What anti virus should I run?

anno1664

I have just restored my sons laptop back to its original settings using the restore discs, after he had a major malfunction. The pc runs Windows Vista and is working fine

On my pc I use the following after recommendations from this site:

Avira anti virus
Malaware Bytes
Spybot Search & Destroy
CCCleaner
Revo Uninstaller

Will I be ok to install these on to my sons laptop and what will I have to do with the windows defender that is pre-installed on there.

Thanks in anticipation

warrenpeace

Yeah that would be a fine setup, but I would recommend putting a firewall on there as well instead of just using the Windows Firewall. I use Comodo Firewall and have no problems with it but theres also ZoneAlarm which is probably more popular.
You can leave Windows Defender running, it's fine, it shouldn't conflict with anything.

Lum

Ask a hundred techies this and you'll get a hundred different answers.

Personally I go with Avira along with these instructions to get rid of the nag screens (follow each section that lists your OS, then follow the disable splash screen instructions at the bottom)

Then just Windows Defender, Vista's UAC and a bit of common sense not to click on OK to every UAC prompt that comes up. Since a child is involved the other products you mention would probably also be wise.

Wouldn't bother with a 3rd party firewall these days. The Windows one is fine, and the likes of Zone Alarm do far too much shouting about "hacking attempts" that it's blocked in order to justify it's existence. The Windows one just silently drops them without bothering you.

PlutoinCapricorn

I have Bullguard, and it is great. There is no need to pay the full price from Bullguard themselves, you can get a license number on eBay.

aliEnRIK

Bullguard is AWFUL!

Marty_J

Rik, you're just the man!

What should I put on my new Windows 7 install?

I might even have a HijackThis log for you at some point.

What fun!

PlutoinCapricorn

AlienRik, what is wrong with Bullguard? Are you an extreme tecchie person?

The online backup, the detection of 'real' attacks, the support ... they are great.

isofa

Marty_J wrote: »

Rik, you're just the man!

What should I put on my new Windows 7 install?

I might even have a HijackThis log for you at some point.

What fun!

You probably don't need much, just add an anti-virus package like Avira or Avast and you'll be ok, firewalls for Win7 are debatable, Comodo/ZA etc.

As for anti-spyware, I'd not add anything to run all the time, but if things are odd, run a scan from SpyBot S+D and MalwareBytes Anti-malware.

Firefox 3 with NoScript and you'll be safe as houses!

Unless you are putting it at serious risk or installing nasties, you won't need to run a HJT scan

isofa

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Bullguard is AWFUL!

The Internet security suite has been well received: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/labs/247505/bullguard-internet-security-85.html
Avira Premium security won the tests...

Marty_J

Awww, I wanted to get a virus to see what all the fuss was about. :cool:

Lum

Marty_J wrote: »

Awww, I wanted to get a virus to see what all the fuss was about. :cool:

Good job there have been OSX viruses doing the rounds for the last 5 years then :P

Not as many but if it keeps gaining in popularity then it'll become a much bigger target.