Which AV you all use?

I'm using Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition, Windows built in firewall, HitmanPro.Alert and HitmanPro on demand.
Free Antivirus Software - Download Bitdefender Antivirus Free
HitmanPro.Alert 2 - SurfRight
HitmanPro 3 - SurfRight

 

If you want to buy the internet security then F-secure, bullguard and norton is the best you can get without causing any performance issues.
for paid version don't buy bitdefender, trend micro.


If you want to use free antivirus then avast, bitdefender free , avira and avg would do.

 

Hi folks,

Q1: Can an Expert tell me what is the "Easiest" Antivirus, Freeware of course, that I can install on Elderly couples laptop that runs on Windows 8?

Q2: Also, any easy Firewall ... that it will Not be giving them a ton of alerts?

I myself have a Vista Home Prem., x64 laptop and use Avira 2013 + Comodo 6 FW + SpywareBlaster 5 + WinPatrol as active and MBAM and SAS fro on-demand. But I think this set-up would drive those nice old folks Crazy!

Thanks!

G!

 

gonwk

Windows 8 already has a fully integrated antivirus. Its called 'Windows Defender' (renamed from Microsoft Security Essentials).
It is 'easy', simple, free and integrates well within Windows 8 - should be adequate for their needs (and it doesn't require registration like some other av's do) - just make sure its activated, updated, and that its set to do a daily quick scan (and updates at the same time).

You could also install Malwarebytes free (its an on-demand scanner that has to be run manually, but this is more of a backup measure in case the antivirus misses something).

As for the firewall - Windows 8 also already comes with a quality firewall which is more than adequate.

Which internet browser does the elderly couple use?
If they use Firefox or Chrome (I recommend Chrome because its faster), I suggest you install 3 extensions: Adblock Plus, HTTPS everywhere and Do Not Track (these are for Chrome, but Firefox has those equivalents).
This will ensure a safer browsing experience, even on 'shady websites'.

 

Pretty much agreed with Deks on the AV and firewall; Windows already has a pretty decent free solution built right in. Malwarebyte's is a good catch-all if MSE (I mean, Defender) misses something, since AV does not protect you against all known threats out there.

However, the most damaging threat out there these days are social engineering tricks and scams, and *no* software can protect against that. None, nada, zip. To protect against that, you need to sit down with that elderly couple and talk to them about social engineering, what forms it takes, and how to avoid it. The Nigerian Price, MyCleanPC (oh god, *this*...), bogus/redundant trial software (stuff like freecreditscore.com), etc, won't be "detected" by MSE/Defender, your firewall, any paid programs, any of that.

 

Norton 360. I love it. Uses almost no resources and is quick and quiet.

 

Used MSE for a while then switched to BitDefender Total Security. Found that one infinitely annoying. Switched to Kaspersky Internet Security. Very happy with it.

 

I have not trusted in the built-in Windows firewall (thought i'm on Win 7).

My software firewall can be intrusive, but I recall Zone Alarm being rather user-intuitive in past experience.

I think MSE is sufficient. Unfortunately, if you're setting up for non-tech saavy persons, there will be problems. I usually recommend to get one of the pay-for-AV solutions like Norton or Mcafee to people-not-me.

 

I set up MSE for non-tech savvy people all the time and they don't have problems.

As for Windows Firewall - well, it may require a bit more fine-tuning from the user, but other than that, its more than adequate.

Zone Alarm was... problematic at the best of times. That thing was so intrusive and slowed the system down, its not even funny.
Personally, I don't bother with third party firewalls seeing how they are unnecessary.

 

Never had any problems setting up MSE or Windows Firewall for non-tech-savvy people either. It's pretty simple to install MSE, and all you really have to tell them is "run the damn thing every so often" or tell them to set up an automatic schedule (which is easy). And Firewall isn't that hard either; I find that the recommended settings are good enough.

 

I have been using Kaspersky internet security for the last three years and have had no issues whatsoever in regards to resource usage and footprint. It's also really cheap on amazon if you order a physical copy.

 

Norton Internet Security. I know there are lot of people that are anti-Symantec, but I've been using it consistently the last few years and its been solid.

On my gaming machine i had MSE, but a recent windows update (not a virus) corrupted it, and so I replaced it with Norton Internet Security as well.

 

I've been running MSE and Windows Defender (with Windows 8 now) on both my gaming rig and portable rig for years now and have never had a corruption issue. Can you elaborate? I've always used MSE because it's lightweight, free, and effective, but if there are serious issues that a paid program like Symantec overcomes, I'm interested in switching. In my opinion, however, the best anti-virus-malware-whatever is using common sense. Using good judgement should be your primary defense and an antivirus program should be your backup if you've had a lapse in judgement or drank one too many.

 

I've been really happy with Avast! Free.

