@Lascannon:  There is nothing called Lunix.  Do you mean Linux, or Unix?

Most companies don't make AVs for Linux.

Most companies don't make AVs for Linux.

Caleb, correct me if I am wrong but you are recommending ClamAV mainly because it is a product from Linux, right? Nothing personal, but that is exactly why I dislike talking with Linux and Mac users: Most of them turn into fanboys and can't see past their nose when it comes to Linux or Mac vs. something else.

That said, I am sure ClamAV is not bad, but it really can't compare to the powerhouse freebies like Avira and avast!

Locutus is right: ClamAV is not cloud based. Also, I completely disagree that ClamAV is a "good" AV for Windows; at least not when compared to other free AVs.

For a good free AV, try ClamAV for Windows, if you are using Windows.

http://clamav.org/

http://clamav.org/

ESET Nod32 Antivirus 4 Business Edition
Recently re-imaged since they had to put in some new programs such as PhotoShop Elements 8.  (They removed 5 and 7 off our systems, so awesome!) 
Virus Signature 5576 (20100713)

I can't check its heuristic settings or how high its detection rates are since it's all locked by an admin pass. Poohey. I'm just hoping they'd do something about it to make ESET detect "more" and "quarantine more" viruses than before; just like Malwarebytes'.

Oh and Grantwhy, there are 2 kinds of AV. They are the regular AVs and the supplement AV. Supplement AV do not offect the main AV and it acts like a "sidekick". The main AV does all the "big brother work" and has more features and security than the supplement. Something like that... but in my case, the Malwaresbytes' is the big brother why the ESET is the little brother. LoL...

Just to let you know... BitDefender, Comodo, and TrendMicro are a big no no. Never good. Read this detailed article by MaximumPC: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/kill?page=0,1

Read it and find out why those 3 paid AVs aren't as good as the rest. But again, some AVs such as Panda or AVG may not be appealing to others, but some people that I talked to said it's preferable over other AVs such as Malwarebytes. Odd eh?

 When I received trojans ones (those that opens up fake ads on IE all the time), I scanned it with their ESET, and it found nothing at all. Malwarebytes'? Found them all. Deleted them all, and my laptop is fixed. Get the point?

looking at the comparisons Locutus posted links to, ESET seems to rate well.

hmmm ....

silly question, how 'old' is the version of ESET, and are the definitions updating properly?

ie: could something (virus/worm etc) have gotten it Lascannon's system and disabled/damaged ESET somehow?  Is there anyway Lascannon can check?)

(trying to help from the peanuts gallery *is* still trying to help )

I've heard that can cause problems (ie: seeing the other AV's definition files as 'infected', 'fixing them' and both AV's have definition files that don't work).

anti-mailware/spyware programs (ie: MalwareBytes AntiMailware) on the otherhand - don't seem to have the same reputation/problem? and can be (and should be) used to suppliment/backup/look for things your anti-virus program doesn't look for.

ie: personally, I've got the free version of Avast!, the free version of Ad-Aware and also run the free (gee, the word free is showing up alot :-p) version of MalwareByes AntiMailware on a regular basis.

All get updated regulary, as does the OS (in my case Windows XP).

actually, that's a bit of advice to share about keeping your computer 'safer' - run the updates (security updates etc) for operating system on a regular basis - and every so often do it manualy every so often because sometimes the auto update doesn't (or can be disabled by virus/worms/spyware/malware etc).

And, speaking from experience, being called around to a friend of a friend's place to 'fix' their computer and finding that the anti-virus on their computer was a expired 6 months free trial (computer was about 3+ years old by then), and that the operating system (XP) hadn't (auto) updated in about 2 years is no fun. 

(although I do wish I had taken a screenshot of how many things AVG and MalwareByes AntiMalware found on that computer , it could of made for a nice little "It's Over Nine THOUSAND!!!!" joke)

We paid the laptop for around $3000 CAD I think… and the ESET Business Edition is probably $40. There, $40 wasted already due to a AV that doesn't do a good job at all. Does it make sense that we have to pay for an AV that doesn't work at all and we have to keep it? Nope. Oh, and the laptop is ours to keep forever. We get free repairs and a 3 years warranty. But we can't always let them repair it, or else they'll get mad. The warranty covers accidental damage, coffee spills, my-house-went-on-fire-and-my-laptop-has-been-burned. Something like that…

But anyway, if the laptop is yours and you bought it, then you should be able to install other AV software. But if you are connecting it to the school's network, then they get to have some say in what protection it has. C'est la vie.