Antivirus software

[Roger W]

We have been running a well-known brand of Russian antivirus software on our home computers that was provided for free by our friendly bank.  They are no longer offering this service, however.  So I need to get something else.

What antivirus stuff would people on here recommend?  Should we stick with Mr Putin's best?  Is there anything free that's worth using?  I'm still using good old Windows 7, by the way.  My wife has Windows 10 on her laptop.

 

[royfellows]

Beware, there are no "good guys" and "bad guys" out there now. Look at the 'free' AVG fiasco.

 

[grahams]

Windoze Defender and firewall / Trusteer / Opera VPN / system recovery on external drive is probably as good as anything but who knows. You can dual boot Ubuntu with Win 7 or 10 but that too has its insecurities.

 

[NewStuff]

Whichever you choose (I use Linux and common sense, but that's not for everybody), make sure you run the proper removal tool, instead of the usual uninstall. They have to get their hooks very deep into your system to 'work' and incomplete removal causes all sorts of shenanigans, headaches and crashes.

https://support.kaspersky.co.uk/common/service

 

[rhychydwr1]

I can recommend Bullguard, but it is not cheap:

https://www.top10antivirussoftware.co.uk/?bkw=BullGuard&bcampid=52248516&bcamp=An-Vr%20UK%20Bing&bagid=2438820131&bag=site%20names%20-%20BullGuard%20%20phrase&btarid=kwd-15549004093:loc-188&bidm=bp&bnet=o&bd=c&bmobval=0&bt=search&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=bullguard&utm_campaign=Bing+CPC+Campaign&c=73461221135777&m=e&k=15549004093&binterest=&bphysical=188&bfeedid=&a=B670&ts=&topic=&msclkid=278ffc5ef80b1965a3a8a61d69241ffa

 

[Pitlamp]

Beware, there are no "good guys" and "bad guys" out there now. Look at the 'free' AVG fiasco.

I'd be really grateful if you would elaborate on that AVG issue. (I had a few problems with it but assumed it was just my own ineptitude, as usual.) Thanks.

 

[royfellows]

The basic problem is that a lot of this stuff attempts to take over your computer or at least the way that you use the Internet.

The free AVG is notorious, the 'toolbar' which they went to great lengths to make you install was basically 'hijack ware'
And there is more, a quick websearch just using 2 keywords hit this

https://www.extremetech.com/internet/220171-avg-antivirus-broke-chromes-security-and-googles-furious-about-it

Everyone and his brother wants their hands into you computer. This goes for everyone from Microsoft with their Windows 10 down.
Saying in America, "The is no such thing as a free lunch".

The best anti virus software, and this really is free, is the one we all have between our ears.

 

[JasonC]

Years ago you could get a free version of AVG that was pretty much as good as the paid-for version.  Then it turned into a trial version, only good for a month, and constantly nagging you thereafter.

I use the paid-for AVG (on Win7), which combines anti-virus, firewall etc.  I can't be bothered to go to the trouble of comparing and contrasting different offerings, no doubt everyone has their favourite, but I expect most reputable brands are much alike.  You can get various deals depending length of licence, number of PCs covered etc, but if you see offers which look ridiculously cheap (like ?5, say) they will be knocked-off licences.  You can install the trial software, apply the licence key to make it the full thing, but if the licence isn't pukka, you will sooner or later find flashing red warnings that you've been a naughty boy (or non-gendered noun of your choice), so they're not worth having.

As I recall, I pay around ?25-?30 a year - grudgingly, but it's better than having your system f-ed up.

I'd agree with Roy that common sense helps, but I'd feel about using a computer without an anti-virus/firewall product the same way as I would about not clipping into a traverse line - it'll probably be fine...

 

[royfellows]

I actually used free AVG for quite some time and actually managed to install the stuff without the dreaded toolbar.
But got annoyed when it was always checking every file I wanted to open, even applications I had written myself, so uninstalled the stuff.

For more years than I can remember I have used Win 7 with no AV software.
Only time I got caught out was when a (presumably) virus software dropped its installation file into a WinSys folder and tried to install itself every time I booted up
User Account Control would cut in, as it should and  gave me the expected option, which was obviously "Refuse". So then it would do it again, so I used task manager to stop it.
Located the file in, I think it was System32, but it would not delete.
So choices, either stick a bootable CD in the tray and get into the file system there, or take the HDD off and put it in a second machine as a slave and delete the virus file that way.

