Windows defender

[Boza]

i was wondering if windows defender is any good.

My current antivirus just expired and I don't have the money to renew it for a few weeks.

[.:4:.]

I use avast and its a free download for the basic version. That's all I've ever used and its done me no harm.

[josh1990]

I use Windows defender and nothing else. Touching wood, I've never had anything get through it. I used to use a paid version of Kaspersky. I let it run out as it was pretty much pointless for me having it. As well as there's no issues with steam or origin that some anti-virus have. Like game breaking issues. I don't visit pron sites or open dodgy emails though, if you do I'm not sure defender would be enough.

[GO FURTHER]

Always used Norton Anti-virus on the PCs, and never had a virus get through yet in 20 years.
On the Mac, never needed anti-virus protection in 8 years since OS viruses are extremely rare and operating system is smarter when it comes to installing anything suspect.

[BlueBear]

I personally wouldn't trust Windows Defender alone.
You can download many Internet security suits that will give you at least a month free.
I have used most of them at one time or another, presently using ESET and I reckon it's easily the best I've ever tried.
Heartily recommend it.

Regarding Norton's, If you do decide to try it, you will find it is extremely difficult to remove. It does do the job well, but it's huge (bloated IMHO) and difficult to change settings. Just my opinion of course.

Cheers.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by BlueBear

I personally wouldn't trust Windows Defender alone.
You can download many Internet security suits that will give you at least a month free.
I have used most of them at one time or another, presently using ESET and I reckon it's easily the best I've ever tried.
Heartily recommend it.

Regarding Norton's, If you do decide to try it, you will find it is extremely difficult to remove. It does do the job well, but it's huge (bloated IMHO) and difficult to change settings. Just my opinion of course.

Cheers.

I asked the question to one if the network engineers at symantec when I was doing work for them and I was told along the lines of if it not paid it's always there.

[BlueBear]

Due to public pressure Norton was forced to make a removal tool that is now available for download from their site.
Still leaves some traces though that will need manual deletion.

The other issue with Norton is that it slows down PC's in almost every case, some very noticeably, which is why most people wanted to remove it from their PC's.

Cheers,

[Olbucko]

3 weeks ago my 3 windows 10 computers started running really badly I had problems opening many websites and the computer would not turn off properly. All the problems stated after my McAfee upgraded its self, so I uninstalled the McAfee completely and all my problems went away, and windows defender switched it's self on automatically. I also run a paid version of Malwarebytes as a backup. It does not seem to slow down the computer like Norton or McAfee.
My computers have not run so well for years

[Mr Brooksy]

I'm in China, you know the hacking capital of the world LOL. All I run is free bitdefender and a VPN due to recommendations from computer guys in the know and not had an issue.

On the Norton topic... A mate of mine was the global head of Symantec internet security a few years back (so he knows a little), and last I spoke to him about computers his advice was "don't install them, they are almost useless". Not sure though since the new breed of viruses are a tad smarter than the old breed.

Best way to protect your computer. Don't be uneducated or stupid about what you do on the internet. Don't save passwords, credit card details, visit suss sites, open emails that look suss... Generally anything that is asking for trouble and a good free virus scanner and you will LIMIT the potential for issues. Buying one MIGHT limit it more... But nothing is fool proof except a computer not connected to anything and unable to transfer data to or from.

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by BlueBear

Due to public pressure Norton was forced to make a removal tool that is now available for download from their site.
Still leaves some traces though that will need manual deletion.

The other issue with Norton is that it slows down PC's in almost every case, some very noticeably, which is why most people wanted to remove it from their PC's.

Cheers,

Hasn't been that way for years. ITC in particular computer security was my job

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by Mr Brooksy

I'm in China, you know the hacking capital of the world LOL. All I run is free bitdefender and a VPN due to recommendations from computer guys in the know and not had an issue.

On the Norton topic... A mate of mine was the global head of Symantec internet security a few years back (so he knows a little), and last I spoke to him about computers his advice was "don't install them, they are almost useless". Not sure though since the new breed of viruses are a tad smarter than the old breed.

Best way to protect your computer. Don't be uneducated or stupid about what you do on the internet. Don't save passwords, credit card details, visit suss sites, open emails that look suss... Generally anything that is asking for trouble and a good free virus scanner and you will LIMIT the potential for issues. Buying one MIGHT limit it more... But nothing is fool proof except a computer not connected to anything and unable to transfer data to or from.

