Reviews of AntiVir Personal Edition for Windows

1. 
   johnusa

   Reviewing 9.0.0.408 (Oct 20, 2009)

   ISSUE: BIG UPDATE PROBLEMS
   Even though this program is highly rated, I hate it because with my experience in updating this very troublesome program, and with Avira, their parent company's failure in fixing the ridiculous server problems with their updates.
   I have installed this program on many PCs, in many different locations, all with high speed connections. After every installation, I had problems updating this program. It would take 30 minutes or longer to update, or sometimes never.
   I checked their forums, and many users have been having my exact problems, for many months, and yet lazy Avira has not fixed this huge problem.
   Shame on Avira.
2. 
   Prospero424

   Reviewing 9.0.0.408 (Sep 10, 2009)

   Yes, false positive rates are important, and Avira should be and undoubtedly is working to improve them. They can cause untold havoc in a production environment. But some make it sound as if this is some sort of deal breaker when the truth is that Avira's FP rate is roughly in the middle of the pack on AV-Comparatives.org, and ANY false positive test is, by nature, extremely subjective to begin with (not dismissing their results, just saying they're not definitive).
   
   Personally, I've never encountered a false positive with Avira, and I'm always tinkering with my system - trying out new software and functionality all the time. But this, like the personal experiences of others here, is merely anecdotal evidence.
   
   In short: the most respected tests show it being comparable to AVG and better than Avast as far as false positives, and BOTH its heuristic AND on-demand detection rates on AV-Comparatives.org not only beat the pants off these two free competitors, but they beat pretty much all of the for-purchase competition as well!
   
   I would whole-heartedly agree that these subjective tests/detection rates aren't everything. A lot of the paid antivirus packages have other features and characteristics that may make them more attractive and more appropriate for some or even most environments.
   
   What doesn't seem in any reasonable doubt is that this free version of Avira is an absolutely incredible value for home/individual users. This is what I install on the computers of family and friends whom I know will just let a for-pay antivirus subscription (like the one that came with their OEM computer) expire and forget about it, leaving themselves open to new threats indefinitely.
3. 
   mfarmilo

   Reviewing 9.0.0.408 (Sep 9, 2009)

   Excellent program. I always recommend either the Premium version or this one.
   
   One point - as of right now, this is still downloading Build 407, not 408. I think there may be a glitch at the Avira end, as they're showing latest version as dated the 8th September, yet still the old 407 build.
4. 
   FailedCRC

   Reviewing 9.0.0.408 (Sep 9, 2009)

   There is actually no indication of how large their set of clean files is. Other than often picking up keygens as trojans I've seen no problems.
5. 
   Lsavagejt

   Reviewing 9.0.0.408 (Sep 9, 2009)

   I have been using Anttivir Premium. I renewed my license for it and am aware of the issue of false positives in the laboratory. I have had no problems with false positives.
   
   The only thing I don't like about this product is that it can be shut down, so that I have to open it and manually restart the protection.
   
   An AV is supposed to have self-protection, and while self-protection is configurable in Antivir, the configuration occasionally fails- most likely a conflict with Comodo (no AV) or Prevx (detection only).
   
   Anyway, I give it a 5. It's up there with the best.

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