Free antivirus/security suites

PunkRoquefort

I, often, have paid for Kaspersky Internet Security and my subscription is about to end soon. I have also used AVG in the past.

I know AVG, Avira, Window's own security suite and other freebies get good write-ups.

I am with BT internet, who provide internet security, but I have heard many mixed reports about the BT Virus Protect.

Are the freebie suites enough protection? Where would someone stand with their bank, if they got hacked and their credit card was used, if they only used a freebie security package?

Newcad

I think that BT currently use a version of Norton AV, I probably should know for sure as I'm a BT customer myself, but I don't use their offering on my Smarthub2.

Windows built in security is all you need in terms of an antivirus.

If your card details ever do get hacked it's not your computer that is hacked, it's a company that you have bought something from using that card. Whatever protection you have on your computer can't stop that happening. Choose what companies you give your card details to, you can use PayPal as a cutout.

Sarahspangles

Windows' own security suite is fine.  

The most likely way your card details will be taken when you're at home with your card is when you've actively provided them to a scam site, so don't do that.  Windows in-built security will look out for malware, but if you avoid allowing these to be installed, that also helps - basically don't click on attachments you don't expect or install free apps without checking first.

If you enter your card details into a mobile device when you're out (e.g. online shopping when you're in a pub), use your own 3G/4G/5G data rather than connecting to free wifi in case that's compromised.

grumpycrab

PunkRoquefort said:

I am with BT internet, who provide internet security, but I have heard many mixed reports about the BT Virus Protect.

Its Norton. I use that (free one with BT) in preference to the normal freebies and in preference to Windows because it comes with Norton Safe Web (an extension for Chrome, Edge and possibly others). Cannot be too safe browsing all those web sites!

PunkRoquefort

grumpycrab.

I know it is Norton, but is it the full, comprehensive suite or a stripped down version/one of Norton's more basic suites?

[Deleted User]

If there was an AV product that had a significantly better rate of reducing financial fraud then we’d all know about it because it would be a great marketing tool and we would see banks promoting it. 

But there isn’t and the fact is that most financial fraud cannot be prevented with an antivirus product. 

Phishing and social engineering are the biggest threats and most computer security software cannot prevent that. 

Save your money, use the free Windows AV. 

wongataa

PunkRoquefort said:

Are the freebie suites enough protection? Where would someone stand with their bank, if they got hacked and their credit card was used, if they only used a freebie security package?

The free built in Windows security is perfectly good enough.  The vast majority of financial 'hacking' will be down to bad people tricking people into giving up their details or transferring money.  No security software will stop that.  Tricking people into giving up their relevant details is far easier than actually breaking into people's accounts.

Grey_Critic

****The vast majority of financial 'hacking' will be down to bad people tricking people into giving up their details or transferring money. *****

Read about them on a regular basis and never understood whith all the publicity given to these scams why people continue to fall for them.

They are just like the * I will double your money within 6 months* tales we hear about. If it is to good to be true then it is - then we are supposed to feel sorry for them.

Security really is down to yourself. If you visit dodgy sites and click on links without checking first you deserve all you get. Like others I find emails in my junk folder telling me I have won whatever. As I never enter then it is impossible.