anti-virus

[Cp Coder]

Whenever I buy a new computer for myself or a family member, the first thing I do is to do a clean install of Windows. This is a surefire way to get rid of the cr@pware that comes with the new machine. Then I rely on Defender only for virus protection.

Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!

[BryanFazekas]

Agreed. Some of the "anti-virus" tools are like a rootkit -- almost impossible to remove unless nuking from orbit. I'm using Windows Defender and MalwareBytes.

[obermd]

Smart move. Windows Defender is a better AV.

[Gary Wheeler]

Agreed. McAfee sucks Equus africanus asinus[^] genitals.

Software Zen: delete this;

[Reelix]

Windows Defender has a bad rap from the Windows 7 days where it was a piece of hot garbage. You know - The days when AVG was still downloaded from free.grisoft.com and was actually good? Yea - Those days. Windows 10 Defender is actually great. It's slowly gaining in popularity since people are realizing how bloatwared other modern AV's are, and the definitions are constantly updated.

-= Reelix =-

[Marc Greiner at home]

I have long since uninstalled and deactivated all antivirus software on all my PCs. In 20 years of using antivirus software, the only threats it has reported to me are suspicious emails that I had identified as such and already thrown away. And also a plethora of popups, all as arrogant as useless. Please tell us: Has your antivirus ever reported a threat in the past that was really a threat?

[Super Lloyd]

I promptly uninstalled McAffee.. and I didnt install any alternative. I too generally think that anti virus are a waste of... everything really.. And was looking for possible reason toe change my mind... But as other reminded me, Windows Defender is an anti virus and it does as good a job as any other. So AV are really not needed!

A new .NET Serializer All in one Menu-Ribbon Bar Taking over the world since 1371!

[Clumpco]

If you are a "safe-surfer" you might be able to get away without an anti-virus, however it is advisable to have one - just in case. I used to believe the hype about Windows Defender being as god, if not better, than other AV solutions, so much so that I left it to do its good work on new PCs that I configured for family and friends. That is until they started getting infected by simple "drive-by" browser attacks. So I have returned to my old standby which is Symantec (not Norton) Endpoint Protection - the client is 'free' and requires no license and will run standalone - you just have to find a copy. SEP is not at all intrusive and you can turn off many of the options if you want (e.g. firewall), but above all it doesn't spend its time trying to protect your credit card, save your passwords or any of the other bells & whistles that commercial AV software tries to use to stand out from the competition.

So old that I did my first coding in octal via switches on a DEC PDP 8

[milo xml]

I've been using the built in Windows AV since Windows 10 and have yet to have an issue. :)

[AnotherKen]

Viruses these days are after your data in a sort of brute force attack that slows down your pc more than antivirus software will if nothing is attacking. So, if modern security software is running hard, that means it is protecting your computer from active threats. This is common today, if you plan to run that computer online with no security it will not be long at all before your computer slows down more and more as your cpu cycles are being used by malicious code.

[nobody158]

TBH for most people windows defender is good enough. I always pair it with setting dns to quad9.

[matblue25]

Agree 100%. Fresh install of Windows.

[willichan]

I've been happily using Immunet (a combination of the Cisco cloud based malware protection and ClamAV) for some time now. Money makes the world go round ... but documentation moves the money.

[Slow Eddie]

I use both Windows Security and Norton360 on my machines. I download the updates each morning, then run a quick scan with Norton 360. I think the critical thing is to keep the definitions updated. So far no problems. Knock on wood.

One never know for sure, Do one? -Fats Waller

[Member_14751866]

Hi Super Lloyd, I think security of our current computers and internet infrastructure demands we build it here where we can be sure hardware is not compromised. It is either secure or it is not? Any complex system is very vulnerable to malicious tampering in environments like Taiwan where China or any other competitor has so much power and access. Build it in what ever country you hope to secure and pay close attention to whom you let in the door? ... that said, Each computer should have a dedicated security co processor with secure and efficient code that is agile and robust in my opinion... what do you think Humanity? thanks for asking

[Kiriander]

I don't remember NOT wiping & cleanly reisntalling any new pre-build PC I bought, except a cheap tablet from Odys which, oddly enough, came with only very little unobtrusive preloaded stuff.

[pmauriks]

Never feel bad about removing McAfee. There are much better Anti-Virus products, including some available free.