I whole heartedly disagree. While Norton is somewhat of a resource hog, it is effective. If you run the consumer versions, yes they are sub-par and you're better off with Macafee. However, Norton Corporate is a serious piece of software successfully used by many universities and businesses. I use it, I update it often, and I have no complaints. I have used AVG, and for a freebie it's adequate but not like Norton Corp. is. In fact AVG was such a PIA for me I removed it and sent it deep into the earliest moments of cyberspace! Most Internet freebies are plain doughnuts ... AVG Free is one of them. The subscription version is a different thing though. Remember that a good many viruses are created in mind with sneaking past or derailling the more popular AV software brands like Macafee or Norton. I admit that happened to me recently. Norton was bypassed with a nasty BHO/Trojan type file and it required AVG Free to catch and remove most of it onlyafter I used another machine to d/l it onto a memory stick for loading into the infected PC that couldn't load any web pages other than the malicous one.
After that, AVG missed numerous files that Norton quarantined with ease!

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Avira Antivir is free and better than AVG according to AV-comparitives.
I recommend trying it.

 

AVG 7.5 rated with the best of them when coming to crushing threats (independant tests).
One has to admit, Norton constantly features at or near the top in these same tests, as did f-secure and kaspersky.
I used kaspersky, loved it, but every year you have to fork out amounts that you wonder you it's justified compared to your previous subscription.
That was why I switched to AVG, more cost effective in the long run. I must admit I do not use AVG alone, running additional firewall software and additional spyware terminator software. Although all chunks memory, you really only feel it during computer, or should I say windows, start-up.
And I do not have nearly the latest spec PC. I just have a good amount of RAM piled on.
Lately AVG 8 is getting a lot of flak from a lot of corners, one can only wonder what went wrong.

 

Seems there was a "virus" that would install itself on track 0 on the hard drive and render it useless..even a low level format couldn't remove it...can't recall the name tho

 

We use F-secure at work, and it's a piece of crap, we call it "F%^&-all secure"..

At home I am using Avast, and have no complaints so far.

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I use Windows Defender which won't let me update!!...
is there a good free anti-virus that's not a resource hog?

 

While they cannot hurt equipment, as I have come to find out, they can put a dent in one's bank account.

They got me for just over $200 this past spring when I felt I was doing the right thing and protecting my equipment. As you said, the malware is now gone, and the hardware is OK, but since that $200 was part of our summer subsistance fund, we'll probably go without groceries until my first paycheck in two weeks.

Sorry for dragging Trigger out of the barn to resurrect this part of the thread, but just had to bi-ch.

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I completely agree, AVG is kind of overrated in my book, definitely inferior to Avira Anti-virus.

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Aha....
But, Avira free is anti virus only. So you still have to find something else to run your anti-spyware and stuff.
AVG version 8 free has antivir and antispyware, in one package.
This will definitely explain why it's also a bit slower, it's heavier. Avira is light and nimble, like a TVR. AVG is more like a Corvette Z06.

Both are huge fun, but the TVR will get around a track quicker.