Avast Products

debitcardmayhem

frankie wrote: »

So what AV free would you recommend, if Avast is gash, for a win 8.1 desktop please?

Move up to windows 10 perhaps

esuhl

David_Aston wrote: »

Hold on guys. I'm happily using Avast, since you lot weaned me off AVG! Should I be using whatever comes with Windows 7?

I have mixed feelings about Avast. In the past few years, when I've been cleaning friends' infected PCs, Avast has been most effective (compared to other free AVs) at cleaning up infections.

Until several months ago, I was using Avast too (with just the shields enabled, and nearly all the other bloatware turned off).

But I ran into some kind of problem with it affecting the normal operation of my PC (can't remember what), and was getting fed-up with the bloat/advertising and the decreasing performance of my PC (which returned when I uninstalled Avast).

I tried various other free antiviruses, but found them all quite bloated and performance-sapping. So I got rid of my antivirus altogether and splashed out £30 for year's Malwarebytes Premium licence.

I begrudge having to pay money just to keep Windows safe, but Malwarebytes works really well -- it's simple, doesn't noticeably affect the speed of the PC, and seems quite effective.

esuhl

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

Move up to windows 10 perhaps

Or Linux -- no need for an antivirus at all.

dipsomaniac

esuhl wrote: »

I begrudge having to pay money just to keep Windows safe, but Malwarebytes works really well -- it's simple, doesn't noticeably affect the speed of the PC, and seems quite effective.

you don't HAVE to pay to keep windows safe. i have been using windows for approx 25 years and never paid for av. i use win10/defender and apart from one stupid mistake (downloading software without unchecking a box) by me haven't had any problems. the mistake was then sorted with a 20 min factory reset.

esuhl

dipsomaniac wrote: »

i have been using windows for approx 25 years and never paid for av.

Same here.

AndyPix

I think it's important to note the change of the threat landscape over the recent years ..


Viruses, in their usual sense, are less of a threat than they used to be, and any half decent AV is good enough to keep the nasties out, as they all pretty much try to exploit the same things..


Malware on the other hand, is becoming more and more prevelent.


This is because viruses are/were designed to cripple systems.


But the dubious characters that create these have realised that there is no money to be made from a crippled system - and of course money is the great driver ..


These days the worst threats come from ad slinging, credential stealing malware - and AV programs are terrible at detecting these.
That is why, it is a common sight to see machines absolutely riddled with malware and an install of AGV or Avast etc running away in the background desperately trying to steal the last remaining clock cycles from the UI .. but doing nothing for the millions of PUPs running along side it ..


Basic AV is all you need - coupled with common sense , a restricted click finger and a semi regular sweep with malwarebytes

GunJack

^^^ total sense posted above