Best Antivirus Software?

[SlackAssassin]

I just don't want Norton anymore.

[Godlygamer23]

I won't define what the "best" is because to me, it doesn't exist. I will give you viable options though.

 

Avast, AVG, Bitdefender(they offer a free version as well), Avira, 360 Total Security(not bad. Allows you to use multiple AV engines, including Avira's and Bitdefender's. They offer a slew of extra features too that come in handy), etc. 

[I am an SSD]

3 minutes ago, SlackAssassin said:

I just don't want Norton anymore.

Windows Defender works fine for me. Though it does hog the disk a little bit just after booting, its otherwise pretty lightweight. And im sure the others will take up too much disk time at some point as well. 

[noisebomb44]

you should probably check this before deciding

http://chart.av-comparatives.org/chart1.php

[Bazadar]

I use Windows Defender. Not had to use any other Anti Virus for years.

[Majestic]

A brain. Haven't used anti-virus software for years now. I think they're dinosaurs of a bygone era.

[Kirky2k15]

This question is coming up more often, I'm a long time AVG user but they're taking the p1ss with their ads right now, might try Avast for a bit

[mikat]

malwarebytes and windows defender work just fine

and ofc: common sense

[noisebomb44]

1 hour ago, Majestic said:

A brain. Haven't used anti-virus software for years now. I think they're dinosaurs of a bygone era.

This has been discussed hundered of times on this forum by now, there are resons to use an AV, so there is no need to tell the OP that he doesnt need one, or that they are obsolete because he has already made his choice and have his own reasons

[Godlygamer23]

1 hour ago, Majestic said:

A brain. Haven't used anti-virus software for years now. I think they're dinosaurs of a bygone era.

Lemme know how far that gets you if LTT ever becomes compromised. Remember that whole password leak we had? Yeah, that was due to malware being installed on the server and remaining dormant for a while.

[Majestic]

2 minutes ago, Godlygamer23 said:

Lemme know how far that gets you if LTT ever becomes compromised. Remember that whole password leak we had? Yeah, that was due to malware being installed on the server and remaining dormant for a while.

And running an anti-virus software on the client-side wouldn't have changed a damn thing.

 

I just don't see how running free 3rd party software reduces my risks of getting infected. To me they're just another source of distribution of my personal data. Neither does paying for software with invested-interest in staying relevant inspire me with great confidence.

[Godlygamer23]

3 minutes ago, Majestic said:

And running an anti-virus software on the client-side wouldn't have changed a damn thing.

And here's the thing: If malware can get on the server, it can get on the client. That's all you need - the possibility of having malware running on some sort of server, and then that malware copying itself to any connected clients. It's not about whether or not the password leak would've been prevented due to antivirus software on the client-end. It wouldn't have been. Clients aren't in charge of the server. But you have that whole concept of "malware can get on this thing. If the right malware becomes installed, many of our users could become compromised." Stop using common sense as an argument, or your "brain." Your brain won't stop malware-infection inherently. 

[Majestic]

8 minutes ago, Godlygamer23 said:

And here's the thing: If malware can get on the server, it can get on the client. 

I assume you're running higher-end stuff than free anti-virus. So, if it can bypass your services, running a free 3rd party anti-virus would've posed even less of a chance. That's like expecting the security guard to triumph when the army failed.

 

I've humored the possibility of running an infested system after years of running without anti-adware and anti-virus utilities. I took my drive before it was fit for reformat, with a windows client that was active >24months. Scanned it with all the popular programms. No adware, no virusses. Nothing.

 

I don't see how bogging my system resources and providing yet another few outlets for my search behaviour to be distributed serves me personally. I think the scaremongering of "what might possibly happen" is a nice way for those programs to stay relevant. In a time when there's a plethora of other ways to get people's information.

 

Like... getting them to run useless 3rd party software.

[Godlygamer23]

Just now, Majestic said:

I assume you're running higher-end stuff than free anti-virus. So, if it can bypass your services, running a free 3rd party anti-virus would've posed even less of a chance.

Your assumption is incorrect. I almost never pay for software. All of my security software is free - and I wouldn't equate "free" with "shitty" necessarily. 

[noisebomb44]

30 minutes ago, Majestic said:

I assume you're running higher-end stuff than free anti-virus. So, if it can bypass your services, running a free 3rd party anti-virus would've posed even less of a chance. That's like expecting the security guard to triumph when the army failed.

 

I've humored the possibility of running an infested system after years of running without anti-adware and anti-virus utilities. I took my drive before it was fit for reformat, with a windows client that was active >24months. Scanned it with all the popular programms. No adware, no virusses. Nothing.

 

I don't see how bogging my system resources and providing yet another few outlets for my search behaviour to be distributed serves me personally. I think the scaremongering of "what might possibly happen" is a nice way for those programs to stay relevant. In a time when there's a plethora of other ways to get people's information.

 

Like... getting them to run useless 3rd party software.

This is getting ridiculous, there are numerous reasons as to why you should run a AV even though you have had the luck of not getting a virus, although much like global warming its not as bad as its hyped up to be, but there are still plenty of ways people with brains can get viruses, for example old websites you used to play flash games and such on can be hacked and distribute viruses via flash player vulnerabilities instead, trusted friends you know in real life can be hacked (and yes this has happened to me, although i was lucky enough to have a good firewall) and send you viruses, torrents can be infected, people in your family borrowing your computer can accidentally click on ads, your USB stick can get infected while using it on a work/internet cafe/someone elses computer and then transfered to your computer when you want to use it at home.

 

Now im not saying that every single one of these attacks would be deflected by a good AV, but a lot of them will, and so far after using bitdefender for 2 years, i can also say that it has just been a waste of system resources, but i believe its still worth the 2-4 FPS i lose by running bitdefender in the background

[Finders]

Guy's please

 

you can still run without av. need god brain to work, but actually you can. 

For average users av is a must. If you have a good av and you're the most idiot man on earth, chances of being infected are still low. 

 

The advantage of having av is that, in case of system compromise either visiting a known site, or opening infected file, or just opening a .jpg file (yes, you actually can infect people via jpg photos) the av would still stop the payload from doing damage. 

 

it's like sleeping with the main house half open... got that?

[I am an SSD]

17 hours ago, Finders said:

 

, or just opening a .jpg file (yes, you actually can infect people via jpg photos) 

 

 

You can infect people with a jpg file?

[Godlygamer23]

17 hours ago, Finders said:

The advantage of having av is that, in case of system compromise either visiting a known site, or opening infected file, or just opening a .jpg file (yes, you actually can infect people via jpg photos) the av would still stop the payload from doing damage. 

Only if the software is able to stop that particular string of malware.

[Finders]

On 20/4/2016 at 11:04 AM, I am an SSD said:

You can infect people with a jpg file?

Yep... the image must be processed before being shown to you, exactly as any other type of file.. so... yep... 

But the chances of being infected that way is pretty low.

 

[I am an SSD]

3 hours ago, Finders said:

Yep... the image must be processed before being shown to you, exactly as any other type of file.. so... yep... 

But the chances of being infected that way is pretty low.

 

wow....never thought of it that way....

 

Always thought exe s were the main ones......

 

i suppose jpgs are going to be really hard to detect via an antivirus yes? Not that im complaining but why dont we see many jpg viruses then?

[Automobili3XF]

Well, common sense.

Antiviruses are things of dark past, decent internet users should know how to protect themselves by now...

[imreloadin]

On 04/19/2016 at 3:26 AM, Majestic said:

A brain. Haven't used anti-virus software for years now. I think they're dinosaurs of a bygone era.

I bet you have Windows update disabled too don't you....