Poll of the Day > What's the current meta for Antivirus software?

(+) Yeah! (+)

For years I've always heard Avast is the recommended one to go with and it's what I've had on all my PCs. But lately it's been spamming me with fear-mongering popups. "You have outdated drivers! You have tracking cookies! Your IP is visible! Give us money to fix it!" I've always felt it's done a good job blocking what it needs to block and detecting what it needs to detect, but these popups are getting oppressive and I'm not even sure it's doing what it's supposed to anymore.

Windows defender, an adblocker and MFA on everything important.

My go-to has always been AVG, because that's what most of the tech savvy people I used to know always recommended.

That might have changed at some point though. Just like how Firefox used to be one of the best browsers if you wanted to maintain privacy, but is currently in the process of becoming just as shitty as everyone else.

Avg and avast have always been the low tier avs, among the weakest in detection and removal success.

I haven't used one in years. Malware just isn't as rampant as it used to be. I guess there's Windows Defender, but I don't use it for scanning.

With free antivirus you are the product. Remember that. Avast has been caught even stealing your data and selling it.

I used to use avira, but same things, just constant fear-mongering for nothing. And I got sick of it. Viruses aren't really a thing anymore. If you keep your system updated, block ads, and you're not the target of state-sponsored hacking.
And if you do get a virus, will you really trust your antivirus to actually remove it? I wouldn't. With a bad enough infection I would probably just reinstall Windows.

The default windows antivirus is good enough nowadays.I believe microsoft bought all of the major brands, so it's been good as long as your OS is updated and continues to be updated.

Windows Defender + Ublock. NoScript and Privacy Badger on top if you want more advanced protection.

avg is worse malware than norton lmfao

kind9 posted...

I haven't used one in years. Malware just isn't as rampant as it used to be. I guess there's Windows Defender, but I don't use it for scanning.

That's what I've felt. I haven't actually had an issue in over a decade, and when I do feel like I need to do a scan if I've had anything happen that makes me suspicious, nothing comes up.

Kaspersky was before it was banned because of paranoia.

Eset is best now I guess.

I used to be in the avg and avast camps but windows built in plus your browser protections are usually good enough. The greatest antivirus is not clicking sketchy stuff though but that aint gonna stop me.

I payed for Avast for a few years then realized I was wasting my money. Windows Defender has done me just fine for many years.

Bitdefender any good?

flashleet posted...

Bitdefender any good?

Supposedly. I heard it's heavy on the memory. Also much more expensive than Eset.

flashleet posted...

Bitdefender any good?

I used the free version for a while several years ago. It was good but the background service slowed down my laptop at the time.

I'm trying to think of the ones I used to use... I think it was a combo of Adaware and Spybot Search & Destroy.

I use McAfee - here is what it thinks of Gamefaqs
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/3/3a333fbe.png

mcafee also is in the realm of it just being malware at this point

I've been doing well with a paid subscription to Malware Bytes. Real Time protection as well as daily scans. Protects me from no no sites and

I use malwarebytes

I totally forgot about Malwarebytes. That was the last one I was using along with Spybot. Adaware was an older one I used before that, and I think it went to shit.

We're do for some new tools. Malwarebytes is almost as bad as malware now. Spybot was ruined at version 2 all those years ago. I haven't checked in on superantispyware in awhile.

Blue_Thunder posted...

Windows Defender + Ublock.

This.

I used to use Malwarebytes and BitDefender, but they're CPU hogs.

As for browser extensions, NoScript and Privacy Badger are redundant with uBlock.

Jen0125 posted...

I use malwarebytes

I was told to use Malwarebytes in tandem with Avast and use it for manual scans while letting Avast run in the background. But it broke on me and wouldn't let me update it so I uninstalled.

Malwarebytes is fine on its own :)

ublock and noscript are good addons for browsing :)

anyone have recommendations for dealing with aggressive cookies and sites that block you from using the site if you have any type of adblock? :)

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

ublock and noscript are good addons for browsing :)

I've used uBlock for ages, not sure what noscript is meant to do

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

anyone have recommendations for dealing with aggressive cookies and sites that block you from using the site if you have any type of adblock? :)

What kind of sights do that? Other than that period Youtube decided to go hard on adblocks, I can't think of any that actually prevent you from using the sight. uBlock has also been pretty quick about working around these issues in a timely manner. So I might just try to contact them for any direct issues you know about to see if they'll patch their software. I think they may be active on the r/uBlock as well.

I should look up add-ons that auto-reject cookies on sites. I really dislike how some sites block half the page with a pop up asking if you are okay with allowing cookies, but the option to reject all cookies is vague or

Salrite posted...

I've used uBlock for ages, not sure what noscript is meant to do

To be honest, nothing that uBlock doesn't.

Salrite posted...

I've used uBlock for ages, not sure what noscript is meant to do

It's a script domain blocker. It's more powerful than uBlock but tends to break sites, so you typically need to allow some domains when going to a new site.

I have Avast, paid for it too. I recently tried downloading a program and it would not let me do it, kept deleting it with no option to allow it. So, I tried to close Avast so I could DL it freely, could not close the program! I had to go into settings to find an obscure option to allow me to try and force close the program through Task Manager, even then, the program would keep opening up after closing. So I eventually went and changed start up options and disabled it altogether. Also, it was constantly trying to get me to upgrade and get other services like VPN/Browser Safety crap, etc.

Now I'm not even using it and will probably cancel my subscription.

I have never used an Anti-virus besides Windows Defender (and only because it comes with Windows and isn't obtrusive). As long as you are careful about where you go on the Internet and what you open, you don't need one.

that's victim blaming mentality.

I just go with what's in-built, so that'll be Defender, and it seems to get the job done in my use case. I run the occasional spyware sweep which always comes up blank. At the least I have not fallen victim to hijacking, deletions, slowdowns or anything I can see. Personal data theft I am pretty sure happens regardless, think we lost that battle years ago.

Sashanan posted...

I just go with what's in-built, so that'll be Defender, and it seems to get the job done in my use case. I run the occasional spyware sweep which always comes up blank. At the least I have not fallen victim to hijacking, deletions, slowdowns or anything I can see. Personal data theft I am pretty sure happens regardless, think we lost that battle years ago.

We lost that battle with social media.

Revelation34 posted...

We lost that battle with social media.

Was it a battle when people voluntarily forfeited?

Salrite posted...

Was it a battle when people voluntarily forfeited?

Nobody knew they did it until it was too late.

Revelation34 posted...

Nobody knew they did it until it was too late.

Really? You didn't know think your personal data was going to be stolen when you placed it freely on the internet for all to see? Really!?

Revelation34 posted...

We lost that battle with social media.

Well, most sites, anyway.

Bluesky and the Fediverse are more privacy-friendly compared to Twitter or Meta.

KalloFox34 posted...

Well, most sites, anyway.

Bluesky and the Fediverse are more privacy-friendly compared to Twitter or Meta.

So they may claim. You can't really trust anyone at all anymore.

Salrite posted...

Really? You didn't know think your personal data was going to be stolen when you placed it freely on the internet for all to see? Really!?

Yes.