Anti-Virus Software?

[iluvzbeach]

I have a question about anti-virus software...do folks still routinely use it on their PC?  I ask because I've continued to subscribe to a well-known anti-virus software program and the prices continue to go up every year.  At the same time, I try to avoid subscription fees whenever possible, you know, being mustachian and all.

Recently, I had a conversation with someone who was of the opinion that anti-virus software is really not necessary any more.  Their thought was that fraudsters have moved to other mechanisms such as security breaches of companies and then using that data (logins & passwords) to perform fraud.

I am very careful about not clicking on links in unknown emails or other unsolicited communication (Messenger, etc.) and I don't download software from unknown sources.  I regularly perform the recommended Microsoft updates and also keep my browser up-to-date.  I try to be very security conscious and am well-versed on watching out for scams and such.  Additionally, I periodically wipe out my browser history and delete cookies.

So, what do other mustachians do?  Do you subscribe to anti-virus software to protect your PC?  Why, why not?  Thanks in advance!

[Sibley]

Yes, you need antivirus. However, you don't need to pay for it.

Windows Defender is pretty good (and free). AVG / AVAST (owned by the same company) have free versions and are excellent.

Do NOT use Kaspersky - there are security concerns with links to Russia.

Norton used to be #1, then went downhill and became a resource hog. Not sure where they are now but I'm not willing to pay for it when I can get something good for free. MacAfee's has a ton of advertising, but I've never heard that they were one of the best. Plus, I think they're pay only.

https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-free-antivirus-protection?test_uuid=06r4MYCu5PZzCkufjQSV3po&test_variant=a

And I wouldn't connect your devices to any of your friend's devices.

[Sibley]

This may also be helpful: https://securityplanner.consumerreports.org/

[RWD]

Microsoft Defender + Firewall/Router with NAT and being smart about what you click on is sufficient for most people.

Though I personally just run Linux most the time.

[SunnyDays]

This is a timely post for me.

I’ve used Bitdefender for Windows for years, then didn’t realize it had expired.  Of course, I quickly acquired a Trojan virus, in spite of not doing anything I don’t normally do and have no idea how it got in.

I renewed Bitdefender, but the virus is still there.  Apparently McAfee will eradicate it, but it looks like you have to sign up for a monthly subscription for $89.  Meanwhile, Best Buy will do a one time fix for $189, so it looks like that’s the route I’ll go.

If anyone has a better suggestion, I’m willing to give it a go, with the caveat that I’m not a techie, so need simple solutions, lol.

[RWD]

This is a timely post for me.

I’ve used Bitdefender for Windows for years, then didn’t realize it had expired.  Of course, I quickly acquired a Trojan virus, in spite of not doing anything I don’t normally do and have no idea how it got in.

I renewed Bitdefender, but the virus is still there.  Apparently McAfee will eradicate it, but it looks like you have to sign up for a monthly subscription for $89.  Meanwhile, Best Buy will do a one time fix for $189, so it looks like that’s the route I’ll go.

If anyone has a better suggestion, I’m willing to give it a go, with the caveat that I’m not a techie, so need simple solutions, lol.

Virus eradication can be very difficult. Nuke it from orbit (back up files, wipe and reinstall OS).

[dcheesi]

Microsoft Defender + Firewall/Router with NAT and being smart about what you click on is sufficient for most people.

Though I personally just run Linux most the time.

This. I run M$ Defender at home, and I've never had an issue.

On the rare occasion I want to try a particularly "risky click", I fire up a Linux VM and access it from in there. Probably overkill, but I use VMs in my work so it's not really "out of my way".

[iluvzbeach]

Thanks for the ideas & recommendations. Not sure why I hadn’t googled this question before posting here. I’ll read more and most likely stop the paid subscription.

[Dollar Slice]

If anyone has a better suggestion, I’m willing to give it a go, with the caveat that I’m not a techie, so need simple solutions, lol.

You could give Malwarebytes a shot; it's not like the virus programs that run 24-7 in the background, but if you have an infection it will help you clean it out. I haven't used it in a long time (since I'm no longer working with dumbass co-workers who get infected multiple times a year...) but I just gave it a quick google and it seems to still be highly rated. It was always my fallback for when the regular antivirus program we were using failed.

[RWD]

Of course, I quickly acquired a Trojan virus [...]

Virus eradication can be very difficult. Nuke it from orbit (back up files, wipe and reinstall OS).

I also should say that if you know a computer has a virus you should make sure it is not connected to any networks until the virus is absolutely eradicated (preferably by clean OS wipe). It can infect other devices on your network and download more viruses from the internet.

