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By Daylon Jackson on Feb. 20, 2008

Clamwin is definitely a good way to go - free, opensource and easy to setup and use. Pros:

* High detection rates for viruses and spyware

* Scanning Scheduler

* Automatic downloads of regularly updated Virus Database

* Standalone virus scanner and right-click menu integration to Microsoft Windows Explorer

* Addin to Microsoft Outlook to remove virus-infected attachments automatically

By OSAf W on May. 13, 2008

Ajaxer has hit it bang on the target. Clamwin even beats the best in its heuristics for identifying a virus and also has one of the fastest turn around time/reaction time for creating a vaccine for any new virus than most of the closed and paid options.

The gripe with Clamwin is that it still does not have realtime file access scanner to scan files when you do any operation on it. Which means you will have to manually scan each and every file before opening it. But till it has one you could try Winpooch.

I had detailed on Clamwin and Winpooch earlier:

http://open-source.onestop.net/2006/05/clamwin.html

http://open-source.onestop.net/2006/04/winpooch.html

By Tsegaselassie Tadesse on May. 19, 2008

I am sorry to say this but I don't think you will find a very good answer for your question. Simply put there is no good all in one anti-virus protection that is open source. So the next best thing should be just a free one and you have one like that in Avast!Home Edition. I would recommend Avast! over ClamWin , it has got everything you need to protect your PC, it updates regularly, it has a very high detection rate (even though not perfect), it has real-time detection, email scanning (i.e outlook integration) etc.

I suggest you give it a try, all you need is to subscribe for free. Go here,

http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

By an anonymous user on Sep. 19, 2008

Try AVG, with Comodo Firewall. I found as effective as Norton and FSecure.thanks

By an anonymous user on Oct. 30, 2008

I hav just tried Clamwin and it did NOT past the Eicar test very well in that sence that it did not prevent the file for being created. It needed an ACTIVE scan of the file to see it.

http://www.softwaretipspalace.com/how-to_features/software/how-to-test-y...

By an anonymous user on Nov. 06, 2008

Best anti virus is AVG 8.0 free edition.

but you need to make sure that you have to update virus def. every day.

it features free link scanner tooo...

By Bradley Gooding on Jun. 23, 2009

I actually use Clam AV and AVG at the same time and utilize Spybot's tea timer as an an active, real time solution.

By Alfred Terry on Jun. 23, 2009

AVG imo is very good.

most will be fine for you as long as you use common sense.

scan EVERY download, don't go on dubious websites etc...

By System Administrator on Jul. 26, 2009

Moon Secure AV is an opensource antivirus currently using the clamav engine due to fast response time and huge AV database, however they are implementing another engine that is heuristic and will allow users to customize the engine on the fly. Unlike clam it has an enterprise level real-time scanner. It is built for windows and will run on XP and vista. It can scan portable drives and fixed drives. It is able to detect viruses, Trojans and spyware.

By Mislav Bajic on Jul. 31, 2009

I also suggest AVG and Avast. Both of this two will defend you well. Also i suggest comodo firewall its free and good.

By John Foster on Aug. 01, 2009

AVG is as good as it gets. With just default settings it will auto-scan all email, downloads, and even scans the addresses in google (or other's) search results. You can schedule regular daily scans (I never bother since it is guarding all the ways in, at all times, anyway) and it will check for virus definitions at predetermined time schedule -- as often as every hour if you like! The free version they make a little hard to find so here is a link:

http://free.avg.com/download?prd=afe

For anti SPYWARE I use Super AntiSpyware which you can get at superantispyware.com It found things that both Norton and AVG antispyware could not. The only restriction with the free version is that you have to run scans manually, say, at the beginning of each day, whereas the paid version does realtime gatekeeping so the stuff never gets on your machine to begin with. It's pretty cheap for a lifetime version and they are always running different specials so check in regularly for a month or so and you will probably see it for half price (~ $20) Good luck!