ANTI Virus Programs

[MsRowdyRedhead]

Looking for recommendations for Mak's laptop.
He is currently running Avast, but I am not sure that's the best way to go.

[mtmerrick]

Every PC I have any influence over uses either Microsoft Security Essentials or, for a more advanced user, AVG Free. If you clean regularly and run a Housecall scan (also free) every month or two, you'll be just as safe as with a paid alternative. Anything that can slip through a free antivirus can also slip through a paid one.

[Canama]

Here are my two rules:

1. Don't use McAfee
2. FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY DO NOT USE NORTON

But AVG is good, keeping an install of MalwareBytes around doesn't hurt either. (Although be aware that it won't filter downloads or whatever - no live protection)

[MsRowdyRedhead]

With Mak, downloads are the biggest concern...

[mtmerrick]

Here are my two rules:

1. Don't use McAfee
2. FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY DO NOT USE NORTON

But AVG is good, keeping an install of MalwareBytes around doesn't hurt either. (Although be aware that it won't filter downloads or whatever - no live protection)

let me echo everything Canama says here. Norton and McAfee are HORRIBLE. malwarebytes is also a good scanner.

Paid version of malwarebytes offers live protection, AFAIK.

[Canama]

It does but it costs money so why would you even do that

[The Truth]

Here are my two rules:

1. Don't use McAfee
2. FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY DO NOT USE NORTON

But AVG is good, keeping an install of MalwareBytes around doesn't hurt either. (Although be aware that it won't filter downloads or whatever - no live protection)

let me echo everything Canama says here. Norton and McAfee are HORRIBLE. malwarebytes is also a good scanner.

Paid version of malwarebytes offers live protection, AFAIK.

yeah. I'd also encourage you to avoid TrendMicro.

I'm happy with Microsoft Security Essentials (or the built-in Windows 8 antivirus), but if Mak downloads a lot of stuff...Well, you could just use WOT to make sure he only downloads from safe sites, but if you want a paid antivirus I've heard good things about Kaspersky.

[MsRowdyRedhead]

Thanks.

I also use spybot S&D but I use Firefox.   Mak prefers Chrome, and Chrome is not protected by S&D.. it only finds stuff after

[Flipz]

My family uses Vipre.  I think it's paid, but it's really good--our family has a 0% infection rate, and has had it for many, many years.

Honestly, though, the best internet security is smart browsing--teach Mak to recognize fishy sites when he sees them, and all the other fundamentals of digital security.  (And/or hire MTM to tutor him in such things... )

[mtmerrick]

Honestly, though, the best internet security is smart browsing--teach Mak to recognize fishy sites when he sees them, and all the other fundamentals of digital security. 

^this. I recently cleaned some foreign cyberweaponry off someones computer. Well, it couldn't be cleaned, I had to smash the HDD. How the >word< does someone get a disease on their PC like that? And he was running a really expensive antivirus at the time.

As I've noted In my quotes archive, Science can't stop stupid. 




Also, @truth, what's wrong with trend micro? They've been pretty reliable in the past, tho I have to say my only experience with them is the free Housecall scan.

[MsRowdyRedhead]

Tried teaching Flipz... I am gonna install Trustwave as a reminder...
He has major adhd and I think he just forgets.

MTM..  Housecall??

[mtmerrick]

Trend Micro Housecall. A scanner that's been good to me in the past, in its free form.

housecall.trendmicro.com

[The Truth]

Honestly, though, the best internet security is smart browsing--teach Mak to recognize fishy sites when he sees them, and all the other fundamentals of digital security. 

^this. I recently cleaned some foreign cyberweaponry off someones computer. Well, it couldn't be cleaned, I had to smash the HDD. How the >word< does someone get a disease on their PC like that? And he was running a really expensive antivirus at the time.

As I've noted In my quotes archive, Science can't stop stupid. 




Also, @truth, what's wrong with trend micro? They've been pretty reliable in the past, tho I have to say my only experience with them is the free Housecall scan.

I had to help someone who got a fake VLC on their computer. Couldn't be fixed.

Trend Micro tends to be slow and rarely actually finds problems.
Their free stuff isn't bad, but their paid stuff is pretty worthless.

[Rakoua]

My dad's firm had a few spare Trend Micro licenses  so I used the paid version of it for a while, but it wasn't exactly inadequate. Then again, I don't get many viruses.

It's really hard to recognize malware-infested sites sometimes though...

[MsRowdyRedhead]

That's why I really like TrustWave, Raks... It tells you if a site is unsafe... in real time.
also free
https://www.trustwave.com/securebrowsing/

[Rakoua]

I used this for a while, but sometimes the info can be outdated. Trend Micro did a good job blocking some sites though.