Freeware Anti Virus Recommendation.
No Spam
I have a friend who has a small business of 5 employees, struggling
right now and cannot afford to spend any money, has older dell Windows
XP workstations with 256MB and 512MB RAM in his mini office.
Any recommendations for a legally used freeware Anti Virus in this
environment?
I would have recommended Microsoft Security Essentials, but with such
low end computers, I doubt that they can use the computer after
installing it.
Your recommendations, as usual, will be appreciated.
Thanks.
badgolferman
He could try it.
Minimum system requirements for Microsoft Security Essentials
Operating System: Genuine Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or Service Pack
3); Windows Vista (Gold, Service Pack 1, or Service Pack 2); Windows 7
For Windows XP, a PC with a CPU clock speed of 500 MHz or higher, and
256 MB RAM or higher.
For Windows Vista and Windows 7, a PC with a CPU clock speed of 1.0 GHz
or higher, and 1 GB RAM or higher.
VGA display of 800 � 600 or higher.
140 MB of available hard disk space.
http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/resources.aspx?mkt=en-us&s=1#mainNav
Bear Bottoms
news:7v5qj5teb5p2kva5r...@4ax.com:
--
Bear Bottoms
Freeware website: http://bearware.info
Mike Easter
> I would have recommended Microsoft Security Essentials, but with such
> low end computers, I doubt that they can use the computer after
> installing it.
Why would you say that?
snippage from a positive review of MSE:
<snip>
Resource Usage
Security Essentials uses around 80-100MB of RAM and 75% of CPU time
during a full scan. During normal activity, the application uses less
than 8MB of RAM and rarely registers any CPU activity.
Other anti-virus software manufacturers should take note. Many
commercial and free products are resource hogs that can make slower
systems unusable. Microsoft�s solution has a barely noticeable effect.
</snip> http://snipr.com/txmio Microsoft Security Essentials: a Review
Also, from the same review:
The Pros:
* Good virus, malware and spyware protection.
* Clutter-free interface.
* Easy to use and understand.
* Lightweight and unobtrusive.
* Fast and uses minimal resources.
* It�s free.
--
Mike Easter
Arild Bjørk
> No Spam, 12/31/2009,4:33:03 PM, wrote:
>
>> For business?
>>
>> I have a friend who has a small business of 5 employees, struggling
>> right now and cannot afford to spend any money, has older dell Windows
>> XP workstations with 256MB and 512MB RAM in his mini office.
> He could try it.
>
> Minimum system requirements for Microsoft Security Essentials
>
> Operating System: Genuine Windows XP (Service Pack 2 or Service Pack
> 3); Windows Vista (Gold, Service Pack 1, or Service Pack 2); Windows 7
>
> For Windows XP, a PC with a CPU clock speed of 500 MHz or higher, and
> 256 MB RAM or higher.
> For Windows Vista and Windows 7, a PC with a CPU clock speed of 1.0 GHz
> or higher, and 1 GB RAM or higher.
> VGA display of 800 � 600 or higher.
> 140 MB of available hard disk space.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/resources.aspx?mkt=en-us&s=1#mainNav
If you read the license it does not cover businesses. The cheapest anti
virus software for businesses might be F-prot http://www.f-prot.com/. US
$50 for 10 licenses.
PeeCee
news:7v5qj5teb5p2kva5r...@4ax.com...
Most of the free AV's are for "personal" use only.
If your friend wants to stay legal then his options are:
1 Microsoft Security Essentials.
2 Clamwin (open source)
2 Moon Secure AV. (open source)
Of these 3 the only viable option is MSE.
Clamwin doesn't do real-time scanning and Moon Secure is not particularly
stable.
If your friend ignores the license terms and uses one of the free for
personal use AV's then the obvious choices are Avast &, AVG.
When you compare the performance and features of them against MSE however it
actually works out MSE is as good or better.
Logic then suggests that MSE is the way to go because it's legal and just as
good.
The other comment I would make is more a business one than a technical one.
If your friends PC's are below par then your friend has to make a decision
how to manage the problem.
1 Install AV to all PC's and accept the slow performance.
2 Isolate all bar one PC from the internet and run them without AV and any
XP service packs.
3 Bite the bullet and upgrade the PC's.
1 Is going to diminish productivity and heighten staff frustration levels.
2 Is going to require strict isolation policies and attendant work flow
changes.
3 Will cost money.
Which one to choose? well that's what 'his' job is.
Best
Paul.
Bear Bottoms
news:hhj7m1$p8$1...@news.datemas.de:
MoonSecure is free for business use.
Bear Bottoms
news:hhjaq4$mm5$1...@news.albasani.net:
> Most of the free AV's are for "personal" use only.
> If your friend wants to stay legal then his options are:
>
> 1 Microsoft Security Essentials.
> 2 Clamwin (open source)
> 2 Moon Secure AV. (open source)
>
> Of these 3 the only viable option is MSE.
> Clamwin doesn't do real-time scanning and Moon Secure is not
> particularly stable.
>
MSE is not free for business use.
Clamwin has no real time scanner.
MoonSecure is the only viable option and is stable in the new release.
Avii
great.
I am not able to confirm whether is free for just personal use but i
couldnt find anywhere something written which states that. It says its
Free AV.
No Spam
<f1556b1a-5fe4-43a2...@21g2000yqj.googlegroups.com>
Avii <avina...@gmail.com> wrote:
>you can give Panda Cloud AV a try. Its light on resources and works
>great.
>
>
>I am not able to confirm whether is free for just personal use but i
>couldnt find anywhere something written which states that. It says its
>Free AV.
Thanks all for your suggestions.
Always appreciated.
Happy New Year!
badgolferman
It depends....
1.INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
?Use. You may install and use any number of copies of the software on
your devices in your household for use by people who reside there or
for use in your home-based small business.