Antivirus windows

[toast1]

People say Windows Defender is not such a good antivirus package, but I've never had a problem

 

Friends and IT people have recommended AVG or similar as better

 

Do people avoid MS Defender, and prefer others?

 

I don't mind paying if I get better protection, but MS 10 has always been good. 

Thanks

 

 

[BigStar]

Defender's quite good nowadays, one of the best. Using more real-time protection is unnecessary and will just slow down your machine and become annoying. I just use Defender and also do an automatic scan weekly w/ free Malwarebytes.

[bendejo]

I use Defender for firewall and another brand antivirus.

A while back (maybe XP days?) I used Comodo firewall, all the fine-tweaking was impressive at the time.  Then one fine day I realized the firewall wasn't working, though it was reporting that all was good.  Turned out it stopped working app. 2 weeks before.  Communication with Comodo support was no help at all.  Into the commode with that one...

 

 

[Don Chance]

You don't really need an anti virus unless you surf dodgy sites. Even so firefox will protect you to some degree. You really need to run a dodgy .exe script for a virus to take hold.

I keep defender off because it slows down my system and is probably spyware in it self.

Now and then i check with:

https://www.trendmicro.com/en_ca/forHome/products/housecall.html

or

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/intelligence/safety-scanner-download

[kekalot]

don't need anything else than Windows Defender to be honest and I don't know anyone that is serious in IT that would suggest anything else (nowadays anyways)..

a few years back, maybe yes.

 

I had to disable parts of Windows Defender because it was "catching" more than it should, false positives (excluding directories to prevent it from deleting known safe apps)

Edited May 20, 2020 by kekalot

[CanadaSam]

[Crossy]

I use Windows Defender along with an occasional scan using Housecall (which has never found anything).

 

Also, SuperAntiSpyware as malware protection, which mostly deletes cookies and not a lot else.

[KhunBENQ]

Never used 3rd party AV since 15 or more years.

W10 defender and logging in as standard user for everyday use.

Using Firefox with Noscript. Chrome occasionally.

Never use any license cracks etc.

Careful handling of emails.

Can't remember when I last had any virus/malware problem except some browser hijack.

 

Edited May 21, 2020 by KhunBENQ

[Pib]

In the olden days, Windows Defender didn't protect as good as paid products like Norton 360, Bitdenfender,  McAfee, etc.   But for the last couple years Microsoft improved Windows Defender greatly and now it rates just as good or better than paid products for antivirus-malware protection. 

 

I've been using Windows Defender on my three Win 10 machines now for about 6 months....totally satisfied.  Before that I used Norton 360 for many years which is a fine product but I got tired of buying a subscription each year off Ebay since free and very good antivirus/malware products are available.

 

ATTest is an organization that test various home anti-virus/malware product several times per year.  See their Feb 2020 rating/review of Windows Defender....it receives a Top Product rating.  And you may be surprised how it beats well know products like Malwarebytes, BitDefender, McAfee, etc., who did not receive a Top Product rating.

 

https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/

 

 

[RichCor]

I'm another user of Windows Defender on my personal equipment.

 

But I also administer systems for other users and I don't trust them not to visit or click on something stupid, so 'they' get the intrusive security suites installed. 

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

I don't want to be the Linux Geek in the room, but I am what I am. Best antivirus you can buy is Linux, and it's free.

[Yankeesvsredsox]

I switched over to AVG from windows defender ! I had noticed a considerable drop in virtual memory for months.

I attempted to adjust the allowance of megabytes ,but it didn't work(4 gigabyte  memory).

I found a tool that would eliminate AVG entirely from my computer!

Wow ,no more crashes,unlimited tab excess.it fly's again

[WebGuy]

My right combination is ESET (Nod 32) and free Malwarebytes.

ESET costs around 800 THB annually in Thailand and can be purchased online.

 

With this you should be really safe except being protected from some social engineering cyber attacks.

[jojothai]

If i am correct AVG comes with some tracking/ spyware loaded.

When i got a new laptop, AVG had been included, although i did not use the AVG i found that the their spyware was enabled and had to delete it.

Cant remember the name of the exe. Search the topic on the web.

Edited May 22, 2020 by jojothai
Added comment

[SiSePuede419]

Chromebook.

 

100% free of viruses.

 

Web pages are sandboxes so viruses won't execute on "admin" like WinDoze.

[Fairynuff]

I use AVG free version on my phone and laptop.

