AV for win7 64 bit

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arcon

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#255941 7-Sep-2019 20:29

Hi all - I have one remaining Win 7 64 bit PC which I will have for about another year. But I'm discontinuing Norton subscription - would prefer a free option if there is a good one, what do people recommend? Any advice much apprec.

lNomNoml

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#2312506 7-Sep-2019 20:35

Upgrade to Windows 10 and use the Windows Defender on it. Windows 7 end of life soon and you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free so don't see why not, only if you have software that doesn't work on Windows 10.

Otherwise Bitdefender Free and Avast Free are good.

Technofreak

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#2312536 7-Sep-2019 21:11

Upgrading to Win 10 isn't always a practical option on some devices. Not all manufacturers have released drivers for Win 10. There can be a world of pain going through the upgrade process in some cases.

Microsoft Security Essentials is what I've been using for a long time with Win 7 64 bit. I can highly recommend it. Free, effective and unintrusive.

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timmmay

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#2312537 7-Sep-2019 21:12

Use the one built into Windows 10.

xpd

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#2312678 8-Sep-2019 09:52

Technofreak:

Upgrading to Win 10 isn't always a practical option on some devices. Not all manufacturers have released drivers for Win 10. There can be a world of pain going through the upgrade process in some cases.

Microsoft Security Essentials is what I've been using for a long time with Win 7 64 bit. I can highly recommend it. Free, effective and unintrusive.

I've yet to find anything that dosent run on Win10 - it either picks up drivers it self, or its happy with Win 7 drivers. And I've built a lot of old systems since its release :)

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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rhy7s

623 posts

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#2312738 8-Sep-2019 10:43

xpd:
I've yet to find anything that dosent run on Win10 - it either picks up drivers it self, or its happy with Win 7 drivers. And I've built a lot of old systems since its release :)

I come across a fair few that weren't meant to go to 7 but would work if forcing an XP or Vista driver - wouldn't work on 10 though, hopefully will drop by the wayside with age and the end of support for 7.

Andib

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#2312767 8-Sep-2019 11:32

Microsoft Security Essentials. Although I believe its support ends with Windows 7 in January 2020.

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Technofreak

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#2312921 8-Sep-2019 13:28

xpd:

Technofreak:

Upgrading to Win 10 isn't always a practical option on some devices. Not all manufacturers have released drivers for Win 10. There can be a world of pain going through the upgrade process in some cases.

Microsoft Security Essentials is what I've been using for a long time with Win 7 64 bit. I can highly recommend it. Free, effective and unintrusive.

I've yet to find anything that dosent run on Win10 - it either picks up drivers it self, or its happy with Win 7 drivers. And I've built a lot of old systems since its release :)

That's good to know.

I was going to upgrade my Dell laptop to Win 10 but there were so many people on various forums who had problems with drivers I decided it wasn't worth the likely hassle.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
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1101

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#2313479 9-Sep-2019 11:20

Bitdefender Free
Kasperky Free

Avoid AVG, Avast .

MS have a less than stellar history with their basic AV products . To put it mildly .

timmmay

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#2313512 9-Sep-2019 11:54

I got rid of the free tier of third party AV solution as I got tired of the constant nags to upgrade. I used to pay for NOD32, but I don't any more as the MS one seems fine. Nothing has gotten through the built in W10 solution yet, and either way you need to have backups that assume something will wipe or encrypt your drive at the most inconvenient time.

xpd

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#2313516 9-Sep-2019 12:12

1101:

Bitdefender Free
Kasperky Free

Avoid AVG, Avast .

MS have a less than stellar history with their basic AV products . To put it mildly .

I use Avast on a number of systems, never had any problems.

On my main workstation I just have the Windows one.

Best AV of all tho, is your common sense :)

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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1101

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#2313554 9-Sep-2019 13:42

xpd:

I use Avast on a number of systems, never had any problems.

I used to install it on alot of PC's . Not any more
Dodgy business practices , scare tactics to trick free users into buying paid version
Endless popups (on free version)
Now bloated with useless addons .
The last straw was when it added itself into my Browser, despite me unticking that option .

Sure , common sense is the best prevention . An thats free :-)
new malware gets past everything regardless , common sense will usually prevent it , but often common sense option is turned off.

arcon

423 posts

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#2313735 9-Sep-2019 16:54

Upgraded to Windows 10 today, seems to be running ok :)

lNomNoml

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#2315059 11-Sep-2019 14:47

arcon:
Upgraded to Windows 10 today, seems to be running ok :)

With regard to the free AV recommendations above you can also get Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and run it on the free version and run a scan on your PC once a week or less frequently for extra piece of mind. When you install it go to the options and deactivate the premium features.