[Just Joe]

My solution (already mentioned by others) is to do everything in free (Kubuntu) Linux.

On that rare, rare occasion when I can not complete a task in Linux (Solidworks or Autodesk Inventor) I'll boot Windows on my work laptop.

For Windows at home we just run MS Defender (free). If I was doing critical stuff in Windows, I'd look at whatever Malware-Bytes has on offer and pay for it if necessary. We haven't had a virus for 5+ years in Windows with Defender running and occasional manual checks with free Malware Bytes and free Adwcleaner (same company). 

Occasionally teen #2 will download a game add-on that is sketchy and Malware will notice it when Defender does not. Our home computer running Windows games is the only Windows machine we have. My rule is if Malware Bytes flags it, the download is deleted and teen #2 doesn't complain. This is a rare topic.

We do any financial tasks with our Kubuntu Linux laptop.

[CoffeeR]

I have a question about anti-virus software...do folks still routinely use it on their PC?  I ask because I've continued to subscribe to a well-known anti-virus software program and the prices continue to go up every year.  At the same time, I try to avoid subscription fees whenever possible, you know, being mustachian and all.

The build-in Microsoft/Windows anti-virus with free Malwarebytes is good enough for most people. In addition to AV I would urge every one to have a decent Ad-Blocker installed on their web browser of choice. I use uBlock Origin.

If I were to purchase an AV, it would (currently) be Malwarebytes. In a business I work with we currently deploy the cloud version of Malwarebytes on Windows and Mac's.

[iluvzbeach]

Thanks for the additional info. I’ll check out uBlock.

[RWD]

Thanks for the additional info. I’ll check out uBlock.

uBlock Origin. The history is a bit confusing but basically uBlock Origin is preferred over uBlock.

[SunnyDays]

Thanks for the virus tips everyone - I'll mull them over and decide on a plan of action.

[iluvzbeach]

Thanks for making sure I look at the correct ad blocker, @RWD.

[GuitarStv]

I recommended it for a long while, but have seen windows defender fail in a pretty nasty way several times now, and don't have faith in it anymore.  This has happened on multiple different systems at work now.  On the surface it looks like it's running correctly (no warnings on the desktop, and if you go to the security and maintenance window it shows as working.  But if you look at the underlying service that windows uses to run it, it's stopped and cannot be manually started.  Windows updates also become disabled on machines that have failed in this manner - but quietly.  So windows doesn't inform you that updates are available, it just fails to install them.

A deeper dive into the computers shows some strange programs running silently in the background, including what I'm pretty sure is a keylogger.  I suspect that this attack is intended to sit silently on a PC and probably triggers when someone goes to a bank website or similar to record and re-transmit personal information.  It's very well hidden though . . . and the average user would probably not notice what's wrong for an extended period.  Not sure exactly how it's getting on our work computers.

None of the machines we're running windows 10 on that also have bitdefender, symantec, or norton have had this problem, so I've ended up going with bitdefender on my home machines.

[Just Joe]

https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere

https://www.eff.org/pages/privacy-badger

I run browsers x3. One for work, one for recreation, and one reserved only for times when my preferred privacy settings breaks the website and I need a virgin browser (a rare occasion). I also keep work out of my personal phone.

This helps prevent my personal and professional life from mingling.

[Sibley]

I recommended it for a long while, but have seen windows defender fail in a pretty nasty way several times now, and don't have faith in it anymore.  This has happened on multiple different systems at work now.  On the surface it looks like it's running correctly (no warnings on the desktop, and if you go to the security and maintenance window it shows as working.  But if you look at the underlying service that windows uses to run it, it's stopped and cannot be manually started.  Windows updates also become disabled on machines that have failed in this manner - but quietly.  So windows doesn't inform you that updates are available, it just fails to install them.

A deeper dive into the computers shows some strange programs running silently in the background, including what I'm pretty sure is a keylogger.  I suspect that this attack is intended to sit silently on a PC and probably triggers when someone goes to a bank website or similar to record and re-transmit personal information.  It's very well hidden though . . . and the average user would probably not notice what's wrong for an extended period.  Not sure exactly how it's getting on our work computers.

None of the machines we're running windows 10 on that also have bitdefender, symantec, or norton have had this problem, so I've ended up going with bitdefender on my home machines.

Hacking? How's your firewall? Maybe report to Microsoft, might help.

Also, wasn't Symantec the same company as Norton?

