Best Free Security Programs? (Anti Virus/Malware/etc)

cormie

Hi,
I've been using Advanced System Care and Avira Free AntiVirus for the past 2/3 years but lately both have been pretty annoying, pop ups you can't get rid of, annoying updating procedure etc.

I've since discovered Avast Free Antivirus, Malwarebytes and have started to use CCleaner again.

I'm about to reinstall my OS and don't want to clutter it up with too many programs so just want simple protection for basic usage that will be free, and easy to update and keep the computer safe from new threats.

Are the above 3 enough working in conjunction with one another and will give ample protection and the same protection (or better/worse) as I was getting from Avira and Advanced System Care?

Any feedback appreciated!

mordeith

cormie wrote: »

Hi,
I've been using Advanced System Care and Avira Free AntiVirus for the past 2/3 years but lately both have been pretty annoying, pop ups you can't get rid of, annoying updating procedure etc.

I've since discovered Avast Free Antivirus, Malwarebytes and have started to use CCleaner again.

I'm about to reinstall my OS and don't want to clutter it up with too many programs so just want simple protection for basic usage that will be free, and easy to update and keep the computer safe from new threats.

Are the above 3 enough working in conjunction with one another and will give ample protection and the same protection (or better/worse) as I was getting from Avira and Advanced System Care?

Any feedback appreciated!

I just run MSE and the occasional scan with Malwarebytes and I've never had a problem.

Torqay

The best "free" security program is Sandboxie.

The registered version will not nag you and offers some advanced features.

uncle_sam_ie

mordeith wrote: »

I just run MSE and the occasional scan with Malwarebytes and I've never had a problem.

+1 Same, plus I always check for W8 updates.

BOHtox

Avast and Microsoft security essentials. Both if you can.

kingofslaves

I use spybot search and destroy, hijack this, malware bytes & ccleaner. Don't bother with anti virus as careful what I download. There's always joti's online scanner anyway. (Can't post link on iPhone )

Torqay

BOHtox wrote: »

Avast and Microsoft security essentials. Both if you can.

Running two proactive AV programs makes absolutely no sense.

tricky D

cormie wrote: »

I've since discovered Avast Free Antivirus, Malwarebytes and have started to use CCleaner again.

That combo is fine.

BOHtox wrote: »

Avast and Microsoft security essentials. Both if you can.

Running 2 active AV/AM utils causes conflicts, slowing down the machine and sometimes causing false positives. It's a Bad Idea(tm)

Here's the recommendation thread from the Virus & Malware Removal forum:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056280359

Inquitus

MSE

cormie

Thanks for the replies folks. I guess MSE = Microsoft Security Essentials? Is this an Avast replacement, so it's an Anti Virus? I've been pretty happy with Avast and have read a lot of great independent reviews so if as Tricky D says, that my combo is fine, I'll probably just stick with it I think Avast also offers something similar to the sandboxie suggestion, that it keeps things separate in a sense.

kingofslaves, I see you use a similar combo, Spybot (which I know is an AV), then malware bytes and ccleaner but you also mention hijack this, what does this offer that the other don't?

Torqay

To those who rely on MSE (aka Windows Defender) for protection: The detection rate is appalling and the software has recently lost its AV certification. You may want to add a decent manual virus scanner to your portfolio, Emsisoft's Emergency Kit is such a freebie.

Antar Bolaeisk

Another free thing to do is not run all the time as an administrator on your computer. This helps control what gets elevated privileges and hence what can make changes to your system.

BloodBath

Avast and malware bytes is all you need and the free versions of both do not conflict with each other.

Avast has sandboxing as well.

MSE is pretty bad.

Torqay

Antar Bolaeisk wrote: »

Another free thing to do is not run all the time as an administrator on your computer.

But if you do (as it is often the case with XP), make use of DropMyRights.

cormie

Thanks folks, approval and support of Avast and Malwarebytes running together is exactly what I wanted to hear Will just stick with them so and just keep my fingers crossed that Avast doesn't turn into nag ware like Avira did!