McAfee is a virus.

[the_scotsman]

If you're talking about the inbuilt Windows 10 antivirus, then yes, it is sufficient. No need to spend money on another one, or install another free one.

The Microsoft one performs well enough for the average home user.

Source: I work in IT.

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by the_scotsman

If you're talking about the inbuilt Windows 10 antivirus, then yes, it is sufficient. No need to spend money on another one, or install another free one.

The Microsoft one performs well enough for the average home user.

Source: I work in IT.

It's rubbish as are all AV's

[the_scotsman]

Originally Posted by sprintman1

It's rubbish as are all AV's

No, it's sufficient for the average home user, as are most AVs. It will catch almost any virus that comes in on an email attachment or usb drive or something like that.

To say they are all rubbish is just ignorant and a flat out lie.

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by the_scotsman

No, it's sufficient for the average home user, as are most AVs. It will catch almost any virus that comes in on an email attachment or usb drive or something like that.

To say they are all rubbish is just ignorant and a flat out lie.

Do You understand how an AV works? If you did you'd understand that current malware has made them pretty much useless.

[the_scotsman]

Originally Posted by sprintman1

Do You understand how an AV works? If you did you'd understand that current malware has made them pretty much useless.

Yes I understand how they work.

And if you'd read my first post, you'd see I said it's not worth worth paying money for AV software.

Hence the one that comes with Windows is good enough. Sure, malware has changed, but AV is still able to catch a significant portion of it easily enough. I see it often enough to know.

[sprintman1]

Originally Posted by the_scotsman

Yes I understand how they work.

And if you'd read my first post, you'd see I said it's not worth worth paying money for AV software.

Hence the one that comes with Windows is good enough. Sure, malware has changed, but AV is still able to catch a significant portion of it easily enough. I see it often enough to know.

Proper security costs little. Every system I've checked has been infected, not a good thungb

[mac_man_luke]

Windows Defender on windows 10 is pretty decent combined with being smart with what you click on and download.

Better than any of the other free ones, they all end up like malware themselves haha.

Paid AV might be slightly better whether you need it or not is another question.

[Olbucko]

The biggest problem these days seems to be the man behind the keyboard. Phishing emails are getting more numerous and cleverer by the day. I the last few days I have been offered a job with a salary of $120K and have won $2000 vouchers from Amcal, Bunnings, and IGA, all from generous people in Hungary and Poland. It's good to have so many friends on the other side of the world that you have never heard of.

Of course I delete them immediately but they still send me reminders to reply before it's too late.

I think that if you were a bit down and out, greedy, or ignorant it would very difficult to ignore these emails, once you have opened them and supplied your details no AV program will be able to help you.

[Mercury Bullet]

Hungarian and Poles...consider yourself lucky.

I've got a bunch of rich uncles in Nigeria.
Now they are all dying!

I use MSE fwiw.

[Olbucko]

Originally Posted by Mercury Bullet

Hungarian and Poles...consider yourself lucky.

I've got a bunch of rich uncles in Nigeria.
Now they are all dying!

I use MSE fwiw.

You had better pack your funeral suit and get over there, sounds like your really in the big money, usually these guys never have less than 10 million each.

[Peterwl]

Windows Defender may be OK on Win 10, Win 8 and 8.1, but if you are running Windows XP and Widows 7, you are better off NOT using it. For it to operate,
( update ) you must have the Windows Update active on these 2 platforms and that is not a good idea. On XP and Win 7, the Windows Update should be not just put to "manual" , but disabled.

Avast Free, once set up properly is a very light weight and effective Anti virus program. In fact it is the best one for XP.

[Mercury Bullet]

Originally Posted by Olbucko

You had better pack your funeral suit and get over there, sounds like your really in the big money, usually these guys never have less than 10 million each.

Haha, just yesterday I received one and I won $17.5 million in the West Africa Scam.

Yippee! :

[Junkyard-Dog]

Originally Posted by the_scotsman

If you're talking about the inbuilt Windows 10 antivirus, then yes, it is sufficient. No need to spend money on another one, or install another free one.

The Microsoft one performs well enough for the average home user.

Source: I work in IT.

This.