I need a free antivirus program for Windows 98 system!

Now that AVG has quashed its 7.5 free version, and their newer version isn't
for a Windows 98 box, I need to find a decent free antivirus program for my
older computer. My Win 98 system has all the updates and patches at the
time MS stopped supporting it.

Does anyone have any suggestions based on their experience in this regard?
Thanks in advance.

Search on "free anti-virus for windows 98" produced:

http://free.avg.com/download-avg-ant...s-free-edition

http://www.freebyte.com/antivirus/

I still use Avast.

Be aware that ClamWin doesn't provide on-access scanning, only scheduled
scanning. So it would allow a virus to infect your system, but hopefully
would then let you know after the event when it gets round to its scheduled
scan. I used clamwin briefly, but ditched it because it was inadequate in
this respect. Still, better than nothing.

Humm, you must have missed the bit where the OP has been using AVG and now
can't because they no longer support Windows 98.

Well, I think he could still use it, and whether that's a good choice or
not depends on what is meant by "no longer supports", which IMO is a
vague phrase (to put it gently.)

If it means that AVG for Win98 can't download updated virus definitions,
then yes, AVG will rapidly become useless. Well, can the Win98 version
no longer download and read them? That would seem odd to me - they are
either text files, which are no problem at all, or hashed files, which
also shouldn't be a problem, since there's no reason for Grisoft to
change the hash algorithm. Is there?

So I conclude "no longer supports" just means that Grisoft no longer
updates the Win98 program. IOW, it's now orphanware. But IMO that
shouldn't matter much, since the Win98 version is a pretty mature product.

So, which is it?

PS: IMO, OP should get a new machine with Win7, when it comes out. Won't
have long to wait. ;-)

I was using AVG free 7.5 on a Windows 98 PC, but it started alerting
me that my files were out of date. When I tried to update, it always
said I had the latest version. I figured a glitch and reinstalled,
and only THEN realised that I am stuck with files that are 899 days
out of date.

Does anyone know where, for the time being, I can at least get the
most recent AVG 7.5 update files?

For my "back-up" Windows98se PC (somewhere in the attic),
I have a copy of Norton Antivirus 2002.
Worked fine last year when my WinXP PC had to be repaired.

You cannot even provide a working link.

And where are the daily updates for those older versions?

Um, I think you're out of luck. I don't think you can do it. IOW, I now
know the answer to my question, but it's not the one I expected.

Those malware definitions are just data files, in plain text or hashed
format, neither of which is OS dependent. IMO there are two
possibilities: a) Grisoft detects your ancient OS, and refuses to send
you the data files. Or b) the data files are too large to for the DOS
address space (which is the effective limit for Win98, which despite its
multi-tasking capabilities is essentially just a pretty front-end for DOS.)

If it's a), Grisoft is acting sleazy. If it's b), Grisoft just doesn't
find it worthwhile to chop the malware definition file into two or more
pieces so that AVG for Win98 can handle it. Since I do sometimes act
according to Luther's advice, I'll suggest b) is the reason.

I'm sorry I can't help.

Here's a few free programs:

www.free-av.com
www.avast.com

And what will run on Windows 98?

I did have a look at the sites.
That is why I asked you.
Did you read the sites?

Avira Antivir is NOT for Windows 98.

Comodo is NOT for Windows 98.
Choose Operating System: Windows XP(SP2)/ Vista

Only the Free Avast 4.8 is still for Windows 98.
And the free Avast 4.8 for Windows 98 is a real memory hog on Windows
98. Uses far more memory than claimed when attempting to update
database -- too much for the two 98SE computers I tried to install it
on. Maybe others have had better luck.

you can also look on this site
You will find the older versions of programms include the older anti-virus
programms.

[sah]

I'm using Windows Me and it looks like I'm in the same boat as you. I've done some research and this is what I have learned so far:

AVG 7.5 is no longer supported and you can no longer get virus updates for it.

Antivir is no longer offered nor supported for Windows 98/Me.

Avast will no longer be offered nor supported for Windows 98/Me after December 2009. You may be able to use it as a temporary solution in the interim but I would be hesitant to do so since Avast is very heavy on resources and your system will crawl after it is installed.

So far the only promising lead I've come across is this:

Moon Secure Antivirus. It's free, has a real time scanner, and claims to be compatable with Windows 98/Me. I haven't given it a try yet but I need to soon to protect my old pentium II & III Windows Me systems. I'll let you know what I find out.

I looked into this antivirus further and it looks like, contrary to the web page, it is only offered for windows 2000/XP/Vista so it probably wouldn't have worked anyhow.

I did discover that NOD32 still offers and supports a windows 95/98/ME version of their antivirus software (version 2.7). I sent an email to them asking how to purchase (sorry it's not free!) it and how much it costs. NOD32 received very good marks in past antivirus tests conducted by VB.

I also discovered you can download a 30 day free trail version here:

You may want to give that a try. This is about the only lead I have been able to find thus far.

Trevor,

Sadly Avast's support for Windows 98/Me will end in December 2009. Hence installing the free version of Avast will only provide a temporary solution. Also of the three most popular free antivirus programs (AVG, Avast, & Avira Antivir) Avast is the most heavy on system resources. I'm hesitant in installing it on an older pentium II or III system for fear it will make the system crawl. The most promising prospect I have found is NOD32 version 2.7. It is still supported for Windows 98/Me and has a very small "foot print". It has received good reviews from Windows 98/Me users and has received high marks in tests by Virus Bulletin. Unfortunately though it is not free and is one of the more expensive virus programs out there. At this point I think there are only 2 options available. Either purchase an antivirus program which still supports Window 98/Me or purchase an upgrade to Windows XP and install a free antivirus program. :|

The only way to install Moon-Anti-Virus appears to be to download a 3
megabyte installation program, which requires an internet connection to
complete the combined download/installation. I prefer download first
then install later.

When you start the install you are treated to a whole bunch of come-on
offers of this free trial and that free trial and get to click Accept or
Decline many times before things appear to start. After a while I gave
up, for I never had any idea of how many megabytes were still to come or
if the wait would be worth it.

To protect own computer from viruses, trojan, worm and similar
threats, you should use a high-quality anti-virus software. Not using
anti-virus software leaves you open to viruses, which may lead to more
malware invading your system. Make sure that you install only one anti-
virus software, doing otherwise will cause severe system
instability.Here comes frequently asked question: Which anti-virus
should I use?Many of us pay a lot of money to buy anti-virus software,
but this is so unnecessary, because there are plenty of good free anti-
virus software that offer the same kind of protection as the boxed
software you can buy at the store.To help you out, I decided to
provide you the list of top 8 free anti-virus. Let’s begin with it.

1) Avast

Hope it helps you. For more information

Or obtain NAV 2002 or Symantec Corporate Antivirus v9 via torrent.

[ThinkingWithPortals]

There is about 40 pages of NOD32 on If you aren't familiar with the site, you can get just about any program, game, movie etc..etc.. for FREE they are all cracks NOT torrents all you need is winrar or winzip for unpacking. I just got a version of NOD32 for my WIN98 PC from there, it's the payed for version not the trial. Don't torrent files, you risk a bunch of viruses, in the warez community it's hard to come across a virus because of all the moderators and people wanting to build a reputation for good cracked programs. You have to be a a member to access the database, it's all free, just make an account like this website and go search in the appz section, movie section, games section or whatever section you want. In the 3 years using warez I have NEVER came across a virus, program, app, game, OR movie I couldn't find. The data base is (MASSIVE) my AVG expired to just like the poster above, that's how I came across this forum. So just wanted to share that with you guys, never pay for a program again. I have the newest version of Photoshop, just about ALL adobe editing programs.. a bunch of movies in Bluray and HD. Have a bunch of games like COD4 and BF2. And now NOD32. Here's the website.

Well I can tell you're not to familiar with how crackz work. You can use the program as long as you want, the poster on this one posted ESET NOD32 2.7 through v3.642.0 w/ screens to prove active as do most everyone else on the forums. Most crackz come with active serials. I've had the best versions of AVG on my good PC's for as long as they have been out, they are all crackz. They connect to the AVG servers and fully update when needed and do everything else a paid for version would do. All the years with AVG and not 1 problem for me. I'm using NOD32 right now on this PC and it works great, seems like a good program from what I've seen so far, does updates and all. Out of the 5 pages of replies from Feb, 2008 till today June, 2009 all versions have worked great for everyone.

Thieves and robbers?? rofl wow. You're an idiot.

And I, have no sympathy for someone who wants to rain on everyones parade, a jealous person pissed because he can't get the best programs for free.

The box opens, he steps outside.

I think you're a little confused here friend..

Everything at warez-bb.org is 100% free. There is no selling or buying of anything at all, not even a client to download programs with, it's basically user-based. There's more than 1 warez site, the one you're thinking of is the Warez.com website, which for lack of better words is like a cheap small p2p "company". The one I've been referring to is warez-bb.org and is NOT a p2p website like warez.com, they suck and I'm sure those are the people who spammed you. That website just had it's forums taken down for excessive spamming not to long ago.

From someone who thinks the warez folks are all peachy-keen...

I had one of these fine upstanding people spam me a few years ago
selling warez. (I'm ambivalent about the warez concept, but spam is
another deal altogether! Malleting spammers is the lowest punishment I
favor, drawing and quartering is better.)

"mal" or Malcom (in the UK) got his website and DSL connection nuked
after I outed him, but someone along the way spilled my email address.

His "warez posse" proceeded to mailbomb me to the tune of 1-2K messages
a day. Mailbomb=spam. Same treatment, same results for mal's pals accounts.

I did get a few responses back from showing the bombers mal's spam, and
most apologized. It appears that warezfolks hate spam as much as I do,
and making money off warez was also not cool in that circle at the time.

Warez = stealing
(just another stupid message from the techarena "forum".)

[ThinkingWithPortals]

Yeah you said that already, are you running out of things to say? Or just boosting your own self confidence by playing Mr. Forum Police man?

The software scheduled below are made-up to be free. Not trialware. Not paid software. If you locate with the intention of the links go to side which involve you to pay money to find the software, it means that your computer is badly infested with spyware and adware. You can no longer trust link you make out in your browser. The malware or spyware loaded in your computer has adapted the addresses of each page you visit so that you are redirect to the spyware site. You may have to return to this page beginning a clean computer to get a hold the actual software that is planned on this page.

When I realized how much Norton was slowing down my PC I switched to AVG (Free) and I’ve never looked back. Great piece of software and completely free!