PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition 3.6

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Features

Editor's Rating:
4.0 stars
Average User Rating:
3.0 stars (out of 362 votes) Rate it!
Downloads:
2,806,822
Operating Systems:
Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000
Additional Requirements:
Windows 2000/XP/Vista
Limitations:
No limitations
Date Added:
October 15, 2007
Previous Versions:

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Publisher's description of PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition 3.6

From PC Tools:

PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition protects you against the most nefarious cyber-threats attempting to gain access to your PC and personal details. Going online without protection against the latest fast-spreading viruses, worms and Trojans can result in infections within minutes. Once infected, the virus will usually attempt to spread itself to your friends, family and associates by accessing your e-mail contacts and networked PCs. The infection may also allow hackers to access files on your PC, use it to launch attacks against other computers and Websites or to send mass spam email. That's why PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition provides protection, with rapid database updates, OnGuard real-time file, Internet & e-mail protection and comprehensive system scanning to ensure your system remains safe and virus free.

Version 3.6 adds an Ignore option to the action list, implements Overall Progress bar, and improves engine.

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Editor's review of PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition 3.6

4.0 stars
"Good for beginners"

Reviewed by: CNET Staff
Version reviewed: PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition 3.6

This novice-friendly freeware antivirus tool still expects a certain level of sophistication from its users. PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition's interface presents a minimum amount of buttons to control the application.

Checking your PC status, scanning for viruses, and switching on or off real-time protection are all a matter of clicking a single button. Scan speed and memory requirements are average for applications in this genre. Basic full-scan scheduling is easy to set. The virus database appears comprehensive, and the program automatically downloads updates.

This is the freeware version of the publisher's antivirus tool, but the differences are minor. Updates are downloaded from a slower server with this version, but not so slow as to cause user irritation. E-mail message tagging options are not configurable. E-mail and phone support isn't available.

Our big concern is the very basic Help function. Novice users will find it tough to navigate. Intermediate users will wish for better information before tackling any configuration changes. Nonetheless, users looking for an antivirus tool that can be set with default protection and that updates silently will be happy with this freeware.

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User reviews of PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition 3.6

Average user rating: 3.1 stars out of 362 votes
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Showing 5 of 27 user reviewsSee all 27 user reviews
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3 stars

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Version: PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition 3.6

"good"

by yugo70 on October 25, 2007

Pros: Good free AV program . Easy to use & customize

Cons: Need some improvements & fixes .Dont play well with support scanners (EAV Antivirus , great program was constant target of this AV , so I had to remove it from my system )

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1 stars

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Version: PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition 3.6

"creates problems"

by alice_b0wie on December 24, 2007

Cons: this will make more problems than it solves. it stops other programs from working and creates compatability issues where there shouldn't be.

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5 stars

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

Version: PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition 3.6

"Winner of the VB100 award"

by Sammo- on December 10, 2007

Pros: This is the best free av that I have tried. Light on resources. It has won the VB100 award - passed the December 2007 tests. Kaspersky, Avira and Avast failed the December VB100 test.

Cons: I would prefer more frequent updates.

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2 stars

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

Version: PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition 3.6

"looks fine"

by wyz51 on November 17, 2007

Pros: nice interface

Cons: for a free product it ranks behind avast, anti-vir and avg for catching viruses and like most pc tool products(Threat fire and their firewall)slow your system down noticeably or are not tops on protection. Tried their spyware doctor free edition and I thought my computer would never boot up.

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1 stars

Version: PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition 3.6

"May be good, but not for me"

by diaasami on December 26, 2007

Pros: free

Cons: 1-Very slow and uses a lot of memory.
2-Got a BSOD while scanning!

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