[mutabor]

Quote:

Microsoft Security Essentials is excellent. 

 
No problems with MSE so far. I also have Malwarebytes in addition to MSE.  

 

[AsianBatman]

I've been using AVG on all my systems for years. Pretty good and not resource heavy.

 

[warubozu]

Been using Bitdefender for the past few years and haven't had any problems.

 

[MaiKat]

I  use Unthreat Antivirus, it's free and easy to use. Haven't had virus problems since I got it. I totally recommend it!

 

[obobskivich]

Microsoft Security Essentials, plus Ghostery and a custom hosts file to help keep Opera even cleaner than normal (Ghostery is available for more than Opera - I suggest people check it out). A good web browser and good browser security settings can go a long way towards a clean computer. MSE basically replaces AV + Windows Defender (and I like Defender better than Spybot because it also includes a process explorer and less invasive real-time protection).

I know there's a quarterly testing of anti-virus software put together by a third-party network security firm, but I always forget where to find it when I want it. The last few times I checked this (in 2011-2012), MSE was near the top of the heap (free or paid), along with Kapersky and the commercial version of Norton iirc. AVG has too many false positives if you're a gamer (it doesn't like Steam, SecuRom, StarForce, etc), and had a relatively low real-time protection score (the real-time protection is AVG's weak point).

Aside from MSE, the other thing I'd suggest to people is seeing if their ISP offers free anti-virus with the web service; I know some do (usually McAffee or Norton). The idea being to help remove general crap from their networks and reduce bandwidth usage by preventing botnets methinks. But you get a benefit from it too.

 

[34cupablanca]

Recently read a comparison and bitdefender was 1st, eset is a good one too. Although both are paid. Avg is free and cheap, although not as good as eset or bit defender, from the comparisons I've seen.

 

[MegaHurtz]

I am currently recommending Microsoft Security Essentials. I previously used AVG and was happy with it, but in the interest of trying new things I gave it a shot, and I was a little bit happier with it overall. Would also recommend installing Malwarebytes as well.

 

[warubozu]

Agreed with adding Malwarebytes as added level of protection.

 

[Kirosia]

Kirosia also uses malywarebytes. Before it was Avast, but the uninstall caused issues. Kirosia doesn't like drama in his life.

 

[Ullus]

Been using Malwarebytes and avast for a couple of years now, zero problems. Worth checking out imo, just uninstall it if you don't like it.

 

[Yeti tunes]

So while Malwarebytes is great (I use it myself) it's not an anti-virus product, which is what the OP asked. It's well, a malware cleaner that's non-active. If you're looking for anti virus, I'd echo the sentiments of many others here with MSE.

 

[BrownBear]

Another vote for Malwarebytes. In fact, one of our computers just got infected with a virus, the name of which escapes me right now. But, we installed Malwarebytes and it took care of it.

 

[Yeti tunes]

Quote:

Another vote for Malwarebytes. In fact, one of our computers just got infected with a virus, the name of which escapes me right now. But, we installed Malwarebytes and it took care of it.

Then it wasn't a virus, it was malware...

 

[fabio-fi]

Damn, im not the only one using Ghostery + MSE. 

 
I used AVG in the past. 

 

[BrownBear]

Quote:

Then it wasn't a virus, it was malware...

Oh true, my fault. I guess it would be. I'm so accustomed to called those sorts of things viruses I just did. Lol.