Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question

Do you use : No Antivirus , FREE Antivirus , or PAID Antivirus and why.

Tags:
  • Antivirus
Last response: in Antivirus / Security / Privacy
Share
a b è Antivirus
October 2, 2014 3:13:04 PM

Do you use : No Antivirus , FREE Antivirus , or PAID Antivirus and why.

Please leave comments on why you do or don't use an Antivirus.

Thanks for your time,
Blackbird.

More about : antivirus free antivirus paid antivirus

October 2, 2014 3:16:24 PM

No, I just use the Window's one.

Because most of the others are crap / crash / slow the system down and die when you get infected anyway. So whats the point in paying for one

And this has already been discussed / posted in here
October 2, 2014 3:22:45 PM

Malware bytes for me, seems very light on the system. My friend uses it at work in conjunction with norton, he says it stops things norton doesn't even see! Yes he works in IT for a very large company.
Related resources
October 2, 2014 3:27:43 PM

No because I never do anything shady that would require it. In day to day tasks, it is completely not worth it as it will just slow down your computer even if it is "light on your system." Also, some of us aren't rich and have jobs to get a super fast computer so the "light" load is not noticed. At the lower end laptop level, we have to suffer with crappy AMD A4 processors that have no value. Also, antivirus that is good is pretty expensive and I don't like paying per year for a piece of crap that will only slow down my computer more. If you have a virus, just reset windows and get over it.
October 2, 2014 3:38:36 PM

Some of the best AV software is free, and has little to no system impact. AVG and Avast come top mind. Maximum PC ran benchmarks with and without the AV running, and the results barely changed.

Malewarebytes can be ran as a second layer of defense, if it's on-demand only.

Just because you don't visit shady sites, doesn't make you invincible. Secured routers still have vulnerabilities, banner ads could hide things, a program could execute via email or IM, you could mis-click...etc...
October 2, 2014 3:41:45 PM

Despite it's shady history, Norton now has one of the best detectio rates, and a lower system impact than most of the paid AV. Based on the same Maximum PC benchmarks.
October 2, 2014 3:42:31 PM

The only one I would use would be NOD32. But since its not a one time payment, its yearly etc, I wont install it
October 2, 2014 4:03:09 PM

I'm using MSE here.
I used to be really hot on virus protection. Spent countless years investing in paid versions - Norton, AVG, Kaspersky etc...

Right now, I'm in the mindset of just watching where you go online. It's really that simple - However, as someone above mentioned, sometimes things slip through.
If experience is anything to go by, adverts, be it on the page or in a pop-up, are generally the main cause of involuntary virus-downloading.

I'd bet if you went to even a mainstream porn site without an ad blocker you'd get yourself some digital aids pretty darn quickly. Pop ups that appear when clicking on something, or anywhere on the page. Banner ads - etc... An ad blocker is useful in more ways than just removing annoyance.
Also worth mentioning is to set your browser to ask before downloading - I've come across a few instant-pop ups that immediately download something without consent in the past.

After that, it's just a case of watching what you download really. Not the hardest thing in the world to do.
October 2, 2014 4:49:33 PM

Rapajez said:
Some of the best AV software is free, and has little to no system impact. AVG and Avast come top mind. Maximum PC ran benchmarks with and without the AV running, and the results barely changed.

Malewarebytes can be ran as a second layer of defense, if it's on-demand only.

Just because you don't visit shady sites, doesn't make you invincible. Secured routers still have vulnerabilities, banner ads could hide things, a program could execute via email or IM, you could mis-click...etc...


Just saying, I have adblock installed and I'm blocking websites that track me.
a b è Antivirus
October 2, 2014 4:54:29 PM

Adblock works great , have you tried Ghostery.
October 2, 2014 4:56:51 PM

SR-71 Blackbird said:
Do you use : No Antivirus , FREE Antivirus , or PAID Antivirus and why.

Please leave comments on why you do or don't use an Antivirus.

Thanks for your time,
Blackbird.


AVG free with Malwarebytes paid.
October 2, 2014 4:57:44 PM

Free. I use adblock, Ghostery did not let me log into Tom's and other sites. Got avast, Malwarebytes, Spybot SSD, and my own firewall and IP/ DNS set up.
October 2, 2014 5:00:25 PM

The included free Windows AV.
An occasional MalwareBytes scan, and even rarer Spyware S&D scan.

But this is behind a whole house Linux firewall/AV box. Currently running untangle. May move to pfsense in the near future.

