What's the Best Anti-virus?

jonnyhillow · 22 Apr 2015

MoxieMomma said:

jonnyhillow said:

I was curious as to your comment "none specialize in malware protection" , why is this ?

I think there may be some confusion?

Anti-malware applications, such as MBAM, specifically target non-viral malware that is often missed by standard AVs.

OTOH, AVs target different types of malware (including viruses) that are not targeted by anti-malware tools.
For example:
MBAM does not target script files. That means MBAM will not target; JS, PY, .HTML, VBS, VBE, .CLASS, SWF, SQL, BAT, CMD, PDF, PHP, etc.
It also does not target documents such as; PDF, DOC, DOCx, XLS, XLSx, PPT, PPS, ODF, etc.
It also does not target media files; MP3, WMV, JPG, GIF, etc.
Those are better suited for one's AV.

Additionally, other special tools, such as MBAE, target not the "what", but the "how" of malware infection, by protecting vulnerable, internet-facing applications. This is explained >>HERE<<

The basic principle is to use a layered approach, with complementary products: 1 robust real-time AV, 1 robust real-time AM, plus other selected applications and strategies.
More is not always better -- running more than one real-time AV will often create problems and reduce security, not improve it.

No one software product or combination can substitute for "safe hex" or protect the user determined to get infected.

Cheers,

Thanks MM , yeah i agree with you as well , again , that may or may not be a good thing.

Tookeri · 22 Apr 2015

I know this thread is about AV products, but don't get too fixated on them, they're not that great for example slow detections for new signatures. There are more important protections than AV's if you ask me:

Anti-executables, restriction policies: Best protection against malware?
- Can block scripts and DLL's too
- AppLocker was applied to 500 Windows 7 computers over 3 years as in this case. The result: Not a single malware infection compared to several a week prior to using AppLocker!
Simple, light but very effective virtual environments like Sandboxie. Programs running in Sandboxie live in a virtual environment and can't modify anything permanent. The free version is fine. It's also possible to define what programs are allowed to run in a sandbox, what programs are allowed to access the Internet. Set block or read-only access to drives/folders etc. It's perfect for browsers for example, possibly with the exception of Chrome that has the best sandbox. Firefox doesn't have anything!
Regarding anti-exploit tools like MBAE, don't forget the probably best one if you don't mind a paid product: HitmanPro.Alert 3
Example: "HitmanPro.Alert 3 is the first and only commercially available exploit mitigation software capable of leveraging MSR hardware registers in your existing Intel® microprocessor to assist Alert's Control-Flow Integrity (CFI) analysis"

jonnyhillow · 22 Apr 2015

I wouldn't give the impression that people can forgo a good AV for other methods at this point , not when every malware forum is packed to the gills with people needing help.

Of course it's the people not being educated on malware avoidance much more so than an AV failure , i use Sandboxie and have been for years .

It certainly is an added tool but i would never go without a good AV these days as malware is as bad and more complicated than it's ever been .

For the advanced knowledgeable user they can easily avoid malware with minimal programs but for the average PC user, no way .

Tookeri · 23 Apr 2015

Sure, but what I meant was that the endless discussion of which AV is the best doesn't really matter much. It's not enough with even the best AV. You need other protection layers too.

That's sadly what the average user don't understand. So they think if they choose a good AV they will be safe.

In AV forums the majority of users that get infected can't understand how it happened. They seem to think that their AV is like a police officer able to prevent any crime

Why is that I wonder... Do any AV vendor claim they can detect all malware? I don't think so.

ThrashZone · 23 Apr 2015

All of them do some sort of boasting to be the next best thing since sliced bread and block everything better than another a-v does :)
Can't think of their motivation :/

Callender · 23 Apr 2015

Tookeri said:

Sure, but what I meant was that the endless discussion of which AV is the best doesn't really matter much. It's not enough with even the best AV. You need other protection layers too.

That's sadly what the average user don't understand. So they think if they choose a good AV they will be safe.

In AV forums the majority of users that get infected can't understand how it happened. They seem to think that their AV is like a police officer able to prevent any crime

Why is that I wonder... Do any AV vendor claim they can detect all malware? I don't think so.

Well I couldn't agree more. Doesn't matter to me if I'm using "the best" AV. I just pick one that works and that I can understand how to configure. It needs on access file scanning. Of course it doesn't offer full protection so where possible the gaps are plugged using other software.

jonnyhillow · 23 Apr 2015

I agree guys , my problem is i have virtually zero confidence in the vast majority of computer users out there. I think most just click on whatever they feel like without much thought at all , i also think they download stuff without any research into what their downloading .

As far as the youngsters out there today , most are complete animals and i would guess spend most of their day watching porn and clicking on dangerous links lol.

They then get badly infected and come to the forums like this one of course . When asked how did you get infected they have no idea , you ask do you visit porn sites , me? of course not .

It's as predictable as a guy giving a police officer the "i only had one beer" answer after getting pulled over lol

RoasterMen · 23 Apr 2015

avast! does a great job of blocking suspicious files that I download. Having an adblocker with A/Vs is a great idea unless you want your browser getting bombarded opening windows.

jonnyhillow · 23 Apr 2015

I used the free Avast for awhile , it was OK and i didn't have issues if i remember correctly . I have tried most at one point of another , i just use Adblock , seems to work well.

The Howling Wolves · 23 Apr 2015

The BEST AV is the 6" gap between ones ears.
Use it or lose it!
JMHO as usual.

What's the Best Anti-virus?

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