Computer protection

I would like to have Windows Defender up and running again, but if that is not possible, I would appreciate suggestions concerning other choices I might have for protection from virus and malware.

I switched from MSE/Defender over a year ago, after reading of its poor virus protection rating. It doesn't have such a good rep these days as it did in the past. I now use Avira (the free version), which seems to do a pretty thorough job.

In addition to Avira, I do a weekly swipe with Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware (both free versions).

With that combination, I haven't had any issues.

Defender has never been rated very well - although it is getting better - and I would never use it as a stand-alone anti-virus. I combine it with Malwarebytes Pro and the combination works really well.

I got home late and had to finish my cooking for meal I help do at our American Legion Post on Wednesday night, so I haven't had time to look any further into the Defender issue. Leaving shortly too - I promise to do more digging when I get home tonight! Question though - do you or did you ever have any other antivirus program on this PC?

In the meantime:

Best Free Antivirus 2016

Personally, I go for either Panda or Bitdefender.

Rushes and Draclvr, Thank you for your responses. I will read about and check on all of your suggestions. From what the both of you say, maybe losing Defender is not such a big deal. I have never had any other virus protection installed on this computer. Draclvr please do not spend a lot of your time with my Defender issue. I am more then happy to use one of the suggestions you and Rushes have provided to me. I just want my computer protected and now I have many choices to pick from thanks to you and Rushes. Thanks to both of you again for you help, I truly appreciate your time.

You're very welcome, kazzmo. I hope you find a solution that works well with your computer.

Best Free Anitivrus I used Avast for the longest time , now I use Comodo Internet Security .

Watch out for Comodo.
I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole after reading ***this***.

I read that about Comodo a week or so ago too... not good.

I quit using Avast several years ago because of the constant nags to register and listening to my hard drive running all the time. Maybe they've fixed those issues since then.

I use Avast and haven't experienced either problem.

That's good to hear... It's supposed to be really good protection, so I'm glad to hear things are better with Avast. As I said, that's been several years ago.

Windows Defender is virtually impossible to delete, however it’s easily disabled and restored by going to control panel, select, Windows Defender and you will find the buttons to switch off and to enable

It’s not a good idea to have two anti virus programmes running on your PC at the same time. Apart from really slowing down your PC, they can cause other problems.
The ones I mean are the firewalls such as McAfee and Norton that are running all the time. If you have windows 7 and upwards, their firewalls are perfectly adequate for the ordinary user, though it depends on how many, let’s say, risky sites you view.

This doesn’t apply to the free malware programmes such as Avast, Panda, Malwarebytes etc, which are not constantly running and are used only on demand. Personally I use two.

One simple tip I use is Selective start up, which avoids loading unwanted programmes at start up. Select Run, type or copy msconfig.exe. On the pop up screen press the button on the last of the three options, i.e. Selective Start up and restore the PC. It will prevent Steam pop ups and others loading every time you start up slowing your PC You can easily restore what you need from the Steam Apps etc on your screen.

I completely delete and restore Windows from my PC once a year using a back up. It’s truly amazing the amount of clutter your computer stores over time. Though It’s not for the faint hearted, as to get it wrong you could easily loose your most wanted files. But it’s the only way to clean your PC completely of the unwanted stuff accumulated over time.

The problem kazzmo has is that her Defender was disabled by Group Policy, not simply disabled by the user. There are a bunch of ways to remedy the problem, but she has decided it isn't worth the aggravation.

In Windows 10, Defender is not listed in Startup for some reason.

I take my hat off to you for being one of the people who completely restores their Windows once a year! If I had a better internet connection to be able to redo all the updates and game downloads, I'd do it too. I shudder to think of the clutter that is on my hard drive!

Rushes, Can you opt out of all those toolbars that come with the free version of the SuperAntiSpyware software?

Marie

I've never used it, but I wouldn't expect it to install a lot of toolbars unless you downloaded it from somewhere that added junkware to the installer. Did you download it directly from the superantispyware.com website?

I installed SuperAntiSpyware so long ago now that I can't recall if it offered toolbars or not. There are none with my version, at least.

As Jenny says, be sure that you download it from the official website.

"Add on" junk usually has a tickbox that you can uncheck so toolbars etc. don't get installed.

This is the only place you should be downloading it from...

http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html

But it often installs the junk anyway, no matter what preference you indicated. You have to be very careful where you get programs these days. Most download sites that used to be trustworthy now add unwanted junk to at least some of their installers.

Too true Jennie, that’s why I hate to download anything, I am in no way an IT expert but a nephew of mine is who trouble shoots for large cooperation’s. I asked him for the best free anti malware programmer, his answer was that there isn’t one. Apparently if you run two good programmes one will pick up malware that the other doesn’t detect and vice versa, it depends on what engine they use, though none are perfect.
He advised also not to waste money on PC cleaners and registry cleaners that run a free scan on your PC and scare the life out of you by reporting hundreds of problems that you don't have that they will clean up for at a price. The free CC cleaner will do the job and probably a better job too.

