I apologize if this question has been asked before or if I've posted it in the wrong forum but
I need help in deciding on a virus software brand.

I'm currently using Windows 10 defender, which isn't the greatest as I still get some spyware
as well as, what I perceive, as a threat of a virus.

I have used software in the past and have never been very happy with just about all of them:
Kaspersky, Norton, McAfee, and some free programs.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Robert

I use Defender along with Malwarebytes Pro and have never had a problem with spyware or viruses.

I also use Defender, or rather what its name was in Windows 7. I haven't upgraded yet. Microsoft Security Essentials. I assume it's the same thing as Defender? (Sort of anyway) I have never had a problem though, but I wonder if the perfect program exist? I find there's always something that you don't like with them.

I can't be sure, but I don't think I've known if my computer have had a virus or spyware installed. But I wonder why you get that? Is it real viruses, or just false positives? It can be wrong sometimes. But I'm no expert here, I'm just a bit curious.

Draclvr,

I saw a program called Malwarebytes ADWcleaner - a free download. I've also seen other
Malwarebytes software - what exactly is the program you're using?

RebKean,

I haven't kept a record but sometime ago I did get what I thought was a virus but managed to get
rid of it by shutting off the PC and restarting it; so it may not have been a virus but another
form of malware.

Robert

OK, well I'm not an expert on viruses and that kind of thing. Not much experience, which is good of course.

Any program that is free scares me, I have to say. Especially when it's this important. But perhaps that's just my paranoia. =)

Malwarebytes ADWcleaner is another program they now have for adware and spyware... But go to the official Malwarebytes site. You can still get the free version which you would run if you thought you had a problem. The Premium runs in real time and stops stuff before it gets there. I think it costs about $40 a year. My 90 year-old mother called me one day and said her Malwarebytes had flashed up a warning. I told her to just let Malwarebytes handle it and I would look at it when we came up there in a month or so - I live 600 miles away. When I got up there and looked in the quarantined items, it was a ransomware virus which would have totally trashed her computer. So Malwarebytes Premium really paid for itself there.

https://www.malwarebytes.com/

Virus and spyware/adware aren't the same thing.
You need an anti-malware program to filter out things like spyware and adware.

Draclvr likes MalwareBytes in combination with Windows Defender, and that's probably what I'd recommend as well.

If you're going to spend money on something, it would be better to spend it on an anti-malware program like MalwareBytes rather than an antivirus. Some antivirus now include anti-malware, but these can be variable quality. MalwareBytes is among the best.

Windows Defender is fine as a free antivirus, at least when used along with something like MalwareBytes, and Defender doesn't expose you to problems that "free" antivirus from 3rd party companies sometimes do.


Not all weird behavior is caused by a virus.
Remember using Windows 95/98 when you had to reboot all the time? Despite all claims to the contrary, you do have to reboot once in a while with XP and later Windows -- especially on computers used for gaming. Even if most games don't cause problems, there are some that do. The situation is probably even worse if you play disc-based games with invasive DRM -- the stuff Microsoft now blocks from installing by default.

Anti virus programs are valuable and I'm happy with free Avast. However, it should be repeated over and over again that the best protection against computer infection is yourself!
Don't open suspicious email. Be careful of the sites you browse on. If you download programs, do it from trustworthy sites.

Preach it, Robert Gault! I do all the time.

I found this on Amazon - is this the malware software that has been mentioned?

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium 3.0 - 3 PCs / 1 Year

Robert

Please go the official Malwarebytes website which I linked to above... If you only have 1 PC, you don't need licenses for 3. Also make sure it's for HOME and not BUSINESS. I'll post the link again.

https://www.malwarebytes.com/

I appreciate all the good information - thanks.

The premium software on the Malwarebytes web site is around $60 and it's for 3 computers - I have two.

The software I mentioned that is on Amazon from Malwarebytes is around $40 and also for 3 computers.
The link on Amazon for the software is here.

Please let me know if the software is the same on Amazon as it is on Malwarebytes.

Thanks,

Robert

It is the same, although it is an older version. I assume it would be updated when you install. At the Malwarebytes website, you can pick how many computers and the price for 2 is $49.99 per year. Not sure why the price difference on Amazon... I did read that you still have to do the download from the Malwarebytes website. Supposedly they send you a box with the key code to use for the download.

If you renew every year, it will still be $49.99 for 2 PCs. I would be a bit concerned that since this original license is for 3 PCs, they would renew at the 3 PC rate which is $59.99, so make sure if you are given the option that you don't select auto-renewal.

All too true , in everything here . In the latest av-comparitives test , Avast scored perfectly , 100% . Windows defender , 98.1 % . Not too bad , I suppose . Avira , BitDefender , AVG , had better results , just to name a couple . A 98.1 % isn't nothing to sneeze at , but... Myself , my router is firewall protected , & I have Comodo Internet Security (defense + set to "paranoid" mode) , with Malwarebytes free .

I've been reading that they have vastly improved Defender over time. Good to know about that comparison.

