Security on Win.8.1.?

renegade

Is Windows Defender a good enough anti virus system , or do I need to install Avast/Avira?

Knarf44

Some will say yes, some no. Alot depends on your own browsing habits. No product offers 100% protection but some are better at staying up to date than others.

Currently, based on the info at the https://www.av-test.org website, of the free programs available, Avira offers the best protection along with Panda Security and Qihoo 360.

My advice would be to try all of them but not at the same time, of course, until you find the one you feel most comfortable with.

JJ_Egan

Online banking with Barclay will give a free Kaspersky Internet Security .

Geep

MSE is not as good as it used to be, and MSE people are on record as saying in some circumstances a third-party antivirus may be best.

http://lifehacker.com/microsoft-admits-that-third-party-antivirus-is-more-eff-1441135677

http://www.howtogeek.com/173291/goodbye-microsoft-security-essentials-microsoft-now-recommends-you-use-a-third-party-antivirus/

On the other hand, there are definitely points in favour of MSE. The following site gives a fair appraisal IMV, but like most such issues do a bit of research and make up your own mind.

http://www.gtcomm.net/blog/pros-and-cons-of-microsoft-security-essentials/

FWIW I used to use MSE but switched to Avast, tried others and came back to Avast as a personal preference.

Big_Graeme

Geep wrote: »

MSE is not as good as it used to be

When on Money Saving Experts it may be best to use the program name ;-)

Geep

Context is everything! Who would ever say that Money Saving Experts is not as good as it used to be?:p

abibee

Avast! Free, Avira Free, Panda Free, Bitdefender Free, Qihoo 360, there's lots to choose from that are free. MSE is free, but I wouldn't trust it for protection as far as I couldn't throw it (bearing in mind no protection is 100% if you don't employ safe practice on the net). It scores next to nothing in any tests I've seen.

Panda Free is the one that's been doing best in tests for a good while now, up there with the best paid ones. So I'd pick that.