Do I need security for my laptop?

fitzroy

Sorry about the preamble but don't know how else to explain!

Before I moved to retirement flat I had o2 broadband with free McAfee for my laptop. Now that I've moved I no longer have broadband (a) because this is a BT Wholesale area and (b) there is b/band available for the use of tenants in the flats.

The broadband available for tenants is one pc and one laptop, and they have Norton Anti-Virus. The Manager has given me the password so that I can use my own laptop in my flat.

Silly as it might sound my question is - do I still need separate security for my laptop. McAfee can obviously detect this because the question appears on my screen each time I log on.

Am I right in thinking that Norton is only protecting the pc and laptop belonging to the management and not my laptop, even though I'm permanently connected (enabled?).

m5rcc

As long as your licence is still valid on the McAfee then there is no problem. o2 and McAfee are mutually exclusive.

fitzroy

The McAfee only came free with o2. Once I left o2 the McAfee no longer operates on my system and the message that's coming up on my screen is asking me to purchase it to stay secure.

SteveJH200

It's your choice what you use. I suggest that you go to Control Panel and then Programmes and uninstall McAfee and any other anti-virus programme installed. Then download Microsoft Security Essentials (seach for it on Google) and install it. It's free and it works well. Just follow the instructions and you will be protected.

dogmaryxx

To remove McAfee software completely from your PC, first use Window's built-in system to uninstall the McAfee software.

Next, run the McAfee Removal Tool (MCPR.exe) from the McAfee site: http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe

McAfee Removal Tool works on Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. It is not compatible with Windows 98 or Windows ME.

closed

The antivirus on other machines has no impact on yours. uninstall mcafee and replace with a free one eg

http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/

Lemon_Labs

Play are doing Kaspersky with free delivery for £9.99. Don't bother with the free ones as they don't tend to have Behavioral Detection which monitors spyware and virus threats based on their behaviors, and does not rely on security updates to detect and quarantine certain threats.

waddler_8

Lemon_Labs wrote: »

Don't bother with the free ones as they don't tend to have Behavioral Detection which monitors spyware and virus threats based on their behaviors, and does not rely on security updates to detect and quarantine certain threats.

Avast & MSE do. And all employ heuristics to attempt to detect unknown threats.

http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download#tab3

Behavior Shield

Stops ‘zero-day’ threats and unknown malware before virus definitions have been obtained.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/security_essentials/FeaturesBenefits.aspx

Live system behavior monitoring

Microsoft Security Essentials employs a definitions database of the characteristics and behaviors for known malware. Live system behavior monitoring uses sensors to detect suspicious process, file registry, and kernel operations to help identify new threats.