And of course, that which exists between the ears.
a b è Antivirus
October 2, 2014 5:02:25 PM

I find that Malwarebytes is probably the premier malware blocker on the market.

I used Super Antispyware but it never seemed to find anything , but cookies.
October 2, 2014 5:05:40 PM

Adwcleaner is also good for removing things. Since it can pick up the folders for adware etc as well as the registry.

But you have to be careful you untick whatever if it isnt nasty, before you tell it to clean
a b è Antivirus
October 2, 2014 5:12:09 PM

Never tried Adw , is it a paid version?
October 2, 2014 5:19:10 PM

I only need windows Security Essentials as that is what suits me best. It doesn't slow my computer down and it comes preinstalled so I don't have to worry about it. It also is a not bad suite with some pretty good options. I also defragment my computer a lot as I feel it makes it faster.
a b è Antivirus
October 2, 2014 5:20:44 PM

Has Security Essentials ever detected anything on your computer.
October 2, 2014 5:35:39 PM

SR-71 Blackbird said:
Has Security Essentials ever detected anything on your computer.


No, but I still have it just in case. Also, why do you write in bold?
a b è Antivirus
October 2, 2014 5:37:34 PM

Because , I'm blind in my left eye , and Diabetes has reduced the vision in my right eye.

Helps be see the text a little bit clearer.
October 2, 2014 5:40:52 PM

SR-71 Blackbird said:
Because , I'm blind in my left eye , and Diabetes has reduced the vision in my right eye.

Helps be see the text a little bit clearer.


That's fascinating:wahoo: 
a b è Antivirus
October 2, 2014 5:42:32 PM

I use Bitdefender Internet Security and Malwarebytes premium , seems to be a great combo.
October 2, 2014 5:51:24 PM

SR-71 Blackbird said:
Do you use : No Antivirus , FREE Antivirus , or PAID Antivirus and why.

Please leave comments on why you do or don't use an Antivirus.

Thanks for your time,
Blackbird.


I use Avast free version - It has worked well, used Norton & kaspersky that came with the mobo, but
when free time period expired switched to Avast, don't notice a difference.
October 2, 2014 5:57:55 PM

I use AVG free edition, and run SpyBot S&D Tea Timer. When those don't work, and a couple of times they haven't, I reach for MalWare Bytes.
I don't recommend keeping more than 2 anti-malware/ virus programs running at the same time though.
a b è Antivirus
October 2, 2014 6:02:42 PM

Avast seems very popular among the FREE versions.
October 2, 2014 7:01:33 PM

Microsoft Security Essentials...it is free and it works. Uses limited resources and does not slow my computer down.
October 2, 2014 7:41:27 PM

I've always used Avast, it's free, works efficiently, and actually is really light so it won't impact on gaming. I have never had problems with any virus so far.
October 2, 2014 7:42:15 PM

Norton used to be one of the most resource heavy, and ineffective products on the market. But not anymore. Norton Internet Security runs silent in the background using almost no resources, its extremely fast on scans, and is better than ANY freeware antivirus product.

Plus its pretty cheap.

I've used just about every product there is out there, AVG, AVAST, McAfee, Kasperskys, TrendMicro, Malwarebyters, and even MSE. Norton is the way to go. NOT Norton 360!!! I'm talking about Norton Internet Security.

Its pretty awesome and does the job.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2089470/norton-internet-...

http://www.amazon.com/Norton-Internet-Security-2014-Lic...
October 2, 2014 8:03:53 PM

Dont believe anything till you try it yourself
October 2, 2014 8:16:14 PM

I'm using Kaspersky 2013, bought the license from retailer. So far so good. I'm satisfied with the performance of this AV. That is why I've been using this AV for like 4 years.
a b è Antivirus
October 2, 2014 8:18:40 PM

I use Bitdefender , but I agree Kaspersky is one of the best.
October 2, 2014 8:37:19 PM

I've used AVG for a few years, got a 1 year subscription of McAfee with a laptop, never used that.
Finally switched to MSE, never looked back :D 
a b è Antivirus
October 2, 2014 8:47:18 PM

MSE still seems to be in use quite a bit.
October 2, 2014 9:16:43 PM

I use MSE / Avast combo. With a weekly scan by Malwarebytes.
They have worked well together for years.
Some times Avast blocks a virus and other times MSE blocks a virus.
I am also behind 2 hardware firewalls and windows firewall.
Have Flash disabled. pop up blocker on and run Abine DO Not Track Me software.
Abine says there are 16 companies trying to track me from this page. Although I do not run Ad blockers. The sites I visit need the ad revenue, such as Tom's.
So I do not get pop ups. Annoying flash ads don't work. I don't get tracking cookies and sites receive their ad revenue.
Seems like a win/win solution.
October 2, 2014 9:56:41 PM

