Anti Virus

paulstar

Thank you for the recommendations.

I have uninstalled Essentials and installed Bitdefender. It was a simple process. It didn't try and install other toolbars or add-ons, or try and reset my home page. I like it already.

Gillor

It doesn't really matter which free a/v you use as the majority all perform pretty well nowadays.

None is going to give you 100% protection so just choose the one that suits you and your machine.

Personally I didn't get on too well with the free version of Bitdefender. The detection was fine but trying to re-instate legitimate files (false positives) which had been incorrectly quarantined was problematic to say the least.

And the last time I looked (September), the free version was still not compatible with Windows 10, with Bitdefender indicating at the time that they had no immediate plans to make it so.

Just my personal experience for what it's worth.

bod1467

Erm ... I switched to Bitdefender AFTER I updated from Windows 7 to Windows 10.

Gillor

Still no mention of Windows 10 on Bitdefender Free website:

Minimum system requirements

• Operating system: Windows XP SP3 32-bit, Windows Vista (SP2), Microsoft Windows 7 (SP1), Microsoft Windows 8
  RAM: 512MB
  Hard disk space: 700 MB

And from their Facebook page 6 hours ago:

Bitdefender Free Edition will not be compatible with Windows 10. As the best protection for the new OS, we would recommend one of the Bitdefender 2016 products.

Seems it will install on some systems but there are doubts about the level of protection.

spud17

Gillor wrote: »

..............The detection was fine but trying to re-instate legitimate files (false positives) which had been incorrectly quarantined was problematic to say the least...........

You're right, I do remember having a few problems with it not liking some e.g. Key Finder programs I had stored, sometimes they could be restored, sometimes I restored them the next day and sometimes I gave up.:)

Quote:
Bitdefender Free Edition will not be compatible with Windows 10. As the best protection for the new OS, we would recommend one of the Bitdefender 2016 products.

Cynic alert: They'll get us all using the freebie, then suddenly withdraw it, leaving only the paid for version.

jshm2

Fightsback wrote: »

Ah Mr unsubstantiated sweeping statement strikes again, this isn't the faith business but exact science.

"That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence"

However on this occasion I'll do some dismissing with evidence:



A marginally higher false positive for Bit defender than ESET:

http://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/avc_fps_201503_en.pdf

However the key metric here is detection rate, that is the whole purpose of AV after all:

http://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/avc_fdt_201503_en.pdf

Bit Defender: 99.7%

ESET: 98.6%

Do I want false positive or false negatives ? One is fatal, the other isn't.

If you are going to make unsubstantiated claims then be prepared to look like an Alabama pastor thumping the bible on a Sunday who believes ignorance is knowledge.

You seem to be of a fragile disposition and thus do not believe the whole of your fallacy to be wrong. An Alabama pastor would look reasonable next to you

Using one online source to place 100% of your assertion on and then claiming it "substantiates" your claim is pure comedy. You need to take a step back and reassess yourself instead of making a spectacle of yourself.

What I've said is based on my experience with the software and based on the various reviews. At most you could have said that the OP asked for free software - not trial.

Gillor

spud17 wrote: »

Cynic alert: They'll get us all using the freebie, then suddenly withdraw it, leaving only the paid for version.

Surely not!

Actually Bitdefender Free seems to have been left to "wither on the vine" for quite a while now with very little product development, as witnessed by their apparent lack of interest in working towards Windows 10 compatibility.

Anyone running on Windows 10 or wanting the protection of Bitdefender Free without the disadvantages should take a look at 360 Total Security which also has the Avira engine plus two of their own.

Just be sure to activate the Bitdefender engine which is not switched on by default.

spud17

Gillor wrote: »

Surely not!

Actually Bitdefender Free seems to have been left to "wither on the vine" for quite a while now with very little product development, as witnessed by their apparent lack of interest in working towards Windows 10 compatibility.

Anyone running on Windows 10 or wanting the protection of Bitdefender Free without the disadvantages should take a look at 360 Total Security which also has the Avira engine plus two of their own.

Just be sure to activate the Bitdefender engine which is not switched on by default.

Before Bitdefender I was using 360 Total Security with the extra engines turned on.
It did seem to keep an eye on many things, possibly too many? Reminding me about Windows Updates? Mmmm.
I dropped it when the news of their dodgy test results came out.

Fightsback

jshm2 wrote: »

You....

More mere unsubstantiated waffle.

Homeboy_1

Wow. I didn't expect to get so many replies to my question. I am using windows 7 at the moment and I am happy with it and, at this moment in time I am not bothered about upgrading to windows 10 as I am happy using windows 7. After thinking about it I think I will try and install Bitdefender and see how it goes. Hope I haven't offended anyone by doing this as I have read every reply and would like to thank everyone for trying to help me. Much appreciated