Avira updates AntiVir free anti-virus suite

Posted Apr 15th 2008 1:00PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: Security, Windows, Freeware

Avira has released AntiVir Personal 8.1, a free antivirus appliation. Like popular free antivirus applications from Grisoft and Avast!, Avira offers a free basic security suite in the hopes of convincing some users to spring for a commercial version. The main difference between Avira and the competition, as far as we're concerned, is that Avira AntiVir will occasionally pop up nagware asking you to upgrade.

Pop ups aside, Avira AntiVir is pretty powerful, and the latest update brings a few improvements like increased scan speed and a redesigned visual interface. Another new feature, which isn't available in the free version, is the ability to create a system rescue CD.

Unlike some other antivirus applications, you can install AntiVir without uninstalling or even turning off your current antivirus program, which is always a plus.

[via gHacks]

Tags: antivir, antivirus, avg, avira, grisoft

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-15-2008 @ 3:51PM

Rocketboy said...

Is this any better than Trend Micro's free online virus scan? I'm not concerned with 'real time' virus protection, just a scan every week or so.

4-15-2008 @ 8:11PM

justin said...

Ive been using AntiVir for a few months now. it works great, updates quietly. the only annoyance would be the single pop up every other day.

4-15-2008 @ 8:09PM

Mark said...

Every time you update it there's a giant popup window on your screen nagging you to buy it. Screw that crap.

4-15-2008 @ 8:10PM

clint said...

uh, unless youre stupid, and want your computer to run painfully slow, why would you run two antivirus programs, probably 95% of whose definitions and heuristics overlap and are redundant?
scanning a file twice for the same thing is a waste of your time.

4-15-2008 @ 8:10PM

Brad Linder said...

To test out a new application without uninstalling the old one that you trust to keep your computer safe.

4-16-2008 @ 7:26AM

Esente said...

I don't know if this is allowed, but you can disable the nag screen fairly easy:

http://esente.info/blog/2008/01/13/disable-antivirs-nag-screen/

4-17-2008 @ 7:51AM

MasBlaMan said...

Avira is low on resources, unlike avast (centrino 1500Mhz + 512 MB ram) and is a better antivirus then avg.

4-19-2008 @ 10:58PM

gil said...

AVG now does pop-ups, too. They are annoying, but the software is free so how can anyone complain? Grisoft will up lose some customers because of the pop-ups, but if they aren't making money from customers using their "free" product, why should they care?

AVG isn't very resource intensive, except for once a day when it updates its definitions. For some reason, this really drags down the computer for 30 to 60 seconds.

5-04-2008 @ 9:57AM

shazi said...

please give me trail version of avira

5-09-2008 @ 9:37AM

waleed said...

thanks

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