What I listed ,was their results for "real world" testing . Symantec (Norton) did reasonably well , I think . I paid little attention to their score actually . Some others , from my limited memory , that fared well , were Avira , Kaspersky , Trend Micro , Bullguard , & AVG .

I bought the software for Malwarebytes from Amazon and Draclvr was right - you get a box and in it
is the license for up to 3 PCs to download from Malwarebytes web site.

When I installed it in my laptop it found over 1000 threats. I don't know if any of the threats were
related to my problem of updating Windows 10 to the latest level - we'll see.

Robert

Wow, Robert! I think my record for a computer I was working on is a little over 900! The computer was barely running for very good reason. I don't know if getting rid of the malware will solve your problem though. In order for Windows 10 to update to the latest version, all previous updates must be up to date. Could be something is missing there.

I would highly suggest running Malwarebytes more than once. I've had it catch more on the 2nd or 3rd scan. If you had that much malware, I would also suggest running CCleaner to clear out junk too. It will get rid of any cookies that keep passwords, so go into Options and Cookies and find sites you visit often such as Gameboomers and move them over to the right panel. That tells CCleaner to leave them alone.

Also, when it is time to renew your Malwarebytes Premium, remember that it will auto renew to the price for 3 computers which is $59.99. You will need to change that to renew for only two computers which is $49.99.

Let us know how things work out for you!

I tried running Windows 10 update and the initial update to version 1607 worked ok but when I tried to
update to version 1709 I got the same failure as before - some update files are missing or have problems.

I have been on the Microsoft support forum since 12/16/17 trying to get this problem fixed, to no avail.

The attempted update to version 1709 ran for about 2 plus hours before there was a failure notice. I was
hoping, because it was running so long, that the Malwarebytes program I ran would enable the update but
it wasn't to be.

I don't know if others have experienced this problem on this forum - if not, maybe I should open a new
glitches post.

The one thing I keep wondering about is my laptop, where I'm having this problem, originally had
Windows 7 and was updated some time ago when Microsoft had that free update to Windows 10 and I'm
wondering if that is why I'm having this problem now.

Robert

rmelone,
Does your laptop have an AMD processor or an Intel processor?

Apparently there is a "fix" for the recently discovered "Meltdown" and "Spectre" exploits that Intel processors are vulnerable to, but the "fix" messes with AMD processors, so Microsoft has blocked the "fix" from installing on some AMD processors
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/08/microsofts_spectre_fixer_bricks_some_amd_powered_pcs

If you have an AMD processor, and this "latest" version of Windows 10 includes the "fix" for Intel vulnerabilities, maybe that's why your update fails.

Also there is a known problem with an update installation halt at 99% described at tenforums:
https://www.tenforums.com/windows-10-new...6299-192-a.html

Jenny100

Thanks for the information. My laptop uses an Intel processor and is currently at Windows 10 Version 1607
Build 14393.1198 which was released May 2017. Since then there have been many updates to Version 1607 but
none of them are reflected on my laptop.

Now, the automatic update by Microsoft (without any way that I know to stop it) is constantly trying to update
to Version 1709 and fails in different ways.

I'm going to have to do a lot more research - again.

Robert

1.
Check the 2nd link in my post about the 99% installation problem.
They list workarounds.
Perhaps one of those would help.

2.
And another possibility -- you said you'd used these before:

Did you install any of those on the laptop?
If so, did you use an uninstaller from the antivirus company's website to uninstall them? If you only uninstalled through Control Panel, they may have left junk behind that is interfering with the update.

Oh, good point about the uninstall of those old antivirus programs.

Just for your information, the results from a recent test by the Dutch Consumer Society were, from best to worst (on a scale from 0 to 10, 10 being the best):

Bitdefender Internet Security 2018 (paid): 8.1
Norton by Symantec Security Deluxe: 7.8
Trend Micro Internet Security: 7.8
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition: 7.7
Kaspersky Internet Security 2018: 7.7
BullGuard Internet Security 2018: 7.7
Panda Security Antivirus Pro: 7.6
Avira Antivirus Pro: 7.5
Avast! Antivirus Free Edition: 7.4
F-Secure Safe 2018: 7.4
Eset Internet Security: 7.4
Avira Antivirus Free Edition: 7.3
AVG Antivirus Free Edition: 7.1
Kaspersky Free Edition: 6.6
McAfee Antivirus Plus 2018: 6.4
Microsoft Windows 10 Defender (free): 6.4
G-Data Internet Security: 6.1
ZoneAlarm Antivirus Free Edition: 5.2
Malwarebytes Premium: 4.1

It should be taken into account that the above scores also include user friendliness and computer performance (how much it slows down).

They say that Malwarebytes offers bad protection against viruses (just 3.2), but could be a valuable second option to run, especially the free version. They explain that it still suffers from its original spec as only additional protection against malware.

They also point out that while some free virus protection programs score just as well as other paid software, there can be frequent annoying ads, and more user data will generally be collected than by the paid products.

Best,

Rich

Interesting...