I've never liked tea timer. Used to eat resources and bog down windows. Windows Defender is my full time spyware jobbie.

AVG I have the paid version but found it too much trouble - you actually have to fiddle with it every now and then - so the past maybe 2 weeks I've uninstalled it and am using the Free version again. Much better in my opinion as never have to touch it. I'm lazy.

You can turn the avg daily scan off with a check mark. Then run it when you want - OR - automate it to run weekly with a schedule in windows Task Scheduler.
Path/command that you would run on Vista, think its the same on XP;
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG7\avgscan.exe /scan c:

Or you could have task scheduler just pop open the test center on your desktop weekly, and then when you see it sitting there doing nothine - push the scan button.
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG7\avgw.exe

Never have much liked Zone Alarms although I havent tried it in years.

you'll want to put some quotes for the longfilename(s) like this;
"C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG7\avgscan.exe" /scan c:

I used to use tea timer a few years back but no longer. I use superantispyware free and use it weekly to do a full scan, I have had zone alarm pro for years, I use an older version that is not as bloated but works great, prior to that I used the zone alarm free and liked it fine. You might like Avast! free antivirus better than AVG have you tried it?
There is nothing wrong with having the free programs they are all written by good reputable companies. Only reason to get pay versions is if you just really want some of the extra features.

I too do not like or use Teatimer. And I would definitely not want any anti virus program set to scan only once a week whether paid or free. There are far too many bad guys out there trying to ruin my day to want anything less than a daily scan.

Why not set your AVG to seek updates around 3a.m. and have the scan done at 4a.m. That way it is all out of the way while you are in snooze mode yourself.

All my safety stuff is free too.

I just installed the new v8 Free AVG
It allows you to set scans - default is daily but can be changed to a single specific day of the week to auto scan from its advanced settings.

It also spooks you at first scan with for me just under 200 warnings .. it detects the registry keys that block the Immuninize features of SpyBotS&D and others. Showing those as potential infections.

Otherwise, pretty nice... didnt pay attention to my request to not scan links at install ... installs overtop of the old version fine.. it say it automatically removes old versions before installing the new.

Thanks for the heads-up. Just wondered how one justifies paying for these programs. I'm finding Zone Alarm annoying lately where I didn't have a problem with it in the past.

If you run scans during the night, aren't you logged on and on-line? I worry about doing that especially with the office computer. Aren't you more likely to get in trouble leaving your computer on-line and logged on?

I've decided to get rid of tea timer. What firewall do you all use? Thanks for the info Mikie. I didn't know there was an updated version. I also didn't know you could set up Task Scheduler to do that.

You guys are great, thank you

Jane

Right now I run 2 computers 24/7 and both update in the wee hours. Both are constantly connected to the internet and my Outlook Express is open and set to seek mail every few minutes. That is a fall back the dialup days when I needed to know if our daughters wanted to phone us and I would go offline for the call when they emailed me LOL.

I use Zonealarm. About 2 years ago I had issues with Zonealarm and changed to Comodo. It was a very good free program but needed more input from the nut behind the keyboard so I eventually discarded it and returned to Zonealarm after assuring myself the problems I had were solved.

Thanks Owbist. I guess you feel its safe to leave them on 'connected'. Just makes me nervous. Probably goes back to my old days of virus-ridden computers.

Jane

All of my computers stay up 24/7 and connected to fios, as long as you have all your protection layers up and running all the time there is no difference from daytime and night time at all. I never turn off my pc's unless there is weather or I am going out of town. I do turn off my monitor at night. I am also behind a router with firewall so I have hardware and software firewalls.

As I said I have used zone alarm pro, an older version, for years now on all my windows computers. I do not like the more recent versions because they are more bloated. Using an older version is ok it does it's job just fine.

My scans run at about 3am when I know I will not be on the computer and it will have all the resources to run them. I have them set on different days of course. I run regular scans at a minimum of once a week but usually more often. Any other tasks I have set up in windows task scheduler.

On my linux computer I have klam AV and Guarddog firewall, not that you really need any of that on a linux machine but since I also have windows machines that I send to and from it is more to protect my windows boxes.

I always have spywareblaster on all my windows computers and usually have spywareguard also both by javacool.
I now mostly use superantispyware on them, I have not used AdAware in ages, on occasion use Spybot S&D.
NEVER use registry cleaners on any of my computers.

I've always liked ZoneAlarm, because it seems to be the most comprehensive of the software based firewalls. The free version needs a lot more tech savvy, though, and it can get intrusive at times. I recently got a second firewall, and I notice that it lets a lot more through without checking if it's ok than ZA does. In my case, that's a plus for ZA, but it may be a plus for the other for you. ZA pro (the paid version) automates a lot more than the free version does.

Thanks for the info Ravencajun and bpgreen. I have used ZA for a few years and have tried others and wind up back with ZA. Lately it seems more intrusive, which I don't mind except in a work situation when you need to get things done quickly. I don't have the luxury of spending too much time fooling with a firewall which is giving me a hard time.

I also use Superantispyware (thanks to your recommendation) and use Spybot and Spywareblaster. I have used those programs for many years. AVG seems to do a good job and I have that on 3 computers and use Windows Defender on my older computer because it is used by my husband and son who do no maintenance at all.

I downloaded the newer version of AVG and like having flexibility in the scheduling. As far as leaving the computers on 24/7, I was told years ago that hackers could tell inactivity and look for that. I was always afraid to leave them turned on when I wasn't using them. Guess I shouldn't worry about that. Old habits die hard.

Jane