Anti-Virus Software

[Warlord]

So I bought a new laptop with windows 10 and looking for an anti-virus solution.

McAfee is pre-installed with a 2 week trial. $39.99/year to upgrade and can be installed on multiple devices.

I want to know if its worth it? Is there anything better?

[Zippyjuan]

I use Avast which is free.

[106459]

Used to use Avast maybe ~2 years ago, then it got irritating as hell on the free version, constant popups to upgrade to paid or try their VPN, etc. Putting it in "gaming"/silent mode fixed that, but it seemed like other AV products were doing better on tests at the time.

I switched over to Avira and haven't had any issues. Free and it does what it's supposed to, no problems, I only have the "Antivirus" installed on their suite, no real need for the software update, system speedup, etc.

Av-test.org is the first result that pops up when searching anti-virus rankings, seems as thorough as any other reviews would be, rates Avira as a top product.

I haven't heard any new developments that need someone to pay for AV protection, the consumer free versions do what they're supposed to do to stop malware, my info on McAfee is out-dated by years now, but my recollection is that it's bloated and under-performing and I'm inclined to keep the same opinion since they still feel the need to pay manufacturers to bundle it on their PCs rather than have consumers download it themselves.

[nikcers]

I recommend running tronscript. It will clean up a lot of stuff even on a new laptop. Malwarebytes is a good alternative to mcafee.

[pcosmar]

Is there anything better?

Linux.

[timosman]

Why can't you use the built-in and free Windows Defender Antivirus?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Defender

[Warlord]

Linux.

i'm going to stick to windows 10 until it crashes. Then i'll just buy a new laptop

[Warlord]

Why can't you use the built-in and free Windows Defender Antivirus?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Defender

Prefer a specialist anti virus software not the built in crap.

[pcosmar]

Prefer a specialist anti virus software not the built in crap.

I had the Full Norten Security Package.. Virus targeted Norten First and had its way ..

I was paying $60. for something that could not even protect itself.

2004..
And I have not had problems since switching.

[timosman]

Linux.

https://www.educba.com/linux-vs-freebsd/

[timosman]

Used to use Avast maybe ~2 years ago, then it got irritating as hell on the free version, constant popups to upgrade to paid or try their VPN, etc. Putting it in "gaming"/silent mode fixed that, but it seemed like other AV products were doing better on tests at the time.

Leaked Documents Expose the Secretive Market for Your Web Browsing Data - https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/q...-investigation

Jan 27 2020

An Avast antivirus subsidiary sells 'Every search. Every click. Every buy. On every site.' Its clients have included Home Depot, Google, Microsoft, Pepsi, and McKinsey.

An antivirus program used by hundreds of millions of people around the world is selling highly sensitive web browsing data to many of the world's biggest companies, a joint investigation by Motherboard and PCMag has found. Our report relies on leaked user data, contracts, and other company documents that show the sale of this data is both highly sensitive and is in many cases supposed to remain confidential between the company selling the data and the clients purchasing it.

...

[Nolan]

Linux are for filthy socialists.

[pcosmar]

Linux are for filthy socialists.

https://www.pclinuxos.com/

Texas based developer.

[Bryan]

ETA, timosman beat me to it.

I use Avast which is free.

In today's news...

The Cost of Avast's Free Antivirus: Companies Can Spy on Your Clicks
https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-cost-...on-your-clicks
Avast is harvesting users' browser histories on the pretext that the data has been 'de-identified,' thus protecting your privacy. But the data, which is being sold to third parties, can be linked back to people's real identities, exposing every click and search they've made.

[timosman]

I use Avast which is free.

Zippy is toast!

[tebowlives]

Prefer a specialist anti virus software not the built in crap.

AVG and Spybot and CCleaner all free
I purchased the AVG Internet Security that has the firewall. I think its ~$80 a year.

I tried CleanMyPC. It got rid of some windows apps/files I didnt need that CCleaner didn't see. But if you want to use the free one it does partial tasks, like cleans 50 registry errors and alerts you to 150 more but you need to purchase their product to delete them all.

[timosman]

AVG and Spybot and CCleaner all free
I purchased the AVG Internet Security that has the firewall. I think its ~$80 a year.

In 5 years that's almost half the cost of a new MacBook Air.

[Zippyjuan]

Leaked Documents Expose the Secretive Market for Your Web Browsing Data - https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/q...-investigation

Thanks for the info!

[timosman]

https://venturebeat.com/2020/01/30/a...he-real-issue/

JANUARY 30, 2020

Antivirus (AV) software giant Avast has announced that it will wind down one of its subsidiary businesses just days after leaked documents revealed the extent to which the Czech company was selling users’ browsing data to third parties.

On Monday, Vice and PCMag published details of how Avast had been collating browsing data covering web properties such as Google Maps and Search, LinkedIn, and YouTube and then repackaging it for sale under a subsidiary called Jumpshot, which has claimed clients such as Google, Microsoft, Yelp, Pepsi, Home Depot, and Condé Nast. Although the data was not thought to contain any personally identifiable information, it is often possible to “de-anonymize” data by combining and aligning it with different data sets to unearth shared patterns.

Jumpshot was founded back in 2010 but officially launched from a Kickstarter-funded project in 2012. In its original guise, Jumpshot offered PC-based software that promised to rid machines of viruses, spyware, and the like, but the company was eventually bought by Avast.

According to the latest report, some Jumpshot clients paid millions of dollars for various products, including something called an “all clicks feed” that was apparently able to track user behavior such as clicks and movements between websites. For a company like Google — which has so far declined to comment on the report — this can significantly improve and measure targeted advertisements.

Avast has now said that it plans to “terminate its provision of data” to Jumpshot and will eventually pull the plug on the product altogether. This won’t impact Avast’s core products, but it will seemingly diminish a significant revenue-generating stream for the company.

...

[oyarde]

AVG and Spybot and CCleaner all free
I purchased the AVG Internet Security that has the firewall. I think its ~$80 a year.

I tried CleanMyPC. It got rid of some windows apps/files I didnt need that CCleaner didn't see. But if you want to use the free one it does partial tasks, like cleans 50 registry errors and alerts you to 150 more but you need to purchase their product to delete them all.

I just use a voodoo stick I won in a poker game.

[timosman]

I just use a voodoo stick I won in a poker game.

https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air

[oyarde]

https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air

I think my hp was 200.00

[tebowlives]

I just use a voodoo stick I won in a poker game.

hahaha Good one. You don't win at anything and next year will be no better. At least Dallas came in second in a tough division.

[Warlord]

https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-air

I had a Macbook air but it DIED so i now i just stick to Lenovo laptops. Cheap and cheerful.

[Swordsmyth]

So Avast are a bunch of pirates?

[timosman]

I think my hp was 200.00

And only 12lbs.

[oyarde]

And only 12lbs.

Lighter than my Belgium Browning A500 12 Ga with five rounds of #1 Buckshot .

[kpitcher]

Avast is spying on your browsing
https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-cost-...on-your-clicks

I've been using bitdefender for a few years and have been quite happy. The free gets very high ratings and the paid version is not drastically different.

[ATruepatriot]

Linux are for filthy socialists.

Microsoft and Bill Gates are the very examples of socialism. pcosmar is correct, the best antivirus and service pack for windows is Linux.

[pcosmar]

Microsoft and Bill Gates are the very examples of socialism. pcosmar is correct, the best antivirus and service pack for windows is Linux.

I see linux and Open Source as Voluntary Cooperation and more anarchist at times. Voluntaryist I guess.