Antivirus Etc

[taichiperson]

Can anyone recommend a good antivirus/security package? I've had AVG Pro for a while but it's a pain in the neck and is just as bad as a virus - it slows down my computer and randomly asks to restart the computer. I'm currently wrestling with trying to get the 'free' version to upgrade to the paid version but can't input my license number to reset it. I've had to restart my laptop a dozen times and it keeps reverting to the free version - the help section in AVG's support page is no help at all. I do use Advanced System Care (free) but that has no antivirus component.

[bookbinder]

It seems that choosing the best antivirus package depends on what you want from such a product. I have MacAfee, and it's OK, although it can be rather intrusive in a nannying kind of way. You might find something on this website that suits you.
https://www.top10bestantivirus.com/best-internet-security

[Flonska]

I have just bought a new laptop from an independent pc supplier. The previous one I had was loaded with AVG. The company that has supplied the new one with:-

https://www.eset.com/uk/home/antivirus/

They use this package on all of their own pc's and all their clients have, to date, been satisfied with it.

I am also going to load the program on to my desk top when this gets refurbed next month.

[Togo]

I will say again, after saying so many times on other threads. If you are running w8 or w10 defender is perfectly good. You do not need third party add on antivirus or malware programmes. I have tried them all from Mcafee, Norton to AVG and beyond. The only one I have never tried is the one provided by the Russian firm. Both my lappie and desktop are running beautifully with Defender, without the pop ups, warnings, and constant upgrade traps and email bothering. I would advise you to uninstall all AVG system files and just try Defender for a while. Common sense and the avoidance of the dodgy sites is still your best protection and run the scans and upgrades weekly.

[Bazile]

Hi Togo

I've got Microsoft Security Essentials on my laptop .
Is defender an updated version of MSE ?

[Togo]

I take it then Bazile that you are not running with W8 or 10. Although I think that w8 initially ran with MSE. It was once one of the top rated security packages Bazile. Free and without the obtrusive third party rubbish that comes with them, and without using up, and hijacking pc resources. If you are using a later w8 system or indeed w10 you should be able to launch Defender then uninstall MSE.

[Togo]

I will confess to installing that which must not be spoken of, on both my Edge Browser and Chrome. I resisted for many years but eventually relented and gave it a try. I of course switch it off when on this site(fingers crossed) and will say that it doesn't half stop all the flash crip that was driving me nuts. Over the years the advertisers have found more ingenious ways of side tracking and hi jacking web users, and I am now free of them. Some sites have to be white listed ie Sky and other sites that come with built in ads but that is no hardship as it only takes 2 mins. My email is ad free and if anyone is using btinternet mail( "She who must be obeyed" uses it) it is a godsend.

[fender62]

eset internet security every time, tried them all...i mean all, but i keep coming back to eset, its a paid for program, but worth it in opinion.

[Electrochem]

I use Bullguard. Always found it very good and it never seems to slow down my PC or Laptop

[Bazile]

Togo
I'm on windows 7
Should I be looking to installing something else and if so , what would you recommend ?

[Togo]

Well my w7 days are well behind me Bazile, but advances by the scumbags do not stop. All I can really say is that if your w7 install is a genuine one and not a clone or copy, and that you are still receiving MSE updates I would stay with it. It is by far the easiest to use and understand without all the crip that comes with the third party set ups. I would suggest, if you have any concerns, that you have a look at Panda Cloud Antivirus. You will need a little thought though when it comes to your personal settings and what you allow to run in the background. But I hope you can all just take it for granted, any third party security set up is going to gobble up pc resources and use up wifi allowances if you are capped. When they say "free", all they mean is hidden costs.

[Togo]

Apologies Taichi. But you did not tell us what your operating system is. Though I hope that some of the dialogue may be of use to you.

[Bazile]

Thanks
Do I also need something like malware bytes as well to run alongside MSE ?

[Togo]

Bazile. If it is still doing updates I, as I said, would stick with it. I would not recommend anyone to add third party security unless they had a particular need. All of the "products" are liable to add another layer of awareness requirements to a user, and some of them make you more vulnerable by confusing you if you are not pretty clued up and tech savvy in the first place. I offer this advice from bitter experience not from a google fu session. If you are getting updates from MSE for the system and you have no unusual surfing habits[apart from AB :))] I would stick.

[Buenchico]

I've found that Microsoft's own anti-virus programs have a nasty habit of slowing my computers to a crawl when the updating element of them (MsMpEng.exe) appears to get stuck in a loop. So I prefer to use something different. I used AVG for years but then, like Taichiperson, I found that it was also far too resource-hungry.

So I switched to Avast, which I've been using for several years now, and I which I'm perfectly happy with:
https://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

[diddlydo]

I'm on Windows 7 and MSE and haven't had any problems.