Do You Use Additional AV With Windows 10?

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TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#281538 23-Feb-2021 18:14

One of my Adobe buddies told me today that one of the first things he did with a new PC build was to install Bit Defender. That surprised and worried me because I have relied on Windows Defender for a good few years now, so I am wondering what the consensus is about anti virus etc. with current Windows 10 builds? Google shows plenty of options, and varied opinions about whether you need them. What do you guys use?

To the best of my knowledge, I have not had a virus or malware issue for as long as I can remember, but would I even know? I am beyond paranoid about opening suspicious emails, to the point I am sure I have deleted genuine emails.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

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#2661913 23-Feb-2021 18:22

i run windows defender and Spybot search and destroy, every now and then i run a malwarebytes scan.

shk292

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#2661922 23-Feb-2021 18:34

Only used Windows built-in for the last ten years or so. Never had a problem. Used to use various freeware AV but got increasingly tired of false positives and upselling attempts

snnet

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#2661925 23-Feb-2021 18:48

I run malwarebytes premium along with an antivirus. I don't know if it helps or not, I mostly got them to keep my Mum's laptop protected

xpd

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#2661930 23-Feb-2021 19:21

Windows Defener/AV/whatever they call it these days, Malwarebytes and CCleaner is all I use to keep the system clean and healthy.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2661969 23-Feb-2021 21:45

It does sound like plenty of people are relying on Windows Defender and not having catastrophes. I'm inclined to carry on doing the same and keep it simple as the more you add to your OS the more there is to go wrong.

I decided that I couldn't put up with the Logitech G502 which has been driving me crazy for ages. I even did a clean OS reinstall a couple of weeks ago, but the mouse had exactly the same glytching issues. I'm left wondering is G-Hub (which is supposed to be way more reliable than the older Logitech Gaming Software)? Or is a clash between the mouse and Wacom tablet or 3D Connexion Space Mouse? Why can't things just work? Anyway, I've ordered a MX Master 3 from PB Tech, and I'll pull out what is left of my hair if that has the same issues as the G502.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

xpd

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#2662016 24-Feb-2021 08:05

Logitech drive me up the wall with their software change. The LGS software worked perfectly for my 933 headphones and G400S mouse, then they did away with it and dumped GHub on me - I put up with it, but now it no longer supports the G400S!!! So I've lost the ability to configure the mouse how I want it unless I roll back to LGS but then lose other features for the headphones. Argh.

Whats your mouse doing ?

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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TLD

902 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2662118 24-Feb-2021 11:09

xpd:

Logitech drive me up the wall with their software change. The LGS software worked perfectly for my 933 headphones and G400S mouse, then they did away with it and dumped GHub on me - I put up with it, but now it no longer supports the G400S!!! So I've lost the ability to configure the mouse how I want it unless I roll back to LGS but then lose other features for the headphones. Argh.

What's your mouse doing ?

The cursor pretty much always goes where it is supposed to. It's selecting things that barely works at all. Selecting a block of text where it is MS Word or on a web page results in the first characters, or even a line or two, being missed. Then it is likely to complete the selection while the left button is still depressed. I use Greenshot a lot for screen grabs, and that is a nightmare. I start dragging and nothing happens, then it will start the grab having missed half of what I was aiming for, and suddenly complete the grab way too early. Using the Marquee tools or similar in Photoshop is a similar story.

Now I actually type out the problem it has me thinking it could be as simple as a near death left mouse button. I've wasted way too much of my life playing MS Minesweeper. This screen shot (which I just grabbed using more pressure than I usually do on the mouse button) tells me I have cleared nearly two million mines, so at least many additional clicks filling in where are no mines. That has to have taken it's toll on the mouse buttons. My best time is 1:59 btw which I like to think is OK for a bloke in his seventies.

I liked LGS, but at the time I was using it (with a G910 keyboard that kept going multiple spaces) I preferred the Razer software which detected which app you were using and applying the right set of macros a lot better than LGS which seemed to need to be told when you switched between apps. I now use a Corsair K95 with their iCue software which works OK. You'll find a LOT of posts on various forums complaining about G-Hub.

So after typing this and the penny having dropped that I maybe have a worn out left mouse button, I'll see if I can get in there and clean it. Probably not, but I can at least attack it with an airline. Is there any sort of spray that you could use on mouse or keyboard buttons? I'll ask Google in a bit, but the new mouse is on its way, so I am sure I'll switch to it regardless.

Trevor Dennis
Rapaura (near Blenheim)

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SpartanVXL

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#2662119 24-Feb-2021 11:10

For a G502 you want LGS, not the new GHub. Unless the mouse is faulty, it should run perfectly fine without software running in background. Theres no need as the mouse has onboard memory.

If you have multiple input devices which take over cursor input try and unplug them to diagnose, eg. wacom surface brushing against something.

As for the original question, first port of call is browser security as it’s the most likely vector of intrusion. Firefox with NoScript and ublock origin. My older machine which has been upgraded from windows 7 still have Malwarebytes premium but for my solely gaming rig (Steam, Battlenet etc.) just using windows defender along with browser addons.

Edit: if you have the newer g502 hero then it may be due to the new omron switches they started using. Not sure if there is a way to resolve it though.

michaelmurfy

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#2662122 24-Feb-2021 11:16

Stay on topic please... @TLD if you want to discuss something else then start a new thread.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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#2662125 24-Feb-2021 11:23

I have been using BitDefender which is consistently highly rated, but I don't think I will renew my subscription. It is going down the path that all "good" AV seem to take by slowly adding services and "features" that I don't want and that get enabled by default.

I want my AV to protect me from Malware and Ransomeware etc - and that is all. I don't want shredders and cleaners and optimisers. I don't want performance profiles set automatically based on my usage patterns or "system recommendations". I don't want VPN add-ons or any other crap bundled - just what I asked for thanks.

Probably back to Defender.

afe66

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#2662126 24-Feb-2021 11:24

I run w10 antivirus with Norton but that dates from building current machine 7 years ago rather than current opinion.

Have weak spot for nortons from norton utilities days and xtg gold utilities in 90s..

I'm also no longer installing all sorts of programs that I did in my geekiest days.

rhy7s

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Ultimate Geek

#2662128 24-Feb-2021 11:28

This piece on ArsTechnica is worth reading if you're considering installing antivirus software

fearandloathing

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#2662132 24-Feb-2021 11:39

No, for the most part third part av has security, performance and usability impacts.

duckDecoy

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#2662150 24-Feb-2021 11:49

TLD:

It does sound like plenty of people are relying on Windows Defender and not having catastrophes.

FWIW Leo Laporte from TWiT TV and who hosts The Tech Guy Weekly, and Steve Gibson the ultra mega computer geek, have both been saying for years that they just rely on Defender and that that's all that is needed.

decibel

316 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2662220 24-Feb-2021 15:01

afe66: and xtg gold utilities in 90s...

and you still can - https://www.ztree.com

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