[GuitarStv]

I recommended it for a long while, but have seen windows defender fail in a pretty nasty way several times now, and don't have faith in it anymore.  This has happened on multiple different systems at work now.  On the surface it looks like it's running correctly (no warnings on the desktop, and if you go to the security and maintenance window it shows as working.  But if you look at the underlying service that windows uses to run it, it's stopped and cannot be manually started.  Windows updates also become disabled on machines that have failed in this manner - but quietly.  So windows doesn't inform you that updates are available, it just fails to install them.

A deeper dive into the computers shows some strange programs running silently in the background, including what I'm pretty sure is a keylogger.  I suspect that this attack is intended to sit silently on a PC and probably triggers when someone goes to a bank website or similar to record and re-transmit personal information.  It's very well hidden though . . . and the average user would probably not notice what's wrong for an extended period.  Not sure exactly how it's getting on our work computers.

None of the machines we're running windows 10 on that also have bitdefender, symantec, or norton have had this problem, so I've ended up going with bitdefender on my home machines.

Hacking? How's your firewall? Maybe report to Microsoft, might help.

Also, wasn't Symantec the same company as Norton?

In theory our test machines are behind several layers of firewalls.  But we're the networking division of the company, and often developers will bypass security features while running tests.  We reported the problem to Microsoft more than a year ago, but I don't know if they ever did anything with the information or if it's sitting in a bug pile somewhere.


Yes, Symantec is the same company as Norton (I was thinking of McAfee as the third one that we have running on our PCs).

[Phenix]

Anyone else here just switch over to a Chromebook for the majority of their computing needs? I went to a Chromebook 3 years ago and I have zero complaints. Just about everything is web based now, so I have not seen any disruptions. It updates frequently so I'm not too worried about viruses. Bonus, I'm logged in and starting on whatever I wanted to do within 15 seconds of opening the lid.  The only thing you have to watch is the Auto Update Expiration for your particular model. It's still usable after that date, but won't be getting automatic updates from Google.

[Just Joe]

We own a Chromebook for teen#2 and school. I was careful to buy one that was capable of installing Linux software as well so while teen#2 has all the Google Apps, they can also fire up Libreoffice, Digikam, VLC, FreeCAD, LibreCAD, a non-Chrome browser, etc. If for some reason Google ever makes it unusable due to some arbitrary reason, I'll figure out a way to jailbreak it and install a Linux. Or it'll become my garage media center. I'm using a Vista-era netbook running Linux for that now. Runs fine.

Now when one of my friends comes looking for a computer recommendation I either recommend Kubuntu or a Chromebook. I have several happy friends running one or the other. I usually try to get them to test drive a lightweight Linux on their existing computer and that can help them delay a new purchase for a few years.

When they finally decide they have that itch for a new computer then I'll rescue their files, wipe the hard drive and install a lightweight Linux so they can donate it to a charity or a friend. That is how I came to own the netbook.

[Dancin'Dog]

I have a question about anti-virus software...do folks still routinely use it on their PC?  I ask because I've continued to subscribe to a well-known anti-virus software program and the prices continue to go up every year.  At the same time, I try to avoid subscription fees whenever possible, you know, being mustachian and all.

The build-in Microsoft/Windows anti-virus with free Malwarebytes is good enough for most people. In addition to AV I would urge every one to have a decent Ad-Blocker installed on their web browser of choice. I use uBlock Origin.

If I were to purchase an AV, it would (currently) be Malwarebytes. In a business I work with we currently deploy the cloud version of Malwarebytes on Windows and Mac's.

I recently went this route when the HP installed McAfee software expired.  Well, not the Malwarebytes free trial has expired & I can't figure out how to continue using it without subscribing.  Is there a way to keep using it that I'm missing?


thanks,

[Just Joe]

Just use the Win10 built-in antivirus and then do manual MalwareBytes scans occasionally to verify everything is good.

Also: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/junkware-removal-tool/

Those are Malware-Bytes products. Only does manual scans.  That is a website I trust very much.

[Dancin'Dog]

Just use the Win10 built-in antivirus and then do manual MalwareBytes scans occasionally to verify everything is good.

Also: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/junkware-removal-tool/

Those are Malware-Bytes products. Only does manual scans.  That is a website I trust very much.

Thanks for the reply.  However, I just opened the Malwarebytes program & found that the scan button was still there and working.  (not sure why I couldn't find it earlier)

[BlueMR2]

Unfortunately, Kaspersky really was the best, but the Russia situation makes that unusable.  I'm with the people that say Windows Defender is the way to go now.  It rates really high in tests and just have never had any issues with it.