[theonetrueaussie]

Bit Defender been using it for years now and it has been amazing. They had a fantastic deal on a little while ago if you bought it in THB it was roughly $30USD for a 3 year subscription which is 3 years for 1/3 the price of 1 year. Not sure if it is still going. 

[pineapple01]

Anti whatevers are like my fishin expedition as a Kid.  Waste of time. CC Cleaner gets all the Google rubbish off for me.

[Pib]

As FYI as to how often Windows Defender receives virus definition updates (MS calls them Security Intelligence Updates), it's typically every 1 to 2 days.  These updates occur even if you have your Windows set to block/delay Windows updates like Cumulative updates that happen once or twice a month.  

 

From looking at my Windows Definitions Update area which lists the Defender updates received/installed, since 24 March I have received 51 virus definition updates.   Below is is a snapshot of definition updates received 12 - 22 May.

 

[mrfill]

One of the best anti-viruses is the 'Don't click on dodgy links in email' thought.

 

Careless clicking costs data....

[pineapple01]

Why does no one ever post the Found results from these must have things, Is it because they watch porn.?.

[MJKT2014]

On 5/20/2020 at 6:28 PM, toast1 said:

Do people avoid MS Defender, and prefer others?

I use latest version of Win10, always keep the updates current. Windows Defender is renamed to Windows Security in the newer releases of Windows 10.

[DrPhibes]

Kaspersky Total Security and Malwarebytes. 

[torturedsole]

9 minutes ago, DrPhibes said:

Kaspersky Total Security and Malwarebytes. 

I've upgraded to the premium 'Putinski Total Security' package which comes with 'friends in high places' benefits if you run into any trouble.  100k roubles seems reasonable.  

[Scott]

Off-topic post reported and removed.

 

[tribalfusion001]

12 hours ago, pineapple01 said:

Why does no one ever post the Found results from these must have things, Is it because they watch porn.?.

Mommy Likes To Watch 3 - Vina Sky, VPN set to Taiwan, Piratebay and downloaded the movie, excellent acting and plot.

 

Using Defender never had a problem with naughty sites, don't open spam emails on laptop.

[Stocky]

After many years of shunning Microsoft's security product as not good enough, at the start of this year I dropped Kaspersky in favour of Windows Security teamed with Malwarebytes premium. 

[starfish]

On 5/20/2020 at 11:05 PM, BigStar said:

Defender's quite good nowadays, one of the best. Using more real-time protection is unnecessary and will just slow down your machine and become annoying. I just use Defender and also do an automatic scan weekly w/ free Malwarebytes.

How do you do that ? My free Malwarebytes says: "automatic/scheduled" only available in Test- or Premium version.

 

 

[BigStar]

2 hours ago, starfish said:

How do you do that ? My free Malwarebytes says: "automatic/scheduled" only available in Test- or Premium version.

Technically it's semi-automatic. I just put an entry to run the program .exe in the Windows Task Scheduler. Full path must be in quotation marks:  "C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-Malware\mbam.exe". So that brings it up every Monday morning at 10 AM, in my face. I hit the Scan button and go back to whatever. It updates itself then does its thing. ???? Good 'nuff.

 

Anytime you're in the Task Scheduler is a good time to go thru again and get rid of all the useless scheduled startups that various programs and M'soft have put in there.

[starfish]

3 hours ago, BigStar said:

Technically it's semi-automatic. I just put an entry to run the program .exe in the Windows Task Scheduler. Full path must be in quotation marks:  "C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-Malware\mbam.exe". So that brings it up every Monday morning at 10 AM, in my face. I hit the Scan button and go back to whatever. It updates itself then does its thing. ???? Good 'nuff.

 

Anytime you're in the Task Scheduler is a good time to go thru again and get rid of all the useless scheduled startups that various programs and M'soft have put in there.

Great idea. I will try that, thanks for the tips.

But i´m contemplating getting the Malwarebytes premium version (with real-time protection) anyway. But is it possible to run that with Defenders real-time in parallel ?

 

I just have to get rid of my Avast (paid), which is getting on my nerves by always nagging me and slowing down my computer.

I have another old laptop with low specs, used only for streaming tv, where i replaced Avast with the simpler Microsoft Security, and it suddenly runs like a champ now. Avast was good years ago, but now it wants to take over my computer ????

 

In any case, one thing is certain, the best (additional) antivirus out there is sitting right in front of the computer . .