MSE on my desktops (w7 on one and 8 comes with it so "nothing" on that one) and gave avast a try on my laptop (w7). I used to use avira but the daily update popup bothered me. Avast slowed it down noticeably that I had to turn down/off some stuff and I keep getting software update thingy popup (paid feature) which is annoying even though I can't/am not even using it. But I've never seen a virus or malware on my home pcs for a couple years. Not a single detection which makes me wonder...
October 2, 2014 10:29:07 PM

I use Windows Defender. It has never failed me. I do not like all the junk ware they try to pawn off on me. Often it seems the antivirus suites are viruses in themselves.

October 2, 2014 11:29:42 PM

Not a good idea running / using 2 AV programs they can conflict with each other
October 3, 2014 3:53:54 AM

I just use WINDOWS DEFENDER . for me virus is just a gimmick. they make u suffer and pay . just be careful on what ur downloading . windows defender can almost detect evrything and free of charge.




have a good day
a b è Antivirus
October 3, 2014 6:55:13 AM

How often do you run a full scan?
October 3, 2014 7:15:24 AM

No - AVG free for me.

I cant justify spending more. The free versions have pretty much all teh security you need. The paid versions have silly bells and whistles to attract less tech savvy people!
October 3, 2014 8:19:40 AM

I am using Avast AV free and satisfied. I don't really see any reason to use a paid AV unless you are paranoid. Most of them have similar performances detection wise and it usually comes down to their system load when comparing them for the generic user.
October 3, 2014 11:29:42 AM

I use the free Avast antivirus because
-It uses less RAM
-Has smaller packs of virus definition updates(good for slow speed internet connections)
-Over many years i haven't had a single problem using it
-On a side note its not annoying like Norton:) 
a b è Antivirus
October 3, 2014 11:37:44 AM

I used the Norton paid last year and it was real light on resources and ran in the background nicely.
October 3, 2014 11:45:36 AM

IMO, Kaspersky Internet Security is the best. Have tried a bunch of others including Norton and have been sticking with Kaspersky.
October 3, 2014 11:46:45 AM

Since I switched to W8 I have no antivirus... In Windows 7 I used Microsoft Security Essentials... I think its a matter of awareness of the user at the moment to visit pages, download stuff , use external devices, etc
October 3, 2014 12:47:50 PM

SR-71 Blackbird said:
Do you use : No Antivirus , FREE Antivirus , or PAID Antivirus and why.

I use paid anti-virus because I have used the free ones in the past and was not happy with the protection some of them provided. $23 a year for peace of mind is very cheap vs. losing all my data.
October 3, 2014 2:06:55 PM

For those happy with Windows Defender or MSE, just because of the low maintenance and small footprint, a lot of independent security sites rank both extremely low in detection tests. Again, just because you're a knowledgeable user, doesn't make you immune.

http://www.av-test.org/en/news/news-single-view/25-inte...

Also, speaking of Do-Not-Track plug-ins, check out the Free, Open Source "Privacy Badger". It does a great job and is a pretty cool FOSS project in general.
a b è Antivirus
October 3, 2014 2:57:53 PM

I like Adblock and Ghostery for browser plugins.
October 3, 2014 8:54:01 PM

SR-71 Blackbird said:
http://www.av-comparatives.org/

Great site to compare ^

I really wish Comodo was in that comparison chart. Would be nice to see how many false positives they would have found, since I had a fair amount with Comodo. Bitdefender looks like the best for protection/false positive ratio.

I recently started using Bitdefender's free version, just to see how much resources it uses, and how reliable I find it to be (does it trigger false positives/etc. during my particular uses). No real complaints, but it does bog my slower computer down a noticeable amount. It's okay, but by no means would I personally use it for anything more than peace of mind. I won't ever trust an AV software for security, but that's for my own personal use.

It looks like TrendMicro has the best overall protection. Bitdefender would come in second; Kaspersky would be in third; Avira and Emisoft would come tied in fourth. The only reason I would place Avira so low is because of their false positives. Depending on how TrendMicro works, I might consider recommending that one in the future. I might just happen to take a look at their free software and check it out soon. I know some people who are in the need for something free and effective. Gotta love incompetent husbands who trust everything the internet says, and then blame it all on the wives! hahaha
!