Recommended virus/malware protection for my new Laptop

[vhl71]

Hi

I've used MSE in the past on my PC which didn't really work well. After a year or so, I had lot of issues with malwares for which this forum has helped me a lot to get rid off them.

 

Now I bought a new laptop with windows 8.1. What would be the best setup for both virus protection and maware?

Was reading about avira freeware - is that good enough?

 

I'd like some expert opinion on this as  I dont want to endup in the same boat again..

 

Thanks

 

[daledoc1]

Hi and , vhl71:
 
This has been asked (6.02214129(27))×10²³ times here and elsewhere on the internet.
 
There is no one product or set of products that is optimal or best for all users, all computers, all computer usage practices, all budgets, all levels of user computer expertise, etc.

Each person will have a different opinion or two or three.

 

You are correct, however, in wanting to look for something better than MSE -- it is no longer considered a sufficient or robust AV product.

As for anti-malware, well, this *is* the MBAM forum.
 
I would suggest having a look here at this very informative pinned topic: List of well known antivirus products

 

Here are some other links you might find helpful.
 
So how did I get infected in the first place?
The complexity of finding, preventing, and cleanup from malware
How to prevent malware
Safely Connecting a Computer to the Internet
Answers to common security questions - Best Practices
How Malware Spreads - How did I get infected
Six tips to help you stay safer online
Red Alert: 10 Computer Security Blogs You Should Follow Today
Malwarebytes Blog
 
>>>Once you make a choice, if you need help with getting your AV to run with MBAM, please post back and let us know.
 
Someone will be more than happy to help you.

 

Thanks!
 
daledoc1

[daman1]

Hi

I've used MSE in the past on my PC which didn't really work well. After a year or so, I had lot of issues with malwares for which this forum has helped me a lot to get rid off them.

 

Now I bought a new laptop with windows 8.1. What would be the best setup for both virus protection and maware?

Was reading about avira freeware - is that good enough?

 

I'd like some expert opinion on this as  I dont want to endup in the same boat again..

 

Thanks

I'm no expert just giving you my info I'm currently running Bitdefender Plus Anti-virus with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Pro 1.75 and they play very good with each other no issues,,MSE was and is garbage!! I'm surprise you still had a working computer using that software. Bitdefender was named No1 in recent AV testing and I'm very happy with it.

 

so my suggestions are Bitdefender and MBAM you'll be well protected with both of them running.

[vhl71]

Thanks. I do realise its specific to the user and practices.

All I want to know from experts like you is what do you use or whats commonly used? I'm fairly good with computers.

Should i have a antivirus and a malware suggested by the post above? Or is there a program that covers it all. Essentially what do you use to protect your PC?

[daledoc1]

Hi:

 

Yes, the very basic minimum is a robust AV (free or paid) and a robust anti-malware (such as MBAM PRO), both kept updated and running in real-time.

 

As this is the private company forum for MBAM it wouldn't necessarily be advisable for the staff or even the forum members to endorse any one particular AV or another.

And no one software product or products can substitute for safe computing practices.

 

Please do have a look at the links provided earlier for additional recommendations to the "layered" approach to security.

 

In particular, you might want to check AdvancedSetup's advice here:

 

If you really want to discuss antivirus and other security products in more detail then the Wilders Security Forums is an excellent resource to do so.

https://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=140779#entry780681

 

I'm sure the staff, experts and forum "regulars" will have some other suggestions.

 

Thanks,

 

daledoc1

[blackdove83]

http://www.av-test.org/en/home/ a good place to start. I think most people on here will agree that a multi layered approach is best. Anti exploit for browsers, good heuristic antivirus and MBAM for 0 day malware. I occasionally run Malwarebytes antirootkit and Adwcleaner by Xplode as well.

I love MBAM Pro so i bought it. Avira free is decent and doesnt slow things down. F-Secure as well as Mikko Hyponnens policy of not whitelisting 'special' malware like some other antiviruses have been known to sets it apart. Keep in mind the country of origin and their policies when choosing a program that has access to your system like an antivirus does. Im sure ill get some hate for saying that but whatever.

[John L. Galt]

Hi and , vhl71:

 

This has been asked (6.02214129(27))×10²³ times here and elsewhere on the internet.

 

<snipped>

 

daledoc1

ROTFLMFAO - Kudos, daledoc, for using Avogadro's constant in a post like that! 

 

I'm no expert just giving you my info I'm currently running Bitdefender Plus Anti-virus with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Pro 1.75 and they play very good with each other no issues,,MSE was and is garbage!! I'm surprise you still had a working computer using that software. Bitdefender was named No1 in recent AV testing and I'm very happy with it.

 

so my suggestions are Bitdefender and MBAM you'll be well protected with both of them running.

 

MSE is not as effective now as it used to be, but to say it was garbage is entirely incorrect.  For a good while it was one of the best completely free AV packages out there, taking into consideration not only scanning efficiency but also false positive reports and overall resource usage.

 

I've used MSE and MBAM exclusively for going on 5 (?) years on my system, and have not had a major problem on my end.  I am considering moving on from MSE now, as it obviously is not the product it used to be, but it was not always a bad product.

