advice please

I have just installed AVG free edition antivirus. I have an old PC which I dont use very often and running Windows XP. Will this alone be enough to protect from threats or should I be running anything else alongside it?

Strangely, I installed MSE first but although is said I was protected, Microsoft Security told me my Viruschecker was NOT switched on. so i uninstalled it and am using avg.

Many thanks in advance for any advice

 

Personally speaking, I use Avast Free, but I also run weekly scans with Malwarebytes free edition, and SuperAntiSpyware free edition, and never had a problem yet.
But it is all according to your surfing habits, and common sense it your best prevention
Really, if you don't use it much, AVG should be able to take care of you.

 

Thanks Nick

 

I use MSE as well, but the best program I have found to alert you to harmful sites is this
http://www.mywot.com/

I also run Malwarebytes and Superantispyware on a daily basis.

Good luck!:major

 

Hi my friend , welcome to MG's :major

As Nick T told you , it depends of your use , in which sites you visit etc , i am using

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Avira_AntiVir_Personal_-_FREE_Antivirus_d955.html

but every week i am inspecting my system with Avira rescue cd

http://forum.avira.com/wbb/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=82163

it's a good way to keep your system clean from virus etc :wave

 

I'm an advocate of Comodo Antivirus Free for older systems (and I use Comodo Internet Security [antivirus AND firewall in one] for all of my regular up-to-date computers). It uses VERY little resources, and has many features that set it apart:

Easy enough for my wife to use, but configurable enough for an expert
Lets you CHOOSE what to do with suspicious files (ignore once, ignore permanently, add to trusted files, clean, quarantine, etc.)
It's TRULY free with no nag screens (if you turn them off)
The program is very easy to navigate and understand
Their support forum (free, of course) is great
The difference between their FREE version and PAID version does NOT affect PC security at all
The program can be password-protected to ensure no one disables it/changes the settings

Again, the biggest thing for an older system is resource (CPU and especially RAM) usage, which I'm still convinced Comodo has others beat with.

I know, I know, I act like I'm making money off of promoting it... I'm not. I've been using it for SEVERAL years, and have yet to get an infection on my PCs. I run a small computer repair business, and recommend/install it for all of my customers.

The other free antivirus programs available usually have at least one of the features I listed above, but I haven't found one that has them all.

In the last year or two, something like that, they HAVE introduced a few money-making things in it, which as long as you know what they are, can EASILY be disabled. Choose the custom install option, deselect the Geek Buddy (and Comodo Dragon, if you don't want the browser). Once installed, go into the program, More tab, Preferences (it could be slightly different with only the AV, I'm going off of the CIS), disable Enable Comodo Message Center (ads) and Show balloon messages (if you don't want them... I don't like 'em) in the General tab.