Windows Defender

[Deleted User] · 25/09/12 - 10:18

I recently got Windows 7. Can anyone please tell me whether Windows Defender is enough to cover my computer. If not which "anti-everything" have you any suggestions about . I don't want to spend money out unnecessarily, especially if no good.

flagpole · 25/09/12 - 10:42

MJS wrote: »

I recently got Windows 7. Can anyone please tell me whether Windows Defender is enough to cover my computer. If not which "anti-everything" have you any suggestions about . I don't want to spend money out unnecessarily, especially if no good.

as i recall windows defender is the sort of anti malware bit.

microsoft security essentials is the full AV suite.
http://windows.microsoft.com/mse

it looks similar and is also free.

[Deleted User] · 25/09/12 - 10:53

I only have defender along with free Avast and seems fine. Occasionally run a malwarebytes scan (worth downloading that, it's also free) which doesn't pick up anything. Don't think you need to buy anything I doubt anyone who knows a little about computers ever buys security software as the free programmes are arguably better (wont bloat computer so much)

[Deleted User] · 25/09/12 - 10:59

Thanks a lot to both of you. I know very little about computers, but always supposed the bought security i.e.Norton was better than the free ones. Just shows you how wrong one can be. Thanks again.

flagpole · 25/09/12 - 11:13

i'd agree that it's worth installing malwarebytes (free version) and running an occasional scan too.

[Deleted User] · 25/09/12 - 11:29

MJS wrote: »

Thanks a lot to both of you. I know very little about computers, but always supposed the bought security i.e.Norton was better than the free ones. Just shows you how wrong one can be. Thanks again.

No that's just what the sales staff in Currys/PC World tell people.:D

chrisjr · 25/09/12 - 11:39

MJS wrote: »

Thanks a lot to both of you. I know very little about computers, but always supposed the bought security i.e.Norton was better than the free ones. Just shows you how wrong one can be. Thanks again.

Very often the same company produces free and paid for versions of a product. The free version may be largely identical to the paid version but just missing a few bells and whistles without affecting it's core job of detecting and dealing with nasties.

Also if you have on-line banking check out your bank's website. I bank with Barclays and they offer a free subscription to Kaspersky Internet Security which seems to have a good reputation.

[Deleted User] · 25/09/12 - 13:07

It's really important that you uave some form of realtime anti-virus installed on your PC, anti-malware and anti-spyware software just isn't enough.

If you want a free option I would recommend Microsoft security essentials. It fairly light on system resources (processor and memory), so it won't slow your computer down and consistently gets very good reviews. It is fairly hassle free, once installed it'll regulary update itself and happily run in the background without bothering you too much, also has the huge plus point of being free for Windows users with free lifetime updates.
If money isn't an issue I would opt for Kaspersky. Over the years I've tried loads of anti-virus software and in my opinion Kaspersky has the best mix of secure protection and excellent detection rates, all the while not hogging your PC's system resources.

cnbcwatcher · 25/09/12 - 14:51

jimmy7bellies wrote: »

No that's just what the sales staff in Currys/PC World tell people.:D

They tell you that so they can sell that trash to you

I avoid Norton like the plague.

chrisjr · 25/09/12 - 14:52

cnbcwatcher wrote: »

They tell you that so they can sell that trash to you I avoid Norton like the plague.

So are Currys/PC World now judging by their telly ads. Seems McAfee are bunging them a bigger back hander than Symantec now

Caxton · 25/09/12 - 16:29

linea wrote: »

It's really important that you uave some form of realtime anti-virus installed on your PC, anti-malware and anti-spyware software just isn't enough.

If you want a free option I would recommend Microsoft security essentials. It fairly light on system resources (processor and memory), so it won't slow your computer down and consistently gets very good reviews. It is fairly hassle free, once installed it'll regulary update itself and happily run in the background without bothering you too much, also has the huge plus point of being free for Windows users with free lifetime updates.
If money isn't an issue I would opt for Kaspersky. Over the years I've tried loads of anti-virus software and in my opinion Kaspersky has the best mix of secure protection and excellent detection rates, all the while not hogging your PC's system resources.

I agree with you over that.

wavy-davy · 25/09/12 - 17:10

http://acs.pandasoftware.com/cloud/PandaCloudAntivirus.exe

Is what I use.

xander63 · 25/09/12 - 17:15

All you need are the 3 free programs below and your good to go!

Avast Free Antivirus
http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10019223.html

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html

CCleaner 3.23.1823
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

flagpole · 25/09/12 - 17:55

xander63 wrote: »

All you need are the 3 free programs below and your good to go!

Avast Free Antivirus
http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10019223.html

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html

CCleaner 3.23.1823
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

What was ccleaner to do with security?

Hey there!

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