avast, which has so many features added into it at no cost, and without draining resources, unlike AVG which is a resource hog.
People are creatures of habit, and there are still many who advocate the use of AVG….but I will say that I prefer Avast as it offers the all round protection that others do not. It is now a case of educating users to give them a more informed decision on what actually works better.
I need good protection, as I import malware and viruses and Avast has never let me down, and I use the free version with no problems whatsoever.
There are many choices and for reference I use the following:
AV Comparison:
Edit: I should also mention that I do ALL of my browsing and open malware etc within a sandbox, therefore when I close it there can be no infection unless I specifically ‘recover’ it
Actually the best alternative is to switch to an OS that have little virus eg ( GNU/Linux, BSD, Solaris etc) They are all free of charge
I have both Windows and UNIX (BSD) on my system
In my Windows I just use any Free Anti Virus i can get my hands on to shut up Windows Security make the silly taskbar icon disappear
Chances of getting virus depends on how savy you are with your computer
and where’s Kaspersky, the highest scoring Anti Virus on the recent leak tests?
Outpost Firewall Pro 2009 6.5.2355.316.0597 99% / 73 10 Excellent
Online Armor Personal Firewall 2.1.0.131 98% / 73 10 Excellent
Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0.22.349FREE 95% / 73 10+
Excellent
ProSecurity 1.43 93% / 62 10 Excellent N/A pdf
Privatefirewall 6.0.19.29 90% / 73 10+ Excellent
Online Armor Personal Firewall 2.1.0.131 89% / 73 10 Very good
Kaspersky Internet Security 2009 8.0.0.454 87% / 73 10+
Netchina S3 2008 3.5.5.1FREE 86% / 73 9 Very good
ZoneAlarm Pro 2009 8.0.020.000 86% / 73 10+ Very good GET IT NOW!
PC Tools Firewall Plus 4.0.0.45FREE 85% / 73 10+ Very good GET IT NOW!
Jetico Personal Firewall 2.0.2.4.2264 78% / 73 7 Good Not recommended
System Safety Monitor 2.3.0.612 77% / 62 7 Good Not recommended
Norton Internet Security 2009 16.0.0.125 71% / 73 7 Good Not recommended
Lavasoft Personal Firewall 3.0.2293.8822 70% / 73 7 Good Not recommended
Dynamic Security Agent 2.0.11.22FREE 62% / 71 7 Poor Not recommended
ico Webroot Desktop Firewall 5.5.10.20FREE 60% / 73 7 Poor Not recommended pdf
ico Comodo Firewall Pro 2.4.18.184FREE 55% / 73 7 Poor Not recommended pdf
Trend Micro Internet Security 2008 16.10.0.1106 27% / 73 4 None Not recommended
G DATA InternetSecurity 2008 19% / 73 3 None Not recommended
iFortKnox Personal Firewall 2008 3.0.195.0 16% / 62 2 None Not recommended
Look ‘n’ Stop 2.06 15% / 62 2 None Not recommended
McAfee Internet Security 2009 10.0.209 12% / 73 2 None Not recommended
F-Secure Internet Security 2008 8.00.101 12% / 73 2 None Not recommended
Panda Internet Security 2008 12.01.00 12% / 73 2 None Not recommended
Avira Premium Security Suite 8.1.00.206 11% / 70 2 None Not recommended
Rising Personal Firewall 2008 20.59.10 11% / 73 2 None Not recommended
BitDefender Internet Security 2009 12.0.10.2 7% / 73 1 None Not recommended
Sunbelt Personal Firewall 4.6.1839.0 7% / 73 1 None Not recommended
AVG Internet Security 8.0.93 6% / 62 1 None Not recommended
Ashampoo FireWall FREE 1.20FREE 5% / 73 1 None Not recommended
ESET Smart Security 3.0.621.0 5% / 62 1 None Not recommended
Windows Live OneCare 2.0.2500.22 5% / 62 1
None Not recommended
BullGuard Internet Security 8.0.0.13 4% / 70 1 None Not recommended
Personal Firewall 1.5.2.7 3% / 62 1 None Not recommended
Filseclab Personal Firewall 3.0.3.8982FREE 3% / 73 1 None Not recommended pdfico
Steganos Internet Security 2008 7.5.509 3% / 70 1 None