An often neglected thing to keep your PC running smoothly is a weekly defrag. Most windows from seven upwards do this automatically; just make sure it’s switched on.

Cari.

But keep in mind that you should never, never run two anti-virus programs at the same time. That can cause huge problems. You can run some programs alongside your anti-virus because they work differently like you say. Malwarebytes is one. Or you can have anti-spam or anti-malware programs that only do a scan when you tell them to. But never have two anti-virus programs running at the same time. I've worked on a few computers that did and it was a nightmare to get them running well again.

I absolutely agree with your nephew on all the PC Cleaners and registry cleaners - they are awful. CCleaner is the only one that I use regularly and it only runs if I tell it to. It doesn't do all the false positives and try to make you pay big money to get rid of them.

They now call defragging "optimization" and it is set to run automatically in Windows 7 and above.

I haven't downloaded the SuperAntiSpyware software but on the page for the download they show 3 toolbars that come with the software and that's why I was curious if you could opt out of those when you install the software. I have malbytes already installed on my computer right now, but thought maybe a little extra protection was needed. Now I'm not so sure that adding this software would be a good idea.

Marie

Did you use the link I provided above? That's the official website and does NOT have any toolbars offered.

Running the free version of SuperAntiSpyware wouldn't interfere with your anti-virus or Malwarebytes, as you would run it only on command, and not in real-time.

As Cari mentions above, one might pick up a problem that another program might miss altogether. That's why I do a weekly scan with both -- in addition to my anti-virus scan.

Draclvr, The 3 toolbars with the software was on another site not the one you gave me, but one that I checked out yesterday. Thank you for posting the official site.

Rushes, I'll download the software from the site Draclvr suggested, it didn't show any toolbars so it looks like it's official site and see what happens. Thanks.

Marie

Great! Like Jenny said, you should only download from the official site and that goes for pretty much everything. That link I gave you is the one.

Like Rushes says, SuperAntiSpyware only runs when you tell it it so it won't interfere with your anti-virus.

When you go to install the download from the official site it does have boxes checked for google chrome and something else. I tried it out today. Unchecked those boxes because I don't want that. Only did a quick scan today - tracking cookies found. Nothing else.

Yes, so many of them try to bundle Chrome in the installers. At least it doesn't try to install the cursed toolbars marie was talking about! Good news with your scan... that's fairly normal.

Draclvr, I just installed the program and unchecked the chrome items and everything is working
A-OK.

Marie

Sweet!

Drac. I too d/loaded the SuperAntiSpyware and am trying to figure out what I've been doing wrong. Every time I run it I come up with detected threats, presently I have 196 Adware Tracking cookies. The first time I ran it, there had to be at least triple that amount. Apparently I shouldn't go anywhere on the computer. What am I doing wrong?

Hmmm... probably depends on where you are going, but mostly it's um... using the internet! Do you run CCleaner regularly? That's how I keep them off my computer. I just ran SuperAntiSpyware and it found over 1,000 cookies; then I ran CCleaner - which I probably haven't run for at least 3 weeks - and removed a GB of cookies.

If you use the internet, you will get cookies. Some you want and some you don't. I much prefer CCleaner because it lets me KEEP the cookies I want - like the one for Gameboomers.

Yes, I run CCleaner every night before shutting the pc down. (I think that's an over kill issue for me) I'm trying to remember if I ran it last night before I ran SuperAntiSpyware, I tend to think I did because I used to run CC before I ran Windows Defender. Not sure though. Just a mention, I've had the SASpyware catch a few other things too.
Thanks.

That's the advantage of having two good anti-spyware programs... what one misses, the other one might get!

An important question, and one whose answer changes with time. Remember There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch. Check review sites like:

http://www.consumersearch.com/internet-security-software

There are other places to check, but I don't remember them off hand.

I've run several over the years. Norton used to be the gold standard, then they went greedy and I dumped them. So I went for what ever was on sale at newegg. I f you're patient you can get some great deals there. I don't go to naughty sites where you Really need this stuff, but I wouldn't sleep well without it. Be sure to go for an Internet Suite that includes a firewall.

Kaspersky (based in Russia) is consistently rated in the top two. I've never used it because it wasn't on sale when I needed to update. I'd go for it in a heart beat if I could get a good deal on it.

WebRoot -(USA) Got it for like $5 at New Egg For five machines for a year. OK.

BitDefender- (based in Romania)- Got a two year subscription for three machines for $15. Fantastic Bargain. I will probably renew this one, but then, things change. Yeah, just checked newegg and its like $60. Time will tell, but it really is great software.

ConsumerSearch also has a freeware recommendation.

But I guess the real bottom line is, almost anything is better than nothing.

Albert

OK, deal alert. Just got this from NewEgg. Kasperski Internet security, one device, one year, today only, download (3/21/16) $14.95. You have to use the discount code. The download thing can be a little confusing. They normally email you an activation code after you buy it, and a link to download it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832078560

I still have 498 days on my BitDefender, or I'd go for this in a heartbeat.

Albert

That is a great deal, Albert. I got the same thing this morning.