Security Software - What do you use & why?

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DamageInc

549 posts

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#116384 27-Apr-2013 14:56

Just trying to get a gauge of whether i have the right security software for my Windows 7 Home Premium.

Apart from common sense I use Microsoft Security Essentials, never had a problem & doesn't seem to bog the system down.
I also have Windows Defender turned off.

When we first bought a PC we used AVG for ages then went to Avast.

Pop! OS

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#806402 27-Apr-2013 16:58

MSE for Windows 7 and Windows Defender for Windows 8.

Make sure you use Limited Account.

Always keep your Windows and other softwares (such as Java/Flash) updated.

Keep your browser updated and avoid installing unknown add ons.

billgates

4705 posts

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#806404 27-Apr-2013 17:10

Windows defender in Windows 8 machines where it works and doesn't fubrar 100% disk usage. On the machines it fubrar with 100% disk usage, I use BitDefender free edition.

Do whatever you want to do man.

johnr

19282 posts

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#806409 27-Apr-2013 17:26

None

1080p

1332 posts

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#806413 27-Apr-2013 17:34

johnr: None

This.

insane

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#806414 27-Apr-2013 17:36

I use ESET/NOD32 at home and on the workstations at work, have done for years and don't see any need to change. Lightweight and just works.

vexxxboy

4243 posts

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#806415 27-Apr-2013 17:40

i use none after been told that most Security software is just for peace of mind as they are always a stage behind the viruses they are meant to stop. Never had a problem in 2 years.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

billgates

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#806421 27-Apr-2013 17:50

To those saying that they run no security software because they only visit websites that are safe or that security companies lag behind. You wouldn't know that there is spyware or malware sitting on your machine pinging data back to some server in Russia.

Classic example. Many more on the internet.

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=50&topicid=88365

Do whatever you want to do man.

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scuwp

3885 posts

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#806439 27-Apr-2013 18:38

Whatever came with the Windows OS + Malwarebytes just in case.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

vexxxboy

4243 posts

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#806450 27-Apr-2013 19:14

i use to run avg and avast and it never stopped me getting viruses and malware , but now without it im much more aware of what i do and now and again i do a online scan and so far it has found no really nasty viruses.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

OldGeek

893 posts

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#806477 27-Apr-2013 20:08

DamageInc: Just trying to get a gauge of whether i have the right security software for my Windows 7 Home Premium.

Apart from common sense I use Microsoft Security Essentials, never had a problem & doesn't seem to bog the system down.
I also have Windows Defender turned off.

When we first bought a PC we used AVG for ages then went to Avast.

I have used third-party software for AV and security protection since well before MS acknowledged their vulnerability and produced MS Security Essentials/Defender/Firewall. I started with Norton (pre-Symantec days) then went with Bitdefender for a few years. Went back to NIS when Bitdefender support failed to deliver and read that NIS had been redeveloped to address performance issues around 2009.

Over the last 4 years I have found NIS to be unobtrusive performance-wise and on 2 occasions their online support facilities have been superb - you click through from the NIS GUI to chat to their operators online and on one occasion I watched while they fixed the problem remotely by fixing NIS registry data (they asked permission first then did exactly what they said they would do) - including reboots - with NIS remote support coming up afterwards. Their model of support is superb.

However I have no experience whatsoever with external threats. My internet connection started with Clear,net back around 1997 and I have never had a virus or malware threat materialise. I put this down to always having good protection running rather than good luck but who knows?

Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek

#806502 27-Apr-2013 20:53

Windows Security Essentials + common sense. Haven't needed anything else for years.

Greaver

117 posts

Master Geek

#806511 27-Apr-2013 21:16

Elpie: Windows Security Essentials + common sense. Haven't needed anything else for years.

This

MSE has one of the lowest overheads and more importantly, requires the least interaction.

People, even tech nerds, will still get malware by accident at some stage

I run malwarebytes and CC cleaner every couple of weeks to keep things fresh and exercise caution wherever I go.

Seems to be a pretty common misconception in users that you can be 'protected' - obviously the reason s***house products fly off the shelves as surely as commission makes its way into the salesmans pocket.

That new Norton program is effing terrible, performance alerts for medium usage of a component such as ram and hard drive out of the box?!

If they really need to justify their existence that badly its evident they are past expiration.

blakamin

4431 posts

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#806516 27-Apr-2013 21:40

Elpie: Windows Security Essentials + common sense. Haven't needed anything else for years.

+ about 11

farcus

1554 posts

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#806556 28-Apr-2013 00:03

to avoid Windows security problems I use linux.
In the ten or so years I have been using openSUSE (exclusively) I have never had any virus, adware, bloatware or any kind of security breach - and I use no a/v software at all.

bigdipper

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#807003 29-Apr-2013 01:04

For a free AV we recommend MS Security Essentials.

If you want a paid one then Trend Micro or Kaspersky.

For a secondary level of protection get the purchase a copy of Malwarebytes as the paid for version includes a real time scanner.

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