Free antivirus scanners for Windows PCs

[RoasterMen]

I never really used MSE. Is it any good? Is it better than my avast! Free Antivirus that I am using?

 

[whs]

Nice tutorial Wolfgang,
I'm game on my next build

Thanks, it's a lot of fun.

 

[andrew129260]

I never really used MSE. Is it any good? Is it better than my avast! Free Antivirus that I am using?

Stick with avast.

Also, is it quite scary that on windows you need like 5 different solutions just to keep you kinda safe. I have actually started handing out Linux to people who do the basic stuff, rather then spending hours trying to fix windows and triple check everything. The average non savvy user just simply cannot use windows anymore, it is way to unsafe. Especially when they simply cannot grasp basic security concepts. Just isn't worth the time and effort when they will just get infected again. Not that Linux is bulletproof, but it is a heck of a lot safer. So far 9/10 people given it like it and use it well. (ubuntu)

Just saw this today, and boy can I believe it:

More malicious software has been created in the past 2 years than in the previous 10 years combined.

Today's computers face more attacks than ever - CNET

 

[Arc]

Stick with avast.

Until and unless Avast causes BSODs for you.

 

[ThrashZone]

I'm unaware of any five solutions to windows safety please share this interesting list
I personally only have 2 and a third optional one :/

Andrew are you still rejecting mbam 2.... ? that is the second solution

Using/ relying on free products do have disadvantages one is playing catch up after an infection.

 

[andrew129260]

Stick with avast.

Until and unless Avast causes BSODs for you.

True, crap happens. I think that average user though does not encounter bsods often. When they happen you know about them as a whole board is dedicated to it. So of course products that come in with the issue will make it seem like the entire product is bad, even though maybe 3% of users are affected. If your not having an issue though, what does it matter? While I have not seen it on any machines I put it on, or had anyone have problems with it I know of, multiple configurations do exist out there. 3rd party developers cannot create perfect programs. I have since gone to panda though as there protection has been much better then avast in the last year. And I have not regretted the change. I did once bsod, but that ended up being my pc was running multiple virtual machines and multiple scans were running in the background overwhelming it all at the same time. Once I figured out it was 2 much at once, not a problem since. I do manual scans anyway. I work with VMs way more often then anyone I know. I basically live in them lol.

I'm unaware of any five solutions to windows safety please share this interesting list
I personally only have 2 and a third optional one :/

Andrew are you still rejecting mbam 2.... ? that is the second solution

I am sure you have seen the long list I give to people for my suggestions after cleaning up there infections here to prevent threats in the future. That is what I was referring to. Generally that was enough and most of the time they were good and did not hear back, (including friends and family) but things are getting even more dangerous now.

For the constant infected user, Linux all the way is my strategy now. With wine included in most distros now (windows emulator for those who don't know) and its now no hassle setup and invisible to the user, it is now becoming a better alternative.

MBAM new version still sucks, but less then before. It is getting better. I'm only keeping it as I paid for it (life), and the new version blocks some vulnerabilities that the old malwarebytes version had.

Using/ relying on free products do have disadvantages one is playing catch up after an infection.

Not sure what you mean here, most free options are better than paid ones out there. You just have to know what to look for and do your research. Of course some people think that all research is paid crap, and only trust one company to protect them thinking that company knows better then multiple security researchers who say otherwise. Everyone has an opinion. And that is fine with me.

 

[ThrashZone]

Okay yes that is all playing catch up after an infection
But is my main opinion about free versions that do not provide real time protection mainly mbam free,
Some do it is quite a list but they usually cause more conflicts than cures if not careful using them,
I don't see any need for anything else beside an antivirus of which you can flip a coin for that one as to which one is best

 

[andrew129260]

Okay yes that is all playing catch up after an infection
But is my main opinion about free versions that do not provide real time protection mainly mbam free,
Some do it is quite a list but they usually cause more conflicts than cures if not careful using them,
I don't see any need for anything else beside an antivirus of which you can flip a coin for that one as to which one is best

Catch up because they did not have anything like that in the first place. Antivirus is not enough anymore. Has been like that for awhile. Are you talking about free anti-malware solutions? or antivirus? Free antivirus of course offers real time protection, mbam, hitman pro or herdprotect where they are just scanners are examples where you would need to pay for on access/real time protection. I am assuming you were talking about that.

Anyways, +1 to Linux.

 

[ThrashZone]

Yep

 

[andrew129260]

Gotcha

Yes mbam with real time protection is better then just using the free of course. Still when you cannot afford it, I think multiple free products scanning every now and then are a good idea/just fine.

 

[ThrashZone]

When affordability is an issue which is understandable customer support will always be busy

Last I checked Amazon still had 12 more mbam lifetime license versions left so they are going pretty fast

 

[whs]

As long as you stay in Windows, you are exposed. AV programs help but are no 100% guarantee. Scanners help too but cannot fix any damage that was done.

My best protection are frequent images to an external disk (actually alternating between 2 disks). These disks are normally disconnected so nobody can get at them. And for real iffy websites I use a Linux virtual system.

 

[RoasterMen]

Gotcha

I think multiple free products scanning every now and then are a good idea/just fine.

Not with people only having 2GB of ram, like me.

 

[andrew129260]

Gotcha

I think multiple free products scanning every now and then are a good idea/just fine.

Not with people only having 2GB of ram, like me.

if they do not have real time protection your fine. Which is what I was saying. If you do not want to pay or do not have enough ram, the on access scanners work well.

As long as you stay in Windows, you are exposed. AV programs help but are no 100% guarantee. Scanners help too but cannot fix any damage that was done.

My best protection are frequent images to an external disk (actually alternating between 2 disks). These disks are normally disconnected so nobody can get at them. And for real iffy websites I use a Linux virtual system.

That is always a good idea as well.

 

[whs]

If you do not want to pay or do not have enough ram, the on access scanners work well.

That is not even the second best solution. Once the kid fell into the water, it's going to be wet - meaning damage is done.

 

[Seffrid]

Multiple malware-free backups are the only way to protect your data (apart from never connecting to a network, never plugging in an external storage device and never installing anything).

Keep that computer switched off at the wall - you know it makes sense !

 

[andrew129260]

If you do not want to pay or do not have enough ram, the on access scanners work well.

That is not even the second beat solution. Once the kid fell into the water, it's going to be wet - meaning damage is done.

True.

I am just saying those do help when you cannot run more then one on access scanner. But yes, damage is already done. The whole point is to stop them before entering your pc. Although if your pc has that low of ram and struggles to begin with, you should upgrade it anyway.

This mess is why I am looking into Linux more and more.