Anti-Virus Recommendation?

[Daboo]

This is a pretty smart group, not only on motorcycles, but you also bring a lot of other experience to the table. Here's the conundrum that I'm hoping you can help me with. Comcast has been providing Norton Security as part of the service. They are stopping that at the end of the year.


What do you recommend? Should I just buy a subscription to Norton? Or should I buy something else?


Chris

[notacop]

I've got Trend Micro as suggested by Best Buy. They gave up on Kaspersky since it was too Russian. I can get Norton cus I got Norton Lifelock coverage. But ran into some problem with their agents when trying to get it set up. i got hung up on and haven't called back.

[Daboo]

I may take Comcast up on the six-month trial period of Norton, then buy the Norton. The version you purchase includes a VPN. That would be handy for times when we are on holiday and need to make a financial transaction online through the motel's open Wi-Fi.

I suspect a lot of forum members will be having this same question as they read their emails.

Chris

[Runmyownlife]

Anti-virus can be as complicated as you want it to be. It's a huge marketplace with small and large players. My two cents? Follow the KISS principle and stick with what you know.

Even the best AV can't fix poor behaviors. Don't click links in an email and have different usernames and passwords for the websites that matter most and change them often.

[Royce]

My computer guy/geek has me on Avast. He is a diehard Microsoft guy, so there is that ...
But Avast has worked really well for me now for several years.

Good luck.

[Richard230]

I use whatever you get free with Microsoft 10. It seems to update with the lasted virus information every time I turn around. So far I haven't had any computer problems and it is free, which is what I really like.

[Randyjaco]

I like Webroot for all my devices. I have been using it for over 5 years and never had a problem

[Daboo]

I've spent the afternoon doing some very interesting reading. Here's a good review of current anti-virus programs from PC Magazine that has some meat to it. https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best...rus-protection.


The Windows Defender program received some surprisingly favorable comments. Apparently, it has improved a lot over the years. One that I've never heard of before is Webroot. It has the ability to reverse the damage done by ransomware. I didn't know that could happen.


Kaspersky came out as one of the top programs. I've been using Malwarebytes Anti-malware as a second tier anti-virus program. It's grown far more than I realized and can be used as a full fledged anti-virus program.


Chris

[308bever]

keep away from the porn sites!!! lol. i have trend and it works, i think!

[Selden]

This is a pretty smart group, not only on motorcycles, but you also bring a lot of other experience to the table. Here's the conundrum that I'm hoping you can help me with. Comcast has been providing Norton Security as part of the service. They are stopping that at the end of the year.


What do you recommend? Should I just buy a subscription to Norton? Or should I buy something else?


Chris

Get a Chomebook. No documented virus infections since 2010.

[Daboo]

I looked into a Chromebook, but didn't like the idea that most of the info is stored in the cloud somewhere. What do you do if you don't have Internet access? Besides...that would mean I'd be scrapping some perfectly nice laptop computers.

I'd be more likely to install Linux, where I also would have little potential of a virus and I could use my existing hardware.

Chris

[CagivaRider]

Also add Malwarebytes to whatever anti-virus you use. It runs on most every OS/platform.

[Daboo]

I was surprised by the review above. Malwarebytes Antimalware was reviewed as a full-fledged anti-virus program in its own right. Not as a second-tier layer like I've always viewed it as.

Another surprise was Windows Defender. It's actually quite good. And it is built-in to the OS.

So now I have some decisions to make.

• One option would be to keep Malwarebytes Antimalware and pair it with Windows Defender. I'm already paying for the first, and the second is free. And the combination should be pretty effective.
• I already use the "free" Norton Anti-Virus that is included with Xfinity. The price doesn't bother me to pay for it later. It is a top-rated antivirus program...and the paid version includes a VPN. That would be a plus. And I'm familiar with it.
• Do I go with something else entirely? Kapersky is top-rated and has been for years. Webroot seems to be taking a new path towards virus protection. And I like the idea that it says it can reverse a ransomware attack. No one else does that.

I think it will be interesting to compare notes with others hitting the same situation as I am. I image a lot of us are finding the anti-virus program we took for granted through Xfinity, is going away. When I decide what my path will be, I'll share what I'll be using...and why.

Chris

[danexmachina]

I just switched from Kaspersky to BitDefender for more licenses/cost savings. I might switch back. Of all I've used over the years (I used Avast until it bloated a few years ago, hate Norton (chugs), Webroot seems good. I found Kaspersky the least annoying (less interference, low processor loading, easy install, high effective ratings, backup functionality). My question now is what people here recommend for password management. I would like a hardware key/local storage option.

[Daboo]

Thanks. That's good input. I appreciate the feedback on Kaspersky and Bitdefender.