 

I have used several in the past years from Bitdefender, Avast, AVG, and Kaspersky. NO real complaints with any of them, but for the past year and a half I have used Norton 360. I love it and think I will be sticking with it from now on.....

Truckin

(As you can tell I like to try different things )

 

Bitdefender on my work computer and Vipre on my home computer. Never had CPU spikes with either.

 

I suppose it depends mainly on how you use the computer and surf the internet. Making the sane choices while browsing online will save you better than any antivirus.

 

MSE + Malwarebytes for manual scans, never any problems

 

ESET NOD32 or AVAST Free Antivirus

 

At the moment using ESET NOD32 AV coupled with Microsoft EMET and HitmanPro.Alert 2.5 with CryptoGard.

 

currently using Bitdefender Total Security 2014.it does the protecting job well with minimal impact on performance.

 

I used Avast (free) for the longest, but over the past few years it's become filled with annoying pop-ups and ads. Most of it can be easily turned off, and I understand the company's decision to bring in extra income, but when deploying to friends and family it's particularly frustrating.

 

Currently using:

ESET NOD32 AV: Download Antivirus :: Fast Proactive NOD32 Antivirus :: ESET
EMET 4.1: Introducing Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) 4.1 - Security Research & Defense - Site Home - TechNet Blogs
HitmanPro.Alert 2.5 with CryptoGuard: HitmanPro.Alert CryptoGuard - SurfRight
Secunia PSI: https://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal/

 

An alternative would be Panda Cloud AV free: New Panda Cloud Antivirus 2.3. 100% protection. | Panda Cloud Antivirus

 

I currently used ESET NOD32 Antivirus v7 along with Emsisoft's Online Armor 6 free and top it up with a monthly scan by MBAM. I've been on this setup for the past 5 years (OA was still owned by Tallemu back then) and it has held up remarkably well. I am yet to be infected by malware but that's probably because I never browse on fishy webpages or download questionable software (which is what everyone should follow anyway, its common sense).
NOD32 is extremely light on the system, I dare say it even trumps all the other AVs in terms of minimum system impact. Its detection rates are among the highest out there. Online Armor is equally light on the system, except for the few occasions where you install some software; the installations feels laggy and OA shows you alot of pop ups but that's pretty much it. The remaining time it just sits there quietly.

With the exception of Kaspersky's Internet Security, I think a standalone AV and firewall is a better combination than the security suites offered these days. I feel that the HIPS functionality in OA offers complete control over what goes on in your system, granted that it may not be such a good option for the novice user in which case a security suite might be a better option.

 

Bitdefender Free , small footprint and light on resources,,I installed on my backup laptop.. Main one NIS 2014.

Free Antivirus Software - Download Bitdefender Antivirus Free

Cheers
3Fees

 

Hi 3Fees,

Thanks for the Share and the Link ... when I looked at the link under "Unbreachable" Tab I saw my current AV ... Avira at 69% vs Bitdefender at 94% ... wow ... and Avira ... Hmmm!

G!

 

Bit defender is light on resources,,once you get use it,,its actually quite cool.. Bit is really small footprint yet its active,,I went to a web page and it cut it short and would not let load..right click on it, and scan on demand, otherwise its in the background,,I have it on my Lenovo R61i,,, On my HP I have NIS,,if I had found Bit defender sooner, I have it on both notebooks.

cheers
3Fees

 

As per another on this page, I used Avast for the longest time but then got fed up of the popups and so on.

Switched to Bitdefender. Very light and unobtrusive.

There is just one issue - not enough to make me stop using Bitdefender but just something I noticed.

That being - that whenever I loaded up the original Mass Effect (never mind 2 or 3 - not finished 1 yet ), Bitdefender appears to crash and I have to reload it. Not noticed that with any other game (so far).

 

For me I was Avira user but since last year I switched to MSE it has both a malware-A/V scann all in one. Alot easier then having multiple scanners and finding one let's virus through and basically all those protections were wasted.

 

MSE + Malwarebytes Pro works like a charm. Probably the most lightweight yet effective combination out there today. Real time protection enabled in both and have never had a single problem throughout the past 2 years (knock on wood). I know most people cringe when I tell them that's all I have, but really if you know what you're doing (or are careful about what you're doing ), that's all you need.

 

@ rhutor ... but do you wonder to ALL Sites ... MBAM Pro blocks some sites that I go to ... and NO they are not x-rated Sites ... so, you are correct MBAM PRO will prevent you from getting yourself in a heap of Trouble ...

Q: What is your Firewall ... and waht is your OS?

Thanks,

G!

 

MSE, and nothing but. And paying attention to where I surf

Bottom line, use what one feels that is right for one's system.

cheers ...

 

I use MSE and my brain. Smart computing ftw.