Had a good old rummage but could not find a disk, so went the other route. Took all of 20 minutes.

Only time in years had this happen, and I mean years.

Another thing while I am on, and lamp customers on here will have noticed this.
All emails in and out are converted to plain text on my system, so who needs graphic headers and nodding dogs anyway.
Its good security.
Emails to plain text, only download essentials such as Adobe Reader from the official website, dont download anything else (EasyDocMerge and this kind of crap) and if Windows tells you anndnbsyg or whatever wants to make changes to your computer, pull the bloody plug out the wall if you have to


Sorry I forgot. Email attachments, dot zip, dot kak, dot scr, no no, I only open ones from someone I know which are of a harmless file type.
But even then you would have to give Windows permission for it to install.

 

[Cookie]

I recommend Norton to people. See https://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing-accessories/software/internet-security-and-antivirus/norton-security-2018-5-devices-for-1-year-10139961-pdt.html

Only buy it on sale. It will always be on sale somewhere. Make sure you deselect the auto renewal if you buy it online (Norton can be quite sneaky about this). I buy it on sale each year which is normally half the price of auto-renewal.

If you have 5 devices then it is less than ?5 per device. If you don't then ?23 is worth the peace of mind.

I like JasonC's analogy.

I'd agree with Roy that common sense helps, but I'd feel about using a computer without an anti-virus/firewall product the same way as I would about not clipping into a traverse line - it'll probably be fine..

 

[royfellows]

Its not an accurate analogy

Being like NewStuff and me is OK if you understand computers. I ran a business as PC and local network system engineer and MS Access and Visual Basic programmer - developer.
Re my previous posting, I would bet a lot of people on here dont even know what I am talking about.
I dont envy them.

The cleverest people are only on top until someone comes along who is cleverer, and this cuts right across the board from me up to the people who develop the AV software.

 

[Cookie]

I guess life is more exciting playing Russian Roulette every time you click on a link.

You only have to wrong once.

 

[royfellows]

I guess life is more exciting playing Russian Roulette every time you click on a link.

You only have to wrong once.

and your murdered in your bed. Right?

 

[NewStuff]

I guess life is more exciting playing Russian Roulette every time you click on a link.
You only have to wrong once.

I have not had malware in at least a decade and as said, I do not run AV or AM.

I certainly don't want anyone running Norton. Symantec's consumer orientated software is sub-par and invasive. Avast! is better and for the price of a disposable email address, pretty much free, with very good AV and AM detection.

 

[Cookie]

Norton is perfectly good at doing its job.

I'm sure Avast is as well. How much does the free version nag?

My main point is that it a bad idea to recommend not using anti-virus software.

I do know what I'm doing and even so, every now and again, I'm caught out and the AV software saves me.

 

[royfellows]

In fairness I was an IT professional, so knowing what you are doing is relative. NewStuff I believe is or was?

To answer the OP question, or attempt to, as I have been out of the game a long time so cannot make a specific recommendation.

Anyway, I am not recommending no AV, anyone who doesn't need it would not be interested in my advice anyway, as they would not need that either.

I would say to avoid anything that is 'free' like the plague.
Do research on the web and follow your nose to a retail packaged product.

 

[pwhole]

The best anti virus software, and this really is free, is the one we all have between our ears.

That should be on a T-shirt Roy...

 

[royfellows]

Sorry I'm back

Real big time good advice is that if a computer is critical to your existence then keep a spare machine and back everything up.
I know I plead in vain.

Oh, and steer well clear of PC World, dont even use their car patk

 

[tamarmole]

I'm using the free version of Avast, seems ok without too much nagging.

 

[pwhole]

Real big time good advice is that if a computer is critical to your existence then keep a spare machine and back everything up.
I know I plead in vain.

I concur with that. Another external hard drive is not that expensive, and even a weekly backup of important files is better than none. It's only one big backup, and then after that it's just the changes made, so not long at all. And then switch it off until the next time. Another copy held somewhere else entirely in case you get burgled or burnt down is also a good idea.