Looks like I will be evaluating Avast now!  Thanks for the link.  great topic!

Since it's not immediately obvious which scoring is better,

InTheLink: Standard < Advanced < Advanced+

Weird measuring range... sort of "three products rated blue, one rated grey and one rated neon".

I fix PCs as a side job--including debugging, removing malware and recovering lost data and one thing I like about Avast free is that--its free--but it also updates FREQUENTLY.  Not just updates of the virus/etc. definitions but updates of the program itself.

This is a big plus because whenever AV software become ubiquitous or makes a list or review regularly like this, that AV usually gets targeted by the hard core (organized for money) hackers.

I won't name particular products but it is quite common to see systems with a free AV (or even a paid one) where the program is in place and appears to be functioning but has actually been co-opted by malware  and will no longer alert to it or particular malware programs.

One of the best ways to guard against this is to get an AV program that updates the actual program and not just the malware definitions.

No single AV package is sufficient alone to cover against everything (nothing can) sop it is good to have programs with different strengths that can run together.  At the moment, MAlware Bytes is a prretty good partner program with most Av software an does a decent job.

A couple of good programs on this list also have some compatibility install/uninstall issues on occasion and particularly with an older machine.

FYI--everyone thinks the AV software they run is 'the best" but these opinions are usually derived from their perceived experience with it and not necessarily how well it actually works in the real world.  What is best today, is second best tomorrow--that's how it goes.

 Safe place to download AV is always the home site of the company or a safe resource such as snapfiles.com, download.com, cnet, etc.

A tip: Avast has a silent gaming mode and the sound files can be hand edited as well if the voice prompt update bugs you.  I have it on a machine and mine is modded for Star Wars./  nothing like Darth Vader and Yoda warning you of danger or completed updates

I've run BitDefender more recently, but cycle through depending on the cost efficiency at the time.  Its almost at the point now, though, where it is easier to pull off problems as they happen as opposed to dealing with an anti-virus program all the time.  Part of this feeling is from using Norton at work, though, and putting up with its constant nagging, virus-like tendencies.  

edited cause i commented when i was half asleep

double post

^ That means Fistalis is now fully asleep...

I still think McAfee and Norton are too bloated for an AV program.

Picking the A/V software that you run really comes down to whether it does one thing and one thing only, will it protect your computer from............you.

I like to take the approach that all testing and evaluating of software, in this case A/V software is nice, and should if done properly give you a baseline.  Now, how does it work on your computer in a non-test environment.   You now the environment I'm talking about, the one where your brain is just a little too slow in sending the signal to your hands that says 'Dummy, don't click that button!'. 

Yes I understand that you can practice safe surfing on the net and still pick up crap, it happens.  Most of the times it comes from your friends that don't practice safe suring and good security practices.  No piece of software is out there to help with that. 

     When you get right down to it there is only one piece of software you need. Its called a brain built on a foundation called common sense. All the rest is icing on the cake. Knock wood I have never had any kind of virus, ad-ware mal-ware, trojan or what have you on either of my machines. 

*now watch me get hammered lol*

Common sense? I know that! For things you know nothing about, it works about as good as the ol' "some bloke tole me down the pub" and "it stands to reason".

Actually, it's more complex than "Don't install that." and "Don't visit that site." Those are correct, but you can get emails which look completely genuine and might even be from a trusted friend, or a totally benign appearing ad.

You need protection, and that's a simple fact. This is a quaterly result. The results fluctuate for a variety of reasons, not all of which I mentioned.

Well technically Windows itself calls home so it could be classified as Spyware. (LOL)

The question is not if a program calls home, but that kind of information about you does it send?

As a note of interest there are a suprising number of smart phone apps that listen to you through the built-in microphone. and send info about what they hear to a central database.

Or even one from a trusted vendor (Epsilon hack).  I have gotten one already.