Antivirus program

[IgorM]

My laptop came with McAfee installed and it seems that it is only causing me trouble, like installing some stuff and compiling programs. Is it ok to uninstall it and Windows Defender should do the job? Also what can I use to do check for viruses on my files and downloads for example?

[Theguywhobea]

Yeah I always uninstall that garbage, Windows defender has been working fine for me for the past few years.

[TurbulentWinds]

Uninstall that crap and get Malwarebytes. Windows Defender has a very low rate of detection so I would go with the free version of AVG or BitDefender

[Armakar]

Windows defender is fine. If anything it's better, because it doesn't BS about imaginary viruses and performance problems. The only other anti malware program I use is Malwarebytes, which can pick up a lot of different stuff that stuff like Mcafee, Avast, AVG and even windows defender don't pick up.

[Jaxder]

On all of my computers, I have two accounts. One is the Admin, the other is a regular user. It forces me to plug in a password every time I install a program, but it also makes me stop and think about what I'm installing before I install it. I also run Windows Defender. Hopefully that combo protects me.

[AnalogCanavity]

Malware bytes and avast

[Sfekke]

2 minutes ago, RandomGuy13 said:

If you are quite a tech savvy person, and isn't prone to downloading dodgy stuff of the internet and reinstalled their windows at every few years. Then you are fine with just windows defender.

Exactly what I'd advise even non tech savvy users.
Reinstalling Windows every year, or two gives you a clean slate.

Windows Defender can scan your files just right click the file/folder (Screenshot attached if needed)

What comes with OEM machines isn't even a 'good' antivirus.
Hell most have a sh*tty detection rate anyhow.
The best Anti Virus is your mind and logical thinking, does it seem fishy/fake/too good to be true? then it most likely is.

Anti-Viruses do not always fix the issue too, they remove the file that caused the infection.
For all it knows it spread out over the system in a different form that it cannot detect.

TD;DR

Use common sense.
Reinstall Windows every year, two years could work if you use your system less.

Uninstall default anti virus software that came with OEM pc's, it does what the free Windows Defender does.
DO NOT get a free anti virus like :  AVG Free/Avast/etc

All they do is what Windows Defender does but slower and riddled with ads & annoying popups.

 

 

Sidnote:

Every store will tell you you need it, you do not.
It is one big marketing ploy!

[Sfekke]

6 minutes ago, TurbulentWinds said:

Uninstall that crap and get Malwarebytes. Windows Defender has a very low rate of detection so I would go with the free version of AVG or BitDefender

Malwarebytes is a good complementary piece of software.
But I run it, and after that just uninstall it.

If you use common sense, Windows Defender is more then enough and allows some user error.

No anti virus is 100% virus proof.

Otherwise why would there still be viruses/malware floating around?

[IgorM]

25 minutes ago, Sfekke said:

Exactly what I'd advise even non tech savvy users.
Reinstalling Windows every year, or two gives you a clean slate.

Windows Defender can scan your files just right click the file/folder (Screenshot attached if needed)

What comes with OEM machines isn't even a 'good' antivirus.
Hell most have a sh*tty detection rate anyhow.
The best Anti Virus is your mind and logical thinking, does it seem fishy/fake/too good to be true? then it most likely is.

Anti-Viruses do not always fix the issue too, they remove the file that caused the infection.
For all it knows it spread out over the system in a different form that it cannot detect.

TD;DR

Use common sense.
Reinstall Windows every year, two years could work if you use your system less.

Uninstall default anti virus software that came with OEM pc's, it does what the free Windows Defender does.
DO NOT get a free anti virus like :  AVG Free/Avast/etc

All they do is what Windows Defender does but slower and riddled with ads & annoying popups.

 

 

Sidnote:

Every store will tell you you need it, you do not.
It is one big marketing ploy!

I was looking for this option on right click but it's not showing up

[IgorM]

@Sfekke After uninstalling McAfee it showed up, thanks

[Sfekke]

29 minutes ago, IgorM said:

@Sfekke After uninstalling McAfee it showed up, thanks

Hey no problem man  

Glad I could help.

And indeed if you have software like McAfee installed it'll hide that option (You could edit the registry to unhide it, but uninstalling is way easier)