What's the Best Anti-virus?

[A Guy]

Never even had the programs find anything, much less anything slip by. Only time I hear from these programs is if I go to a page off a Google search, and they don't like it. A Guy

 

[rubyrubyroo]

Never even had the programs find anything, much less anything slip by. Only time I hear from these programs is if I go to a page off a Google search, and they don't like it. A Guy

That's what I thought - or would have guessed anyway! And yeah, you don't want to go against their wishes, or they might just start turning a blind eye now and again!

I do get an occasional notice, but it could be due to settings (how to handle minor threats is probably set to something like "notify me" on my setup and just "take care of it" on yours...or else (and likely) you have better browsing & D/L habits than I do! Either way I've found the combo pretty solid in my case too - for what that worth.

 

[A Guy]

Layered security from different programs seems prudent. They can all be good, but will always find different things. Besides, get past the moat, and the attack dogs are there. Get past the attack dogs, and the booby traps will get you. Etc.

A Guy

 

[rubyrubyroo]

Layered security from different programs seems prudent. They can all be good,
but will always find different things. Besides, get past the moat, and the
attack dogs are there. Get past the attack dogs, and the booby traps will get
you. Etc.

A Guy

Is it just me, or am I the only one that's suddenly very interested in the "Etc. " part!

So I see your "" and raise you one: !!



A bit OT I realize....but it's a five year old stalemate thread, who's really complaining?

 

[A Guy]

Etc. EMET, Malwarebytes anti exploit, Keyscrambler, Zemana antilogger, Comodo firewall, Spyware Blaster, WinPatrol...etc.

A Guy

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I haven't tried Emsisoft Emergency but i'll look into it.

I've tried SAS and ADWCleaner, both great products, i would also recommend SuperAntiSpyware, greaaaaat product.

Yep mate the SAS is super antispyware and I found the portable version to be a bit quicker to use both in scan time and update tie because I find the free version
it good but slowish https://www.superantispyware.com/portablescanner.html save the second download version (personal) to a stick and it will install when you plug it in and then you just run it.

 

[Laith]

Did i really say that? LOL!

I meant that SAS is a great product!

 

[zapp22]

man I love ya John!
one thinker amidst the rabble

- the very term "AV" is laughable. i haven't seen a virus on a system in years and people call me to remove malware. an antique term, but it still works as 'bait' on those TV pitches aimed at certain demographics [and it works]
- I know of nothing on the market that will prevent even average-sophistication malware. dumb-dumb leftovers pushed by the lowest ranks of the black hats - maybe, but unlikely.

The really "good stuff" gen'd up by the best blackhats is spread through casual contact with perfectly legitimate websites, even corporate ones behind the wall in some cases. Only by blocking access to links buried in webpages is there at least some level of threat defense. The reason I refuse to use Microsoft Edge [and have given MS a lot of static about it -... not that anyone is listening] is precisely because they provide no adblocking measures whatsoever unless something has changed in the last few days. IE11 at least I can take some small measures. There are plugins and addons for chrome and FF that do a pretty good job - various ones have strengths and weaknesses. the more you block, the better.

This being the case, I was one of the ones standing and cheering when Apple announced support for Ad Blocking APPS. Now, I have always been a Dolphin user so on either android or IOS I've had a little bit of frontline help. But Apple is huge and for them to make such a seachange says a lot about the state of the industry on more subjects than just Cybercrime.

Whitelisting is the way to be safe but it is hard work and few wish to go there unless they just want at least ONE safe browser to use for something like banking or Trading. Use of a good DNS provider like OpenDNS is a little help also. Ad-block everything you can.
Get a Twitter account and subscribe to the best of the White Hats [though they do change sides often] out there because bad news travel fast and Twitter is fast. All the top ones are very active in that space.

The best developers of the white hat kind are earning their living in other-than-microsoft/PC-firms.
The best measures for PC's will come "trickle down" from the Corporate/Government IT cybersecurity patch & IOS/OSX/Android camps if and when they get around to PC ports

some reading
Sophisticated webinjects 'tailored' to beat bank security
Cisco Takes Down £40m Ransomware Gang
Cybercrime-fighters reveal business weaknesses, suggest defenses | North Bay Business Journal

So, there`s no best solution in AV question? All of them can be complete dissapointment if bad guys want to use your PC?
I`m not quite sure about this. The billions of money invested by companies from this list Best Antivirus Software Review 2015 - BestAdvisor for developingthier protection measures. There`s no advertisments on how properly use your PC to not get bugged.

 

[StrikeFIN]

Panda Free Antivirus 2016, light and one of most effective antivirus.

 

[windws7]

Common sense. If it's not available, MS Essentials or ESET Smart security.

 

[McSeven]

I have communicated with Avira support off and on for years. Never had a bad experience.
The only thing I don't like is their new forum that is now being used. It sucks big time.
But when I send in suspicious files or ask questions I always get back an intelligent response.
They have a suggestions thread, and with enough votes the suggestions are used.
Avira is easy to use, and does not seem to affect the performance of a computer.
I never used the free version.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Avira is not a bad product. Some of my users have used it off and on.

I hope that my experience with their support staff was an anomaly...
...but it was so sleazy of them to scare the user with harmless event log entries.

 

[ThrashZone]

I believe most companies would push free version users to a paid product
Then the problem might be after using a paid product they push again for not free custom cleaners....
That would be sleazy

 

[sevensurfer]

Avira is not a bad product. Some of my users have used it off and on.

I hope that my experience with their support staff was an anomaly...
...but it was so sleazy of them to scare the user with harmless event log entries.

Hello,

I'm working in the support department at Avira and read your previous posts. (My user account is registered with @avira.com domain so the mods / admins can validate my statement.)

Avira offers free support for our customers and never charged any additional fee. We provide official support on our verified social media channels with official accounts and of course over phone and email.

Can you give me more details where and who you have had contact with in the mentioned experience? I guess that the unknown person just forwarded the required details of the license purchase over email to Avira to get the refund performed.

 

[UsernameIssues]

sevensurfer,

I will try to contact you (in a day or two) via this forum's Private Message system to provide details of the incident that probably should not be posted in an open forum.

 

[sevensurfer]

Thank you UsernameIssues, looking forward to your message.

 

[Horus28]

I'm hoping this is the correct place to talk about virus checkers. I currently have a bit of a problem with avast. You see I have been a user of it, the paid version that is for some years. I have a number of computers and had it on 3 of them. The people here might be interested why we came to a parting of ways. Over those years I'd never needed support so when I asked for it I was bit amazed that I got nothing. They claim there is no record of it but I did put in to queries for a problem I was having which I thought might be caused by the virus checker. After no response I decided to move on. Then a question of money arose. Because I'd had no problem the last time I renewed I felt okay about a two-year contract. Big mistake. This contract started in September last year so I asked them for a refund for the 2nd year which I think is pretty reasonable. But no way they say it is company policy to not refund anything after 30 days. Now I'm not disputing I should have read the contract and at law I have no redress. I will not using it for at least 18 months of the contract to run they think that's okay. I think it shows a lack of goodwill and contempt for the customer be warned.

 

[Laith]

I've never liked avast! because it is not effective, at least when i've used it.

 

[Horus28]

I must say I never had a problem other than lack of support. Bitdefender has a very good rating better than avast. The other thing that was irritating me about it was added functionality which they would implement without questioning me. For instance an add on was put into my browser caused me problems.

 

[A Guy]

Have always used Avast, personally never had an infection. Have had it warn on web pages during searches. I don't surf many "dark" areas tho. A Guy