Here i go again with more of the same questions. I just got Windows 7 64bits, and am now considering the best options to secure it. In the past until now, ive used Kaspersky security. As the license will end, im considering an alternative to use. Ive been already advised that Windows Security Essentials along with Windows Firewall, to be a very good free solution. What you guys think? Also been sugested to use Malwarebytes along with MSE and MS Firewal? Im a normal gamer, but i sometimes visit less than perfect places. Im afraid of this solution, since i dont know its capabilities so far. Thx for the help oufcourse. Be well.
Over the past two years i have used Kaspersky Internet Security and AVG internet security, neither of them have ever let me down.. Malwarebytes is decent to run along side either of these.. the best free solution imo is either AVG free or Windows Security Essentials
MSE and Windows' own firewall are perfectly adequate for most use. The most recommended free antivirus I've found is Avira Personal. For a paid one, I've yet to find any that rival ESET NOD32.
I strongly recommend Avast Home edition, it's free, quick and has even has network and web modules that stop infected sites and downloads before they even get to you.
Avira and Avast are great Anto-virus... that is before MSE came out. Reviews showed that MSE is better than these 2 anti-virus. One advantage of MSE, is that if you have a virus, you can send it to Microsoft (the virus segment itself), and Microsoft will analyses it, and if a real virus, it will be added to the next definition. The advantage of this, is that it covers the rare viruses, out there. WTV you pick, you should NOT be afraid of anything. Virus protection is more, in my opinion, to cover human mistakes (ie: you go to places you should not go, and download their crap), or you open a picture, and Windows asks you Admin privileges and you all it, when clearly you should not.. it's a picture.. it doesn't need access to your system files. Of you don't: - P2P with people you don't know and trust, - download porn, install what a porn site suggests - Know an ad from a fake ad, when you click on it. - Know an ad from a system message - Don't torrent - Don't allow anyone else use your computer - Use a secure web browser - Keep your Windows up to date and so is your web browser and it''s plug-ins - Only visit trusted web site Then really, you don't even need an Anti-virus. As any virus that wants to installs, wants Admin rights (hence Windows will prompt you for this), and if you don't run anything from an untrusted site, then you are fairly safe. But you always have a friend that plugs his or er USB key on your system, or get an e-mail attachment where you are tired and don't look at the extension and run it, by mistake, or other human stupidities that all of us do, here and there.. so it's best to have one. BUT, my point is: Education and smart web surfing is the best protection you can get.
I would personally work with what you've got built-in to the OS and build up from there. Hardware DEP, SEHOP and Software Restriction Policies (or AppLocker if you have Ultimate edition) are very useful. SRP can be setup to default-deny (see here), my only comment on this is that for home users it can be fairly troublesome to troubleshoot, especially with video games. One of the best security practices is to use a Standard User Account for day-to-day activity with a separate Administrator account. Using the above SRP idea; my goal is to allow only Administrator to solely be capable of installing programs and games while the user account can only run programs and games. Any executable not located in the default Program Files/Windows directories can not be executed. It's not foolproof, but it works for common infection tactics. Windows 7 Firewall is great for two-way protection (block inbound, outbound and create rules) while the default (block inbound only) is effective for standard setups. The only real problem with this firewall is the lack of notifications for outbound connections. You typically will not be informed when programs are blocked, so you have to add rules with ports/addresses manually. As for third party software; on-demand scanners that work out great are Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (free, paid version adds real-time) and Hitman Pro (cloud-based, free version can't remove). Secunia PSI (free) will show current vulnerabilities with software and inform you of relevant patches and updates. I'm currently using MSE. A good place to check for detection rates is the AV-Comparatives on-demand comparative tests. The best practice is to keep backups of your important data. Use an disk imaging program, like Acronis True Image (paid) or Macrium Reflect (free) to make a restorable image of your Windows installation. There's a wealth of backup solutions and a fair amount are free. A few other options, of the top of my head, are using syncing software (SyncBack) or online storage (DropBox) along with Windows Backup and Restore. There's a lot of choice available.
As always you guys provide deep and usefull information. Ill dwelve into the comparitives provided, and also look especially for the free versions. Really ive only the best to speak of Kaspersky, and the last 2 years it never failed me, i use K Internet Security, that basicly acumulates all the functions in one aplication. If in the end i feel its still not enought ill go with a renowal of my licence. For over 13 years now i have PCs, and i only got infected once. Infected in a way i couldnt quickly resolve the matter. Basicly i now am relaxed because of Kaspersky, thats why im afraid of going for free versions. Again thx for the advices. I deeply apreciate it.
No one has suggested it yet, but i really like it, Mcafee I paid about £8 for a 3 user OEM lisence and couldn't be happier...as far as A/V goes
Yes, because it marked critical system files are viruses, and decided all by itself to delete these files. Upon reboot, prepare your Windows disk. Imagine this happens to you: you have McAfee on your laptop, you shut-it down, go to school, open it up.. BSOD on missing critical files. This is not the first time this happens with this anti-virus. Not to mention that this A/V is a joke beyond belief. Users who uses NvGPUPro (my software), get reports of false positive, for 2 reason: 1- The program is portable, meaning all it's files is inside itself. 2- The library DLL file I use, is marked falsely as a virus, if I rename it to something else.. it's no longer a virus..I rename it back, it's a virus again! WOW what a protection!
What GoodBytes said about McAfee, that particular update was apparently a PitA at my work (but fortunately not MY PitA.) Probably one to avoid.
McAfee sucks! We have it at work and it hogs loads of memory and has to scan everything I do which causes my machine to start paging. I would never use it if were my choice. I personally use Avast at home and have been doing so for years without a single infection. Panic
dual boot on the same drive not on different drives. if you dual boot on different drives you will mess up the bootmgr file in windows 7. happened to me when deleting my moms hard drive with xp on it.
