Anti Virus software suggestions please

[ConfusedOne]

Hi,

 

My sub for Norton is coming up for renewal, and I know by just typing that some folk are now thinking 'why are you using Norton'? Personal preference it just worked for me without tanking performance too much.

 

However the latest version will not allow you to use the product without giving them your credit card details for auto renewal, and while you can then cancel this its not the kind of game I want to play. So I’m looking for something else.

 

I haven’t used Windows defender and have no idea if its reliable, reasonable or prone to false positives – or worse not picking stuff up. I’m guessing its OK, but no more.

 

Some friends use Kaspersky and say its a bit of a thug and rather bloated.

 

Ive tried Bit Defender in the past but didn't like the experience and the couple of times I had to contact their help desk they were useless.

 

The only other I tried many years ago was AVG and I gave up on that after 3 days as it just did not work.

 

I’m not that technical so I’d like something I can install and forget which allows me to turn off a couple of games insatiable need to phone home all the time. So suggestions pls?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

Edited November 14, 2021 by ConfusedOne
typos

[LogicalDrm]

I can already say that unless you can buy the yearly update from store, your options for CC-free renewals are in few. Ofc depending on your region.

 

Pretty much all services offer free, light edition. Windows Defender is as good as anything just for the basic stuff. So question really is, what features you are looking for?

[Oshino Shinobu]

For personal use, I'd advise sticking with Windows Defender. Most AV products don't maintain their definition repositories on their own, they all share/pull from the same ones, so none are particularly better or worse than others in that regard. 

 

3rd Party ones have the benefit of things like tamper protection and advanced exclusions and configurations, but really this is something for use in business environments, not too useful for personal use. 

 

I used to run a managed version of Forticlient, partly for testing for my work and partly for the central management, but I've recently switched back to Windows Defender as it's honestly good enough. 

[Cyberoats]

Avast free edition is not bad.

 

Unfortunately in the last few years they have increased the amount of nag screens to upgrade to the pro version. If you can out up with ignoring that then it's a solid choice and unless I'm mistaken the only free AV that offers a boot time scan.

[ConfusedOne]

Thanks for the replies. I'm in the UK, so guess have the same options and headaches as most other regions. As for features, mainly fire and forget av with firewall and some kind of browser protection, in case of spoofing (if I've got the right phrase?). The option to block apps that want to send what I am doing to their masters all the time etc.

 

I guess they all do this?

 

Thanks again.

[Devin_Kearney]

On 11/14/2021 at 5:46 AM, Oshino Shinobu said:

For personal use, I'd advise sticking with Windows Defender. Most AV products don't maintain their definition repositories on their own, they all share/pull from the same ones, so none are particularly better or worse than others in that regard. 

 

3rd Party ones have the benefit of things like tamper protection and advanced exclusions and configurations, but really this is something for use in business environments, not too useful for personal use. 

 

I used to run a managed version of Forticlient, partly for testing for my work and partly for the central management, but I've recently switched back to Windows Defender as it's honestly good enough. 

I have the same mind set that sticking with Windows would be my best bet!! However do you have any Software that you to perform scans to see if anything has slipped by? I'm so paranoid!!