Poll: **********The All New Official OcUK Anti-Virus Program Thread - KEEP ALL AV QUESTIONS IN HERE*******

What AV do you use the most?

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Virus software is running out. Wat do?

I got a free year's subscription to Kaspersky, but it's about to run out. I've used Avast before, but I heard recently that the in-built Windows 7 anti-virus is decent.

What should I do?
 
d_brennen said:
Microsoft Security Essentials?

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18465176

Avast free has a good reputation I hear
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theheyes said:
Right, this is a perfect example of how people over react to a qualitative change (i.e. losing or gaining a certification) and practically ignore the much more meaningful quantitative information.

The vast majority of posters in this thread have jumped to the conclusion that MSE is suddenly no good.

Look at the table:

MSE Results Sep/Oct 2012

Link

mse.png


There is a 5% change in the sample detection rate of the "zero day/real world testing". For the rest of the results, MSE scores either in line or better than industry average.

Now, most of the recommendations MSE gets on here are that it's "good enough" and not many people argue with that assessment. If that was true before September, then does a small decrease in this particular test now make that untrue? Take into account MSE detection rates have never matched the top scorers for new malware.

I'm not telling people to continue using MSE if they don't want to - it's neither my business nor my problem. But for those who are switching away from the product based exclusively on the result of this test, let's be clear...

you are reacting to a 5% change in detection rate, in one part of one test, from one independent tester.
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Personally there's no way I would pay for AV, when's the last time anyone got protected from AV, biggest thing is keep everything upto date.
MSE is unobtrusive, free and easy, there's little need for anything better.
 
I've gone back to MSE. Bitdefender was crashing chrome and I getting random BSOD. So, I went to Webroot and that was BSOD city. I had to run Memtest86 just to make sure it wasn't faulty RAM. Test on RAM showed it wasfine. Back to MSE now and no crashing.
 
I always used NAV but because I format rather a lot I ended up having to telephone them to convince them that I'm the rightful owner.

My Bro got himself a new PC which came complete with KIS 2011 which he wouldn't use (an F-Secure man is he) He gave me his unopened version of KIS & I've been using them ever since. :cool:
 
neuk said:
I've gone back to MSE. Bitdefender was crashing chrome and I getting random BSOD. So, I went to Webroot and that was BSOD city. I had to run Memtest86 just to make sure it wasn't faulty RAM. Test on RAM showed it wasfine. Back to MSE now and no crashing.
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I've tried everything but think I have now found the ultimate free setup.

Comodo free firewall - http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/
Avast! free AV - http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

Both very unobtrusive and work together very well.
 
Bitdefender have released a free edition of their anti-virus, good detection rates >> http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/solutions/free.html

Only issue I can see with Bitdefender is the chance of it removing false positives, it does it without you have no option.


PapaLazaru said:
I've tried everything but think I have now found the ultimate free setup.

Comodo free firewall - http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/
Avast! free AV - http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

Both very unobtrusive and work together very well.
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These are what I'm using at present, I used Kaspersky Internet Security for around 6 years at £9.99 a year, but it's so expensive now that I'm not renewing my subscription.
 
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Been using NOD32 for years, but since causing my Windows 8 tiles to stop working, I've got rid and started using Windows Defender. I'm assuming it's good enough to use these days?
 
G-MAN2004 said:
Been using NOD32 for years, but since causing my Windows 8 tiles to stop working, I've got rid and started using Windows Defender. I'm assuming it's good enough to use these days?
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I also considering doing the same. The nod32 GUI keeps crashing with windows 8. Tried reinstalling it several times. Their support forums have quite a few others having the same issue. Shame as I've paid for nod32 for 8 plus years.
 
G-MAN2004 said:
Been using NOD32 for years, but since causing my Windows 8 tiles to stop working, I've got rid and started using Windows Defender. I'm assuming it's good enough to use these days?
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Not without completing various essential tasks on a regular basis, such as patching all vulnerable software, using common sense, running regular backups, etc.
 
Guys, my dad uses free avast, and malware bytes pro.

But he wants to get the pro version of avast, for full protection. He also wants a back up so if any problems, he can use a restore, which Windows only seems to allow him 1day before.

What would you recommend he do?

Cheers:-)
 
He doesn't need to waste money on protection. Tell him to keep the usual suspects (Windows, Java, Flash, Adobe Reader, etc) up-to-date and point him in the direction of Secunia PSI.

Backing up is a good idea. Windows has built-in tools for file & image backup. Alternatives include Duplicati, Cobian Backup & Macrium Reflect Free & Drive Image XML.
 
KIA said:
He doesn't need to waste money on protection. Tell him to keep the usual suspects (Windows, Java, Flash, Adobe Reader, etc) up-to-date and point him in the direction of Secunia PSI.

Backing up is a good idea. Windows has built-in tools for file & image backup. Alternatives include Duplicati, Cobian Backup & Macrium Reflect Free & Drive Image XML.
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Agreed, ^ this with a sprinkling of common sense.
It's far to easy to go overboard with PC security believe me, I myself was running Windows 8 with a limited user account, max UAC, iron clad Software Restriction Policy, Group Policy, EMET hardening, paid security suite with several on demand scanners. Didn't go quite to the extreme of booting from a Linux CD or VM for online banking but you get the idea :D

It was a solid setup no doubt but a pain having to put an admin password in first when doing anything, to always have to right click to run as admin to bypass the STP, to create new path rules for the SRP etc and for what?

Had I ever found anything since my days on XP? Nope, nothing, no computer slow down or popups, no notifications from the AV, Malware Bytes never had anything nor did Hitman Pro or TDDS Killer, nothing unknown in Process Explorer etc etc. The only 'threats' ever found were tracking cookies lol Windows Vista and on are far less malware prone than XP if kept updated and you don't go installing everything and anything you find in the dark corners of the net.

Now running on an admin account with UAC max with the remainder of my AV subscription and then it will be back to the built in Windows Defender and Firewall with the occasional Malwarebytes scan. That with Windows 8 and IE's built in Smartscreen filter, updated software and a little knowledge and I feel perfectly safe with it.

As always YMMV though.
 
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