Windows 7 and Anti-Virus Protection (Microsoft Security Essentials Vs 3rd Party)

Froot Loops on 23/09/2018 - 21:49

Hello,

I read through a few polls, but haven't found the exact answer.
I've also learnt to mistrust a lot of the sites that compare AV.
So my dilemma is I am a Windows 7 Ultimate user and refuse to put Windows 10 on my private laptop.
All my uni / work laptop use Windows 10 and they run the microsoft AV defender.

I know that Microsoft Security Essentials is an option for Windows 7, but is it as good as defender?
I currently have AVG (the free one that was in a recent promo for a year) and the thing is giving me constant pop-ups to buy crap and I now have a malware virus.

Any suggestions would be great. I do download the odd torrent, but that's the "most dangerous" thing I do and I do know what I'm doing.

Also, I am thinking of putting spybot back on my PC. This that still a good option?

Computing

Comments

  • Hybroid on 23/09/2018 - 21:58
    +5

    https://www.av-comparatives.org/ - These are solid and reliable.

    Reality is the free MSE suite is more than adequate and you don't need any third parties. Malwarebytes scan every so often wouldn't hurt just in case. Don't bother buying anything extra.

    • Froot Loops on 23/09/2018 - 22:58

      Thanks for the website (bookmarked that) and suggestions.
      I have gone with what you suggested. So far it has picked up things AVG didn't
      Cheers

  • hawkeye on 23/09/2018 - 22:13
    +2

    I use Malwarebytes premium you'd be amazed the amount of IP's it blocks from p2p.
    That and torgaurd are the only 2 pieces of software I buy.

    • Froot Loops on 23/09/2018 - 22:59

      Going to try the free version for a little while and see how it goes. Thanks for your help

      • follow on 23/09/2018 - 23:39

        you missed the days of buying it once, for life. now they've opted for a subscription model

    • shaybisc on 24/09/2018 - 13:45

      Had an interesting experience with Malwarebytes on the weekend. Something kept on turning off torrents. Took me a while to work out it was Malwarebytes premium- they've put me on a 14 day trial again which I do not want. Been on free for years. I had to turn it off and torrents worked again. Did a Malwarebytes and a Kaspersky scan after I had finished torrenting- nothing to see. So Malwarebytes premium had been blocking torrents for no reason.

  • Clear on 24/09/2018 - 09:08

    People preach Windows Defender/MSE but it won't save you from clicking on a ransomware-riddled malicious link or compromised website no matter how smart you think you are. Sophos Home is a good unintrusive scanner. Malwarebytes is also good as others have mentioned.

    I recommend using Cybereason Anti-Ransomware a long side any AV you have. It creates dummy folders/files in places that ransomware normally encrypts first. Once it detects the ransomware it kills the process and prompts you on how to proceed. I've tested it against real world samples (Dharma, TeslaCrypt & Kraken) and it's worked every time.

  • h4lcyon on 24/09/2018 - 09:08

    Kaspersky free uses the same engine as the paid product, and you can disable a lot of the stuff you don't need, plus it doesn't nag you to buy stuff the full version all the time.

  • the Unforgiven on 24/09/2018 - 10:54

    use bitDefender anti-virus free edition
    https://www.bitdefender.com.au/solutions/free.html
    the people right here at ozBargain recommended me that a few weeks ago
    and for your fireWall, just use what came with Windoze

  • shaybisc on 24/09/2018 - 13:55

    Get a Kaspersky deal off ebay. They are always there and cheap as chips.

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