Best Antivirus/Internet security suite?

raindog101 · Feb 22, 2016

My yearly subscription to my desktop antivirus program is just about up. I was thinking of changing things up (I have AVG currently). Thought I would see what everybody else is using. A friend uses BitDefender, and swears by it. What do all the computer geeks say?

Bob W · Feb 22, 2016

I'm using Avast Free on multiple computers, including on this old XP machine.

I run Microsoft Security Essentials is on some of the newer computers.

The Burgh · Feb 22, 2016

Have used BitDefender for 5 years. Not one incident has penetrated the wall or caused the least little bit of havoc.

choombak · Feb 22, 2016

Take a look at Norton Security, works fantastic - I have it on all my home PCs'. The old and crummy version that Norton was famous for is gone, and its very unobtrusive and efficient with no impact on system performance.

average gimp · Feb 23, 2016

I use AVG's free version and have had no complaints. If you're going with paid software I've heard good things about ESET, but haven't used it myself. Having had Norton in the past and knowing what a system hog it is, I won't trust them again.

Klok · Feb 23, 2016

Not only should you have an antivirus (I use bitdefender) but you should also run with an anti-spyware software such as Spybot search and destroy or Malwarebytes.

I use Bitdefender free for two reasons.

the first is simply due to there privacy policy and lack of built in spyware (/cough AVG /cough)

The second is for the light weight program.

If you are really concerned Look into running adblock and noscript (Noscript is firefox only and while it takes some getting used to I swear by it.)

average gimp · Feb 23, 2016

Klok said:
Not only should you have an antivirus (I use bitdefender) but you should also run with an anti-spyware software such as Spybot search and destroy or Malwarebytes.

I use Bitdefender free for two reasons.

the first is simply due to there privacy policy and lack of built in spyware (/cough AVG /cough)

The second is for the light weight program.

If you are really concerned Look into running adblock and noscript (Noscript is firefox only and while it takes some getting used to I swear by it.)

Try uBlock rather than Adblock--less of a resource hog. I tried Spybot but it ate so many system resources just updating I had to dump it. Strongly agree re the use of NoScript!

uofaengr · Feb 23, 2016

I've used only Malwarebytes Pro for a few years with no incidents to speak of. Lightweight and unobtrusive and much more so than Kaspersky that I used to run.

22-rimfire · Feb 23, 2016

I use both AVG (paid version) and Malwarebytes on my business computer. Have AVG only on another and Norton on a couple.

Bob W · Feb 23, 2016

average gimp said:
Try uBlock rather than Adblock--less of a resource hog. I tried Spybot but it ate so many system resources just updating I had to dump it. Strongly agree re the use of NoScript!

I may try that, thanks for the suggestion.
Also, I was amazed at the improvement in browsing speed after installing ghostery, the tracking blocker.

evltcat · Feb 23, 2016

I've been in I.T. for a long time. The threat-scape has evolved past most traditional AV solutions. Almost all attacks these days are looking to exploit a buffer overflow, an unpatched or undisclosed vulnerability in the OS, Browser, or applications, and most AV won't detect or stop it.

I've been using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium and their Anti-Exploit Premium for the last couple years and it's worked flawlessly. It isn't a resource hog like most traditional AV/Internet Security packages, and it can deal with root-kits as well.

Good luck!

Klok · Feb 23, 2016

Of course you could make a Virtual machine of a linux distro like Xubuntu on your windows OS and simply do your internet tasks through the virtual machine.

The brilliant thing here is you can make a Copy of the VM and only use copies of a working VM. (When something goes wrong you simply delete the messed up VM and create another copy from the master file to use.)

(The only malware/spyware I have found on my computer in 3 years is doubleclick (Owned by google and has google certs.)

Even on a linux VM you still have to be careful of what you download freaking rootkits.

raindog101 · Feb 24, 2016

evltcat said:
I've been in I.T. for a long time. The threat-scape has evolved past most traditional AV solutions. Almost all attacks these days are looking to exploit a buffer overflow, an unpatched or undisclosed vulnerability in the OS, Browser, or applications, and most AV won't detect or stop it.

I've been using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium and their Anti-Exploit Premium for the last couple years and it's worked flawlessly. It isn't a resource hog like most traditional AV/Internet Security packages, and it can deal with root-kits as well.

Good luck!

Thanks! I just downloaded the Malwarebytes Premium trial. Gonna give it a spin, see how it works. Thanks for the tip.