Someone I read on a forum (now closed), had said that there are "gutted" AV programs available through servers like, limewire.com, etc... , wherein the spyware, and other junk that AV manufacturers install, are omitted, so as to provide just the AV protection.

Does anyone know anything about such hacked software!?

I use to subscribe to Norton and then moved on to various others, and one thing I noticed all of them have in common is they have installed this thing that sends out false Trojan attack alerts and sundry other scare tactics, just before one's subscription is to expire and an increased level of frequency, once it does. As if to frighten one into keeping the subscription current.
I spoke with others that have subscribed to such AV providers and they report the same thing, so what I'm looking for is a superior AV without all that crap attached. Which is what I was led to believe the gutted AV programs are about.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I am currently running Kaspersky AV, and it's quite an experience in itself.

I'm quite sure people are getting tired of hearing me say this but....



AVG Free Edition

It's all I use on my home PCs.

I can't really say I have heard too much about any legitimate AV programs adding spyware to the software. I know alot of the AV and malware removal programs advertised with pop-ups are bogus. What happens is you'll get spyware somehow, then get pop-ups telling you about all the nasty spyware and viruses you have (bogus except for the malware causing the ads) and then try to sell you their product. I'm not sure if this is what you're talking about or not... I know with Norton they'll inform you about the more serious threats. Is this what you mean, or that Norton will say you have viruses before your subscription runs out? Either way, I'd never pay $$ for AV. Much less when you have to pay repeatedly

I used to use AVG but I tried Symantec Corporate when I got it free through work. Immediately after install it found a virus that AVG had been missing for weeks. Maybe AVG has fixed that problem by now but I won't go back. I will continue to get an antivirus through work for years to come so I really have no reason to go back either.

That's pretty awesome work is giving you AV software for free. With so many people working extra on their home PCs it's a very smart move.

What some software may deem a "virus" others may not. It could be it was code that Norton (symantec) had marked as a virus and AVG had decided not to define as a virus. (Which is why it's important to always scan for viruses and malware - spyware/adware). Could also be the software wasn't updating often enough or that AVG was just missing it as you said. There are so many bazillions of malicious software programs out there floating around and it's really an industry in it's baby stages. It will be interesting to see how it develops over the years, hopefully they will start to streamline some definitions and make it less confusing for everyone.

Out of curiosity I looked up Kaspersky AV. Digging around for more info I found an article in about.com written by Mary Landesman fuming that Eugene Kaspersky is encouraging kids to write better viruses... or something to that effect. I think it's a gross over reaction but I found it somewhat funny. You can find it here.

It is awesome to have it for free. What's more I can install it on as many computers as I want and it never expires. I can also buy full copies of Office Pro for about $20 but I am limited on the number of copies I can get (I think it is one per year). I am in the US Air Force so this is all through the DOD.

Norton Anti-Virus is notorious for using up a lot of resources and being 'bloated'.

The best Anti-Virus program i've ever used, and still use, is NOD32.

You can download a free trial from: http://www.eset.com/

It does exactly what it says on the tin.