Good Windows Anti-Virus programs?

[OpheliaNeoma]

My PC came pre-installed with McAfee, but I'm VERY paranoid and a recent hacking of my Twitter account has me on my toes. What do you guys use for antivirus, and what is the best one that you can get for free?

[Tidus44]

I use Microsoft Security Essentials and SpyBot which are both free (but I did donate to SpyBot). Just make sure you get the right version (32 or 64 bit) for your computer and OS. Been using these two programs for sometime and they have never failed to protect my computer and I have not had a malware problem since I started using them. Upgrades are also free and Mircosoft is at least once a month as is SpyBot.

 

There was quite a severe round of ransomeware in my part of the world the last month or so and between the two they stopped it from taking over my browser everytime and cleaned it off the computer with no residual problems.

 

I have no faith in McAfee (or Norton) as both those programs caused more problems than they solved.

[Vagrant0]

In addition to MSE and Spybot, there are a few other free ones that are pretty good.

 

Comodo is a good program for passive protection and replacing the windows firewall. Used it for about 3 years now with few complaints. Has a good on-demand scanner as well, so is a pretty good combined package.

 

Malwarebytes is a good anti-malware program for on-demand scanning. Good for a sort of quick scan when you think you might have been tagged by something online.

 

Avast is another good anti-virus, but the free version only works as an on-demand scanner.

 

 

In addition to the usual switching away from IE to some other browser, it is also suggested to install a plugin to block certain webscripts, and possibly install the WoT (Web of Trust) plugin if using Firefox just to keep you from clicking on spoof sites that occasionally show up at the top of web-searches.

 

You may also want to consider using a different password scheme. Using common words, dates, names is usually a bad idea. Should also try to refrain from using the same password for linked accounts since once people get into one account, they usually try the same password for any linked e-mails, ect.

[Thor.]

Comodo firewall and ad aware antivirus. It detects more Trojans spyware and virus's, which are the same thing, considering.

 

http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware.php

Edited September 6, 2013 by Thor.

[brokenergy]

Avast is really good and free but you can upgrade and buy it if you want

[Thor.]

Hmmm this new console generation is going to be a short one this time, with a new race of consoles in 2018, five years they predict that they will keep making games for it. That'a tight development cycle. But considering that the ps3 and 360 lasted 10 years that's actually a good thing.

 

http://ca.ign.com/videos/2013/07/12/ubisoft-ceo-gives-next-gens-5-years

Edited September 7, 2013 by Thor.

[Werne]

Hmmm this new console generation is going to be a short one this time, with a new race of consoles in 2018, five years they predict that they will keep making games for it. That'a tight development cycle. But considering that the ps3 and 360 lasted 10 years that's actually a good thing.

 

http://ca.ign.com/videos/2013/07/12/ubisoft-ceo-gives-next-gens-5-years

Thor, you have been lost in time-space continuum. Please proceed to the nearest exit as soon as possible.

 

 

 

And now back to the topic.

 

I've always been using simple protection that worked quite well for me - Avast free antivirus + AdBlock Plus + Malwarebytes. Aside from that, I never executed anything that seemed even remotely fishy, I took care when installing programs (a lot of those come with crap you don't need) and I avoided shady sites like the plague.

 

But here's the thing, which software you use is not that important, it's what you do that is. You can have the best protection in the world but your PC will still be demolished by malware if you don't pay attention to your own actions thinking that the antivirus (or whatever other software) will protect you.

[Thor.]

Enlighten me please, do you have something better. :whistling:

Its serving me well.

[HeyYou]

Sophos Managed Anti-virus. (at least, for folks here in the states.) 90 bucks the first year, 60 bucks thereafter. If you even THINK you have a virus, call the number, they attach to your machine, and check it out, if they find one, they remove it. If they can't remove it, they SEND someone to remove it in person. I am not aware of any other antivirus company that does that particular trick.

 

Keep in mind, your antivirus can only look for stuff it knows about, be sure and keep it up to date. :)

[Hyacathusarullistad]

 

But here's the thing, which software you use is not that important, it's what you do that is. You can have the best protection in the world but your PC will still be demolished by malware if you don't pay attention to your own actions thinking that the antivirus (or whatever other software) will protect you.

 

 

A thousand times this. You can't just install a program and hope it'll keep you safe. There's a degree of self awareness involved in keeping your machine clean and safe that's far greater than that of your software.

 

Personally, I use AVG Free along with SpybotS&D, and I haven't had any virus or malware issues in... maybe six years?