I'm not sure I need the VPN of Norton. I can use the data connection on my phone and eliminate a lot of security risks that way. My VPN needs are not many. But if it was down to two products and one offered a VPN solution and one didn't for the same price, I'd go with the one that offered more.

Chris

[Sundog52]

I vote for this option..........

• One option would be to keep Malwarebytes Antimalware and pair it with Windows Defender. I'm already paying for the first, and the second is free. And the combination should be pretty effective.
  ..

[gberl001]

I work in the IT field (Software Engineer), I don't personally use Windows but from what I've been told by others in the field is that Windows Defender is generally sufficient. Supplementary AV is only really necessary if you plan to visit less secure sites or download third party applications that are not really mainstream. I do not use AV on my Mac or Linux machines and have not had any issues in years, I do have Avast on the Windows PC that my kids use and it hasn't been necessary yet, if anything it's overprotective, I've had to approve a few false positives and turn it off during installation of some software because it interferes with it.

I do also use MalwareBytes for malware detection as well as SpyBot but they never really find anything menacing. It all depends on what you use your computer for and the level of trust you have for the software and sites you use. Also, it's important to keep your software up to date, updates typically include security patches rather than new features.

[GaryWoods84]

I use whatever you get free with Microsoft 10. It seems to update with the lasted virus information every time I turn around. So far I haven't had any computer problems and it is free, which is what I really like.

But I wouldn't trust them....

[Richard230]

But I wouldn't trust them....

Why not? All I use my computer to do is to view motorcycle forums, YouTube videos and occasionally buy something off of Amazon. I am not sure if that requires trust. Besides I have the U.S., EU and Kalifornia government regulators looking after me.

[CagivaRider]

I use Windows Defender and Malwarebytes (I have a ten user license that covers our family computers and cellphones). As a side note: I run a VPN on my cellphone for when I am using a 'free' WiFi connection in public.

[Richard230]

I just use my cell phone for making phone calls.

[Daboo]

Michael (CagivaRider) has a good point that is worth considering for people with smartphones and lots of data on their cell phone plans.

I'll often use my cell phone's data plan and turn off Wi-Fi when in a place like Starbucks or a motel to keep my browsing safe. And in those situations where I use my laptop, I'll "tether" my laptop to the smartphone's data connection.

It's not that hard to tap into your Wi-Fi connection in an open connection like you find in a public place. But to tap into your data connection, is probably much harder.

Chris

[GaryWoods84]

Why not? All I use my computer to do is to view motorcycle forums, YouTube videos and occasionally buy something off of Amazon. I am not sure if that requires trust. Besides I have the U.S., EU and Kalifornia government regulators looking after me.

Well, then you're well guarded anyway...

[Daboo]

Why not? All I use my computer to do is to view motorcycle forums, YouTube videos and occasionally buy something off of Amazon. I am not sure if that requires trust. Besides I have the U.S., EU and Kalifornia government regulators looking after me.

And the NSA, CIA, FBI, and FB.

Chris

[Richard230]

And don't forget Microsoft and Google.

[Selden]

I looked into a Chromebook, but didn't like the idea that most of the info is stored in the cloud somewhere. What do you do if you don't have Internet access? Besides...that would mean I'd be scrapping some perfectly nice laptop computers.

I'd be more likely to install Linux, where I also would have little potential of a virus and I could use my existing hardware.

Chris

Fair enough. Linux is great. The only problem is that there are so many tweaking options that Linux can become a time sink. I have an "old" HP Chromebook 13 G1 that I just replaced with an Acer 713, and I may install Linux on the HP.

Years ago I replaced Windows with Mint on a low-end Acer netbook belonging to a friend who was decidedly non-technical. In three years, she never once called for help. It just worked.

But, I also remember the amount of time I spent on tweaking the last time I experimented with Linux. Even in retirement, my time is not unlimited.

[Daboo]

...But, I also remember the amount of time I spent on tweaking the last time I experimented with Linux. Even in retirement, my time is not unlimited.

Like you, in retirement, my time is limited. I do chuckle though in thinking of my history with computers. Back in the days of the Tandy 1000, a friend tried to get me to buy a computer. No way. Then I got out of the USAF and my wife wanted the option to work from home if our daughter was sick, we bought a IBM XT clone. I put it together, and when I had this black screen in front of me with an amber cursor blinking at me, I asked her what to do. She said type in "dir", so I did. Now what? Hit Enter, she said. I did...and all the DOS commands streamed down the screen. I was hooked.

I taught myself from that point on, running a side business of building computers and maintaining business computers. At one point, I changed jobs at Boeing and spent 10 years in IT getting paid for my hobby. When they started outsourcing IT jobs, I went back to "working" for a living.

But at this point...I just want it to work.

Chris