Yet another AVG false alarm: Time for an alternative?

Less than a week ago, the popular AVG antivirus program reported that user32.dll was a Trojan horse file and offered to delete it for you. The only problem: That was a false alarm, and removing the file -- which is key to making Windows work -- rendered machines unbootable.

AVG fixed that quickly with an updated set of antivirus definitions. Then, yesterday, it happened again: AVG began reporting that the ubiquitous Flash 10 plug-in for Web browsers was a Trojan. It's not.

AVG has issued new definitions and those who are experiencing this should update the program ASAP. Still, this is becoming all too common with AVG -- prior to the user32.dll false alarm, bad definitions caused it to label the ZoneAlarm firewall program from Check Point as a virus.

AVG (the Czech-based company changed its name from Grisoft in February) is trying to make up for the user32.dll incident by offering those who were affected a free, year-long license for its commercial product. Of course, do you really want to rely on a product with such glaring -- and dangerous -- false positives?

What's your choice for an antivirus program, free or otherwise? When someone asks you what to use on a Windows PC to protect against malware, what do you recommend?