RodgersLFC

BOHtox wrote: »

Avast and Microsoft security essentials. Both if you can.

Never run more than one antivirus program on your PC, as they conflict and cause slowness. Both of those are good, but never use both at the same time.

uncle_sam_ie

Torqay wrote: »

To those who rely on MSE (aka Windows Defender) for protection: The detection rate is appalling and the software has recently lost its AV certification. You may want to add a decent manual virus scanner to your portfolio, Emsisoft's Emergency Kit is such a freebie.

Well, I chose MSE or Windows 8 Defender because, it has a very low system impact and free. Plus, viruses are really not all that much of a problem these days. It's Malware, which most virus scanners do not look for.

PogMoThoin

cormie wrote: »

kingofslaves, I see you use a similar combo, Spybot (which I know is an AV), then malware bytes and ccleaner but you also mention hijack this, what does this offer that the other don't?

No it's not, Spybot is a spyware scanner similar to Malwarebytes

cormie

Ah ok, so I guess hijack this is his AV and he just uses spybot and malwarebytes for extra piece of mind?

yoyo

cormie wrote: »

Ah ok, so I guess hijack this is his AV and he just uses spybot and malwarebytes for extra piece of mind?

You can have multiple anti malware applications (as most do not do real time protection which can cause conflicts), but being honest once you keep your system/plugins up to date, have an anti virus scanner and anti malware program installed, you should be fine.
Viruses are not really an issue these days, it's all malware lately, which generally gets in through vulnerabilities in third party plugins (Java, Flash etc.) and out of date operating systems

Nick

Skerries

yeah it's the malware that causes problem especially lately ransomware
I usually do a check every so often with malwarebytes and superantispyware to make sure

desaparecidos

MSE and common sense is all you need. In fact you'd barely need MSE but it gives piece of mind.

Edit: oh yeah and a decent browser.

BloodBath

MSE doesn't have sandboxing and is proven to be crap so no it doesn't give peace of mind. Quite the opposite.

Skerries

I work in an IT department and we all reccomend MSE as it is unobtrusive and gets most problems, but we all recommend a check from another source such as malwarebytes or other

BloodBath

In terms of protection MSE is the very bottom of the pack.

http://www.av-test.org/en/tests/home-user/windows-7/novdec-2012/

desaparecidos

BloodBath wrote: »

In terms of protection MSE is the very bottom of the pack.

http://www.av-test.org/en/tests/home-user/windows-7/novdec-2012/

The point is it does enough, doesn't hog resourses and doesn't bother the user.

Like I said, with comon sense and decent browser, you barely need any antivirus software.

cormie

Thanks again folks. Always good when a debate breaks out in a thread you started, gets into the nitty gritty, but I'm just going to stick with Avast and Malwarebytes anyway so won't be getting MSE. Avast is very unobtrusive, Avira has nagged me about 8 times in the last 24 hours, ASC once too so the reinstall will have neither.

Squeaky the Squirrel

No script and adblock plus

NBC and LA Times but serving up Browser Exploits (Java) in the last few weeks.

http://www.zdnet.com/nbc-com-hacked-briefly-compromised-with-redkit-malware-7000011636/

desaparecidos

Squeaky the Squirrel wrote: »

No script

With a decent browser JavaScript can do feck all to harm your system.

Squeaky the Squirrel

desaparecidos wrote: »

With a decent browser JavaScript can do feck all to harm your system.

pffft, no such thing.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2012/mar/08/pwn2own-chrome-hacked

cormie

I forgot to mention I'd be using adblock plus on firefox too.

Freddy Smelly

mordeith wrote: »

I just run MSE and the occasional scan with Malwarebytes and I've never had a problem.

mse is not the best for catching stuff.

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

check out the comparsion results of all the best known av software

Squeaky the Squirrel

Chrome; Firefox; IE 10; Java; Win 8 fall at #pwn2own hackfest