Question Recommended Anti virus - What would you buy?

[hicks451]

Hi all,

One again I have to ask the great TH members for some advice and as so many of you have been kind enough to make sure I get the best advice I can with all the help I have needed so far I call upon you all one last time before I finish building my very first dedicated gaming Pc (but not my first pc build) and set up my new network router. What internet antivirus software would you recommend other than Norton?
I have been looking at Bit defender but wanted to see what others would suggest before I go ahead and buy some.
Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[USAFRet]

3 things:

1. Windows Defender, included in the OS.
2. The squishy thing between your ears.
3. A random scan with MalwareBytes.

That is all.

 

[hicks451]

Thank you USAFRet. 👍 What about the firewall?

 

[USAFRet]

Thank you USAFRet. 👍

Good luck.
Be safe.
Keep good backups.

 

[hicks451]

Good luck.
Be safe.
Keep good backups.

You to USAFRet. Have a great weekend!!!✌️ Bows

 

[Xorex7]

Windows Defender is utterly useless you are better of using emsisoft free scanner that uses bitdefender engines alongside its own, requires no install so you can run it a portable fashion. Also use free AVG or AVast if you dont want to purchase internet security package, then again windows firewall is just as useless and windows defender.

Malwarebytes is also excellent.

 

[USAFRet]

Windows Defender is utterly useless you are better of using emsisoft free scanner that uses bitdefender engines alongside its own, requires no install so you can run it a portable fashion. Also use free AVG or AVast if you dont want to purchase internet security package, then again windows firewall is just as useless and windows defender.

Malwarebytes is also excellent.

Most of the tech world disagrees with you.

https://www.av-comparatives.org/consumer/test-results/microsoft-windows/
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/best-antivirus/

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Windows Defender is utterly useless

That hasn't been my experience at all. When you say something is useless you should explain why so your reasons can be challenged.

 

[Rokinamerica]

Like the others here, I use Defender, have for years.

 

[Xorex7]

In my experience even with updated windows defender it failed to find particular virus which malwarebytes easily found and removed. This is my own experience....the windows defender corporate version is probably the one mentioned in that link, . Secondly most tech people i know use Tronscript for badly infected computers which windows firewall and windows defender failed to block. Tronscript runs dism check after using kaspersky and malwarebytes and other tools disinfect a computer and then repairs corrupted files via file checker and dism . Emsisoft emergency kit is something i use in place of windows defender.....

 

[Xorex7]

I would take free AVG, Avast and AVira over windows defender any day.....

 

[USAFRet]

If a system is infected badly enough to run that Tron thing, one should consider the source and cause of the infection, and not just a maybe/probable "fix".

 

[USAFRet]

I would take free AVG, Avast and AVira over windows defender any day.....

Avast? OK, you go with that...
https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-cost-of-avasts-free-antivirus-companies-can-spy-on-your-clicks

AVG (owned by Avast):
https://www.zdnet.com/article/avg-releases-transparent-privacy-policy-yes-we-will-sell-your-data/
https://www.tomsguide.com/news/avast-avg-data-collection

 

[Xorex7]

Avast? OK, you go with that...
https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-cost-of-avasts-free-antivirus-companies-can-spy-on-your-clicks

AVG (owned by Avast):
https://www.zdnet.com/article/avg-releases-transparent-privacy-policy-yes-we-will-sell-your-data/
https://www.tomsguide.com/news/avast-avg-data-collection

Really, like windows 11 is not doing the exact same thing, like android.........facebook etc....i was talking about virus removal, this is whole other issue about privacy

 

[USAFRet]

Really, like windows 11 is not doing the exact same thing, like android.........facebook etc....i was talking about virus removal, this is whole other issue about privacy

And I'm not going to give yet another tool and company that access.

To each his own.

 

[USAFRet]

Really, like windows 11 is not doing the exact same thing, like android.........facebook etc....i was talking about virus removal, this is whole other issue about privacy

And the original question was about recommendations.
I would not recommend those tools, for the reasons linked above.

 

[Xorex7]

If willing to pay I recommend Kaspersky, I use it myself and never had a problem.

 

[PsychoPsyops]

Yes, there is no reason for home users to pay for anti-virus programs these days. Not only does Windows Defender work decently, but a free anti-virus like Avast, Malwarebytes, etc., as a secondary measure is more than enough. In addition to paying for anti-virus programs being a waste of money (unless you want the premium features that come with it, i.e. vpn, mail scanning, etc.), some of the paid programs actually make and install their own viruses to catch to make it look like it's actually doing something worth while. Norton Anti-virus has been known to do this.

Personally, I recommend Avast Free Antivirus. It comes with more than enough protection and features for free and even has a really good "do not disturb" mode for if you do not want notifications.

 

[Rokinamerica]

Instead of paying for anti virus, invest that money in a good backup system. Then if you ever do go to naughty sites, you can just reinstall from B/U.

 

[Xorex7]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tdF57LadyU


The above links shows that avira did a better job at detecting infections.

 

[rgd1101]

here

Test antivirus software for Windows 10 - February 2024

The current tests of antivirus software for Windows 10 from February 2024 of AV-TEST, the leading international and independent service provider for antivirus software and malware.

www.av-test.org

 

[Xorex7]

here

Test antivirus software for Windows 10 - February 2024

The current tests of antivirus software for Windows 10 from February 2024 of AV-TEST, the leading international and independent service provider for antivirus software and malware.

www.av-test.org

Yeah well, that does not mean much to me, the video I linked shows a real test and avira won.....windows defender missed a infection, granted it has gotten better but then missing 1 or 10 infections...the issue is security and it must catch all infections or all those that other protection software caught. I would use Avira, Avast or AVG , Emsisoft which also bitdefender engine to protect my pc rather rely on Windows security.

 

[rgd1101]

nothing is perfect if you keep pirating stuff

 

[Zerk2012]

Yeah well, that does not mean much to me, the video I linked shows a real test and avira won.....windows defender missed a infection, granted it has gotten better but then missing 1 or 10 infections...the issue is security and it must catch all infections or all those that other protection software caught. I would use Avira, Avast or AVG , Emsisoft which also bitdefender engine to protect my pc rather rely on Windows security.

Youtube videos really means nothing you can alter the results anyway you wish by hand picking things to test.

For all you know he could of been paid by them to make that video.
Uses this virus on a not updated version of defender.

 

[Xorex7]

Youtube videos really means nothing you can alter the results anyway you wish by hand picking things to test.

For all you know he could of been paid by them to make that video.
Uses this virus on a not updated version of defender.

You could say the same of links posted by others which say windows defender is great, they could have been paid and those stats were based on usability, time scan and give an overall score.