Is anyone using a free antivirus other than Windows Defender?

[Cale Hunt]

Hey all,

I'm putting together a list of the best free antivirus programs out there. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I appreciate the help!

Cale

 

[Jazmac]

The only ones I would use is Avast or AVG. I've used those in the past and if I were to go back I would grab Avast simply because its been reliable and have used it for years.

 

[xandros9]

Avast
Avira
AVG

 

[Guytronic]

Avast and Malwarebytes here.

 

[sinime]

I don't use protection

However, Windows Central is the most risqué site I go to on my PC.

 

[cactuspete23]

Avast and AVG

 

[poparaadnan]

I used avast for a few years. Now Im using MEP and I can't complain. I've read somewhere that you really don't need third party antivirus software if you're using included windows antivirus

 

[rmeigs]

Using Malwarebytes and SUPERantiSpyware

 

[Ariel Takom]

Used so many of them, but found that most are just resource hoggers. Switched to Windows Defender for the first time, and I finally found my home. Best part about this AV? It's integrated into the system, and if I want to do something such as adding folders to exclusions, or remove 'innocent' files from the quarantine zone, I can. Most other AV softwares *cough*Avira*cough* doesn't allow me to do so. I've no idea why they'd prevent me from retrieving my files back, but that's what happened to me, not just with the said AV, but others as well, except Windows Defender.

YMMV

 

[techiez]

Hey all,

I'm putting together a list of the best free antivirus programs out there. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I appreciate the help!

Cale

Avira
Malwarebytes
AVG
Avast

 

[Chintan Gohel]

I've never tried a free version unless it was a trial - I've been using Kaspersky Anti Virus for the last 8 years - buy it every year

 

[Axeelant]

Tried many, but now in Win 10, i'm only using the integrated Defender, with support of Malwarebytes. So far so good, not a single virus!

 

[Cale Hunt]

Thanks for the help, everyone. Seems like Avast, Avira, AVG, and Malwarebytes are favorites.

 

[ScrubbyXD]

At this point use windows defender. All modern third party "always on" type antivirus programs do little more than create additional attack vectors into your system. The reason for this is that most modern day net traffic is encrypted. So to see what is flowing over HTTPS these programs insert themselves into your encryption (using many tricks but most often by creating a fake security certificate). The problem is often the antivirus it's self is being used as the insertion method or it's fake certificates.

So Defender is your only real choice if your serious about security. Unless your on mOS or linux where your have various choices. Or if your on Windows 7, but then with all of it's secuity holes, EOL, and limited/lack of support means your not serious about security anyway most likely.

 

[Chintan Gohel]

Tried many, but now in Win 10, i'm only using the integrated Defender, with support of Malwarebytes. So far so good, not a single virus!

At this point use windows defender. All modern third party "always on" type antivirus programs do little more than create additional attack vectors into your system. The reason for this is that most modern day net traffic is encrypted. So to see what is flowing over HTTPS these programs insert themselves into your encryption (using many tricks but most often by creating a fake security certificate). The problem is often the antivirus it's self is being used as the insertion method or it's fake certificates.

So Defender is your only real choice if your serious about security. Unless your on mOS or linux where your have various choices. Or if your on Windows 7, but then with all of it's secuity holes, EOL, and limited/lack of support means your not serious about security anyway most likely.

Have you ever run across this kind of situation - there's a website, when you visit it and click or touch anywhere on the screen, a new window opens which says data text, then redirect.popadsjudo.com and then eventually lands on some website for ads

The new window always opens no matter what where you click on the screen - and for you to use the website, ou have to click

It's like it has a layer on tap that you have to break through to reach the content

 

[ScrubbyXD]

Yes that is the result of java script, an often necessary, but also often abused part of the modern web. What you are seeing is java code from the website executing on your browser with an elevated access level. This means a script can call another site and try to install malware while it redirects again and logs your browsing on a data collection site, then brings up an ad. This can go on a long time as there is no theoretical end of the chain. I have personally seen over a thousand separate sites called from a single web page. Current count for this site as I type this is sixteen.

A browser plugin known as uBlock Origin is what I use to pick and choose what sites I allow to run scripts and plugins on a site by site basis. I choose scripting off by default. This will often break sites and I can choose if I trust a site permanently or just once if I choose to enable scripting.

 

[Axeelant]

Have you ever run across this kind of situation - there's a website, when you visit it and click or touch anywhere on the screen, a new window opens which says data text, then redirect.popadsjudo.com and then eventually lands on some website for ads

The new window always opens no matter what where you click on the screen - and for you to use the website, ou have to click

It's like it has a layer on tap that you have to break through to reach the content

I'm not sure if this is what u mean, and I never really check what it says I just try to close as soon as possible... But more recently, I noticed more and more adds keep opening in a new window, but more or less always betathome or some casino games...

 

[Chintan Gohel]

Yes that is the result of java script, an often necessary, but also often abused part of the modern web. What you are seeing is java code from the website executing on your browser with an elevated access level. This means a script can call another site and try to install malware while it redirects again and logs your browsing on a data collection site, then brings up an ad. This can go on a long time as there is no theoretical end of the chain. I have personally seen over a thousand separate sites called from a single web page. Current count for this site as I type this is sixteen.

A browser plugin known as uBlock Origin is what I use to pick and choose what sites I allow to run scripts and plugins on a site by site basis. I choose scripting off by default. This will often break sites and I can choose if I trust a site permanently or just once if I choose to enable scripting.

uBlockorigin for Firefox? I can use that?

 

[ScrubbyXD]

uBlockorigin for Firefox? I can use that?

That is the one.

 

[Chintan Gohel]

That is the one.

I tried that and now the website opens the link in the same window instead of opening the links in a new window - which isn't what I wanted :grincry: