AOL’s Free Active Virus Shield Ditches Kaspersky for McAfee
Ever since a leaked copy of AOL’s Active Virus Shield software for Vista hit the web, I had been waiting for AOL’s official announcement. Well, now I know why AOL never released a new Vista-compatible version of their Kaspersky-powered antivirus software…they were instead preparing for the switch to McAfee!
The screenshot above was taken from the current Active Virus Shield website which kindly explains that Active Virus Shield is no longer available, and has instead been replaced with a special McAfee suite. It does include virus protection, spyware protection, and a firewall, but come on…it’s McAfee! They are just as bad as Norton when it comes to dragging down the performance of your computer. AOL does try to make it sound great by saying:
Buy this protection yourself, and you could spend as much as $39.99, but with an aol.com email address, you can receive this comprehensive set of safety tools free.
Yep, they even require you to get an AOL.com email address in order to use the software. Where’s the humanity? 
Kaspersky, and therefore Active Virus Shield, always ranked highly on the antivirus tests which made the now deceased app even more appealing. It didn’t do quite as good on the retrospective/heuristic testing, but I didn’t expect a free program to be the best in every area. This is one freeware program that I will truly miss.
I haven’t tried the new one myself because, well, I’m not exactly McAfee’s #1 fan. I’ve known people who had paid for their software before, and they always end up complaining a month or two down the road that their computer is horrendously slow. I always give my condolences to them for having purchased the software, and immediately install Avast (or sometimes AVG). I’ve yet to see someone complain that their computer is extremely slow after doing that.
So if you’re up for it, you can get the new AOL McAfee Security Center at no monetary cost, but don’t be surprised if you have to forfeit a good chunk of your system’s resources. Current Active Virus Shield users (those that have it downloaded and activated with a key they received) can continue to use the program, but future sign-ups are no longer allowed.
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Tags: Freeware, Newly Released, Software, Antivirus, AOL, Firewall, Performance
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NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I stated using the AOL one because it was backed by Kaspersky’s scan engine, oh man I hope the one I have will keep updating and not be forced to update this one.
AWH MAN!!! You said we can continue to use the program. Will the antivirus updates cease? If not, all those people that look for ways to get live.com Email should put that on hold and try and find ways to get Active Virus Shield.
So, does anyone know off-hand some good low recourse, FREE antivirus programs? I don’t think I want to go back to the one my ISP provided -Computer Associates EZ Antivirus (although it was better than Norton, the one that came pre-installed on my PC).
That SUCKS! Back to Avast I guess, no way in heck I using anything from McAfee.
I think you may want to give Avast a try. Others here have mentioned it and I agree that it is good solution that does not use a lot of resources, offers a good level of protection and best of all it is free.
I’m wondering if signatures will continue to update. My last update was 8/7/07 (today) at 9:46:08AM.
Yes, your signatures should continue to update because those are just provided by Kaspersky. I’m not sure if AOL required a renewal process though (like Avast requires that you re-register each year for free to keep your software up to date).
I would recommend Avast though, that is what I use the most. If you’re looking for a paid version I would say that NOD32 is the best.
only AOHell knows how to screw up things on a consistent basis.
AOL’s Active Virus Shield was probably one of the best software deals ever, and probably the only AOL product I have ever used.
But McAfee isnt a deal at any price.
I used AOL Active Shield b4, and I can guarantee that every one who use it b4 will had miss it. I would strongly suggest user not to install Avast and AVG, their virus signature are not up to date, and contains a lots of false positive.
I had downloaded the new Mcafee ( AOL version) and use it, I must admit it that I still miss AOL Active Shield very much, because the Mcafee is not user friedly as AOL Active Shield.
I will download the new Kaspersky Antivirus 7.0. Although it is just 1 month trial, but if you know how to edit the info in registry, you always can renew the 1 month trial. The trouble here is just u need to edit it every month.
For those users who are seeking for good Antivirus and yet dont want to paid a single cent on it, and yet got no idea how to make the paid Antivirus ( eg Kaspersky ) keep valid even the trial version expired, I would suggest that you use Antivir, Bitdefender 8.0 ( both are free ) I think these 2 free Antivirus software are the only freeware that can match the standard of those paid Antivirus. In fact it even better than some paid Antivirus. But pls take note that Bitdefender 8 scan engine might be slow !!
OK, Active Virus shield no longer updates
http://farm2.static.flickr.com.....6708_o.jpg
What’s the fastest, safe, low recourse use, free alternative for XP (I know we’ve discussed this b4 but I can’t find it)?
I’m still skeptical that their virus definitions have been discontinued. I don’t see why they would still be updating the files on their FTP then?
I would use either Avast or AVG. I prefer Avast myself and have used that for quite some time, but AVG is pretty much just as good.
AVS still a no go. Which of those 2 is lower recourse use?
I’ve switched to Avast! for now. Even before I saw AOL had switched software, I was finding Active Virus Shield often limiting my internet speeds to 300KB/s. When I disabled Active Virus Shield, it’d shoot up to 1,200KB/s. Wow.
If I were to pay, I’d go for NOD32.
I’m also giving Comodo Firewall a try.
If I had to (or wanted to) pay I would use NOD32 as well. I like not having to worry about updating my subscriptions so I’ve stuck with Avast for several years now.
In my college, I remmmonded the computer machanicher to use AOL Active Virus Shield. After AOL AVS is not available, I recommended to use avira because it is top freeware. I you want a commercial software, use Kaspersky Antivirus 7.0. If you want a complete protection included anti-spakm, parentral control and so on, use zonealarm internet security 7. I refer to many website about a compariso between them. Zonealarm Internet Security Suite 7 is easy to use, good interface, based on Kaspersky Antivirus engine, top firewall and others. So use that.
You could probably get the AOL active virus shield installer off of torrents or p2p, too.
There are definitely alternate ways to get your hands on AOL Active Virus Shield, but it’s understandable that you would rather choose a more supported app.
@netster0007x
“You could probably get the AOL active virus shield installer off of torrents or p2p, too.”
No, you couldn’t. At least not a month ago. I haven’t checked lately.
“AVS still a no go. Which of those 2 is lower recourse use?”
I’ve tried AOL’s rebranded Kaspersky engine, Avast!, and AVG, in addition to being a Norton user until early 2006. AVG is the *only* anti-virus product out of those that doesn’t suck up resources and slow down my older computer. AVG is the way to go if keeping resources freed up and the computer speedy is a top priority for you, as it is for me. Not to mention AVG’s real-time protection is awesome, which is important if you use P2P and/or BT.
I’ve also tried both Comodo and Sygate Free firewalls and both are easy on resources and let the computer stay pretty brisk. I prefer Comodo lately and set it to the Custom level of protection; it seems like a more professional, up-to-date, comprehensive program than Sygate’s.
It’s all over the Internet on download sites, such as Download.com:
http://www.download.com/AOL-Ac.....68703.html