 

I personally use Bitdefender anti virus free on all windows 7 laptops,my tablet,android phone and use malwarebytes on my computer,android phone,tablet and bitdefender was recently ranked #1 in windows 8 anti virus By a independent anti virus tester as I've seen them post on their facebook,twitter because I follow them but that's just what I use and your free to pick whatever software you'd like and feel like you wanna try..hope this helps best regards RonnieM

 

 

http://www.av-test.org/en/home/ a good place to start. I think most people on here will agree that a multi layered approach is best. Anti exploit for browsers, good heuristic antivirus and MBAM for 0 day malware. I occasionally run Malwarebytes antirootkit and Adwcleaner by Xplode as well.

I love MBAM Pro so i bought it. Avira free is decent and doesnt slow things down. F-Secure as well as Mikko Hyponnens policy of not whitelisting 'special' malware like some other antiviruses have been known to sets it apart. Keep in mind the country of origin and their policies when choosing a program that has access to your system like an antivirus does. Im sure ill get some hate for saying that but whatever.

I have been to many different site that independently review AV software, and I have yet to see any real agreement.  With av-test.org, for example, the last set of tests run on Windows 7 are from Aug 2013.  I'm not running Win8 (and I know many other people who refuse to upgrade as well) so this is of some concern to me.

 

I've seen recommendations for BitDefender, Avast, AVG, and KAS (which is what av-test seems to be leaning toward in terms of overall score as well).  People I know and trust here in the forums have mentioned to me (when asking specifically for free AV for my parents - both retirees living on a limited budget) that avg, avira, avast and BitDefender are the only decent ones to go with.

Edited February 4, 2014 by John L. Galt

[vhl71]

Downloaded the 360safe last night and set it up on my windows 8.1 laptop. It seems to be very light. I hope it's enough. Last time it was a malware that screwed up my pc..i'm thinking of getting the malwarebytes free version in addition to 360safe. I hope they wont conflict each other..

[AdvancedSetup]

Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. (Qihoo 360) is a leading Internet platform company in China

Not saying it's good or bad only that I've been doing support for a long time now and only recently in the past year have I even heard of this company. I'm sure they are big in China but considering that they're still not "open" about many things its difficult to recommend "security" software from a Country not known to be very open about it is all. With many other well known and well respected companies to choose from for antivirus and security software I don't think this would be my choice at least for now.

[daman1]

ROTFLMFAO - Kudos, daledoc, for using Avogadro's constant in a post like that! 

 

 

MSE is not as effective now as it used to be, but to say it was garbage is entirely incorrect.  For a good while it was one of the best completely free AV packages out there, taking into consideration not only scanning efficiency but also false positive reports and overall resource usage.

 

I've used MSE and MBAM exclusively for going on 5 (?) years on my system, and have not had a major problem on my end.  I am considering moving on from MSE now, as it obviously is not the product it used to be, but it was not always a bad product.

 

 

 

I have been to many different site that independently review AV software, and I have yet to see any real agreement.  With av-test.org, for example, the last set of tests run on Windows 7 are from Aug 2013.  I'm not running Win8 (and I know many other people who refuse to upgrade as well) so this is of some concern to me.

 

I've seen recommendations for BitDefender, Avast, AVG, and KAS (which is what av-test seems to be leaning toward in terms of overall score as well).  People I know and trust here in the forums have mentioned to me (when asking specifically for free AV for my parents - both retirees living on a limited budget) that avg, avira, avast and BitDefender are the only decent ones to go with.

I'm just going by my personal experience and some others, i used the program(defender,MSE,etc) since win 98 or when ever it came out? and had multiple problems thinking MS knew what they were doing i still used the product, after seen the AV testing each year and how it constantly rated lower and lower and no longer being pushed by Microsoft them selfs it was time to go,IMO it was never a good program.

 

This last testing(2013) by Av-test had defender at the very bottom,it scored terrible.

[John L. Galt]

Um, sorry, but no, you did not use MSE since 98.

 

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

 

Considering it was announced in 2008, and according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Security_Essentials#Development it was released as a Beta in June 2009, I highly doubt you were using it on Windows 98.  In 2009 Windows XP was already 7+ years old.

 

You're mistaking your products.  Windows defender is not MSE.  Neither if Forefront nor their OneCare product.

 

And further evidence to back up what I stated earlier, the third paragraph is this:

 

 

The product received generally positive reviews praising its user interface, low resource usage and freeware license. It secured AV-TEST certification on October 2009, having demonstrated its ability to eliminate all widely encountered malware. However, it lost the certificate on October 2012,...

 

3 years running that it had av-test.org's certification.

 

So, as I said - to state that it wasgarbage is a misstatement.  It was a very good and well respected product.  And I was one of the biggest proponents of using MSE + MBAM for a good long while in these very forums.

 

And I was not the only one.

[daman1]

Hence the ? i posted above, it had positive reviews but what were the actual scores it received? compared to others.

 

It really don't matter  i never had stealer luck with the product. Using a much much better product today and thats what matters.

[daman1]

it had positive reviews but what were the actual scores it received? compared to others.

http://www.av-test.org/no_cache/en/tests/test-reports/?tx_avtestreports_pi1%5Breport_no%5D=103549

 

Not very good in 2010

[AdvancedSetup]

Okay as the original question has been answered and further discussion is not really adding value I'm going to close this topic now.
 

List of well known antivirus products

Thank you everyone