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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
I have to make a decision and would greatly appreciate some guidance.
Recently my McAfee Anti-Virus Plus has been acting up, and the McAfee tecchies, after many on-line chat sessions, have been unable to fix it. I feel quite sure that it is not due to a virus/malware problem because I also have Windows Defender and HitmanPro running and they find no problems. (Both packages indicate that they do not conflict with McAfee.) However, since my McAfee subscription is about to expire, I am now ready to let it go and try a different AV package. That is my dilemma. I am unable to find any consensus as to which is a good replacement. For example, CNET and AV-Comparatives do not agree at all in their ratings, and I have seen other comparisons that are equally inconsistent. (I am not even asking for a "best" replacement, because I realize that is subjective -- I will be content with just "generally very good".) What I do need though is a recommendation that will be compatible with Windows Defender and HitmanPro, since I am happy with both of these products. Can anyone make a first-person-user recommendation? Or recommend further impartial reviews that I might study? Thank you very much for any thoughts, David |
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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
I've been using Microsoft's [free] Security Essentials for about three years now and have had no problems with it. I was using AVG prior to this, and made a change as their [resident] program had become so bloated, via it's self-updates, that my meagre XP Pro system, with 512 MB RAM was becoming unresponsive too often. Moving to MSSE changed that for the better... You would need to turn *off* Window's Defender - as this code also forms part of MSSE and takes over it's job of resident-protection against malware - and they *cannot* run together. Download Microsoft Security Essentials from : http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl...s.aspx?id=5201 == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "David" wrote in message ... I have to make a decision and would greatly appreciate some guidance. Recently my McAfee Anti-Virus Plus has been acting up, and the McAfee tecchies, after many on-line chat sessions, have been unable to fix it. I feel quite sure that it is not due to a virus/malware problem because I also have Windows Defender and HitmanPro running and they find no problems. (Both packages indicate that they do not conflict with McAfee.) However, since my McAfee subscription is about to expire, I am now ready to let it go and try a different AV package. That is my dilemma. I am unable to find any consensus as to which is a good replacement. For example, CNET and AV-Comparatives do not agree at all in their ratings, and I have seen other comparisons that are equally inconsistent. (I am not even asking for a "best" replacement, because I realize that is subjective -- I will be content with just "generally very good".) What I do need though is a recommendation that will be compatible with Windows Defender and HitmanPro, since I am happy with both of these products. Can anyone make a first-person-user recommendation? Or recommend further impartial reviews that I might study? Thank you very much for any thoughts, David |
#3
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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
Hi Tim, thank you for your reply.
Interesting! I was aware of MSSE, but consciously selected Windows Defender because I was told that the changes to Defender to create MSSE were primarily to support Windows7. Also, I was told that MSSE might be incompatible with McAfee. So do I understand that MSSE is the only AV product that you are running? If so, without any malware problems for three years, that is encouraging. You have had better fortune than I have had for the last three years! AVG was going to be one of my candidates, but now you have me wondering... On Fri, 8 Feb 2013 09:17:14 -0000, "Tim Meddick" wrote: I've been using Microsoft's [free] Security Essentials for about three years now and have had no problems with it. I was using AVG prior to this, and made a change as their [resident] program had become so bloated, via it's self-updates, that my meagre XP Pro system, with 512 MB RAM was becoming unresponsive too often. Moving to MSSE changed that for the better... You would need to turn *off* Window's Defender - as this code also forms part of MSSE and takes over it's job of resident-protection against malware - and they *cannot* run together. Download Microsoft Security Essentials from : http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl...s.aspx?id=5201 == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "David" wrote in message .. . I have to make a decision and would greatly appreciate some guidance. Recently my McAfee Anti-Virus Plus has been acting up, and the McAfee tecchies, after many on-line chat sessions, have been unable to fix it. I feel quite sure that it is not due to a virus/malware problem because I also have Windows Defender and HitmanPro running and they find no problems. (Both packages indicate that they do not conflict with McAfee.) However, since my McAfee subscription is about to expire, I am now ready to let it go and try a different AV package. That is my dilemma. I am unable to find any consensus as to which is a good replacement. For example, CNET and AV-Comparatives do not agree at all in their ratings, and I have seen other comparisons that are equally inconsistent. (I am not even asking for a "best" replacement, because I realize that is subjective -- I will be content with just "generally very good".) What I do need though is a recommendation that will be compatible with Windows Defender and HitmanPro, since I am happy with both of these products. Can anyone make a first-person-user recommendation? Or recommend further impartial reviews that I might study? Thank you very much for any thoughts, David |
#4
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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
David wrote:
I have to make a decision and would greatly appreciate some guidance. Recently my McAfee Anti-Virus Plus has been acting up, and the McAfee tecchies, after many on-line chat sessions, have been unable to fix it. I feel quite sure that it is not due to a virus/malware problem because I also have Windows Defender and HitmanPro running and they find no problems. (Both packages indicate that they do not conflict with McAfee.) However, since my McAfee subscription is about to expire, I am now ready to let it go and try a different AV package. That is my dilemma. I am unable to find any consensus as to which is a good replacement. For example, CNET and AV-Comparatives do not agree at all in their ratings, and I have seen other comparisons that are equally inconsistent. (I am not even asking for a "best" replacement, because I realize that is subjective -- I will be content with just "generally very good".) What I do need though is a recommendation that will be compatible with Windows Defender and HitmanPro, since I am happy with both of these products. Can anyone make a first-person-user recommendation? Or recommend further impartial reviews that I might study? Thank you very much for any thoughts, David Avast free or Pro . |
#5
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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
Regarding your question of incompatibility issues with McCafee - All "true"
Anti-Virus software (that will satisfy Windows XP Security Center that you actually have one installed) are "mutually exclusive" - in that they should never be allowed to run together - as all sorts of problems and conflicts can arise! If you are "trying out" new AV package, then you *must* (at least) temporarily turn off or disable the old one first. Concerning Window's Defender and MSSE - I have not gone so far as to do actual research on it - but I believe that both Window's Defender *and* MSSE were created with Windows Vista and Win7 in mind (the "giveaway" is the "Aurora-like", Vista / Win7 color-scheme that Window's Defender has). Window's Defender comes-as-standard as part of Windows Vista / 7. However, you are encouraged, by Microsoft, to install MSSE into those Windows versions. When I say I have had "no problems" in the past three years, with using MSSE - I *do* mean that I have had *no* viral-infections, nor any other issues with malware - but that was the same as with AVG before it and "paid-for" AV software before that!... However, nor did any of those AV security suites detect and / or have need to attempt to isolate / cure my system of any infection either! - MSSE has only alerted me a dozen, or so, times to possible problems in all that time! This is, I believe, being due to the fact that, as well as ensuring I have legitimate, and memory-resident, Anti-Virus software installed, I am also careful what sites and what links I choose to visit and pursue (it is usually right *then* that I take special heed of the warning my AV gives me that some program or script is trying to run without my permission!!)... So, it is never enough to sit back and think your AV software will totally keep your PC safe from illness and attack! - No AV software - free or paid-for - is that *good* you can afford not to care about; in what neighbourhood you are surfing! == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "David" wrote in message ... Hi Tim, thank you for your reply. Interesting! I was aware of MSSE, but consciously selected Windows Defender because I was told that the changes to Defender to create MSSE were primarily to support Windows7. Also, I was told that MSSE might be incompatible with McAfee. So do I understand that MSSE is the only AV product that you are running? If so, without any malware problems for three years, that is encouraging. You have had better fortune than I have had for the last three years! AVG was going to be one of my candidates, but now you have me wondering... On Fri, 8 Feb 2013 09:17:14 -0000, "Tim Meddick" wrote: I've been using Microsoft's [free] Security Essentials for about three years now and have had no problems with it. I was using AVG prior to this, and made a change as their [resident] program had become so bloated, via it's self-updates, that my meagre XP Pro system, with 512 MB RAM was becoming unresponsive too often. Moving to MSSE changed that for the better... You would need to turn *off* Window's Defender - as this code also forms part of MSSE and takes over it's job of resident-protection against malware - and they *cannot* run together. Download Microsoft Security Essentials from : http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl...s.aspx?id=5201 == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "David" wrote in message . .. I have to make a decision and would greatly appreciate some guidance. Recently my McAfee Anti-Virus Plus has been acting up, and the McAfee tecchies, after many on-line chat sessions, have been unable to fix it. I feel quite sure that it is not due to a virus/malware problem because I also have Windows Defender and HitmanPro running and they find no problems. (Both packages indicate that they do not conflict with McAfee.) However, since my McAfee subscription is about to expire, I am now ready to let it go and try a different AV package. That is my dilemma. I am unable to find any consensus as to which is a good replacement. For example, CNET and AV-Comparatives do not agree at all in their ratings, and I have seen other comparisons that are equally inconsistent. (I am not even asking for a "best" replacement, because I realize that is subjective -- I will be content with just "generally very good".) What I do need though is a recommendation that will be compatible with Windows Defender and HitmanPro, since I am happy with both of these products. Can anyone make a first-person-user recommendation? Or recommend further impartial reviews that I might study? Thank you very much for any thoughts, David |
#6
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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
On 02/08/2013 04:14 AM, jim wrote:
David wrote: I have to make a decision and would greatly appreciate some guidance. Recently my McAfee Anti-Virus Plus has been acting up, and the McAfee tecchies, after many on-line chat sessions, have been unable to fix it. I feel quite sure that it is not due to a virus/malware problem because I also have Windows Defender and HitmanPro running and they find no problems. (Both packages indicate that they do not conflict with McAfee.) However, since my McAfee subscription is about to expire, I am now ready to let it go and try a different AV package. That is my dilemma. I am unable to find any consensus as to which is a good replacement. For example, CNET and AV-Comparatives do not agree at all in their ratings, and I have seen other comparisons that are equally inconsistent. (I am not even asking for a "best" replacement, because I realize that is subjective -- I will be content with just "generally very good".) What I do need though is a recommendation that will be compatible with Windows Defender and HitmanPro, since I am happy with both of these products. Can anyone make a first-person-user recommendation? Or recommend further impartial reviews that I might study? Thank you very much for any thoughts, David Avast free or Pro . Avast free is better than the paid version of McAfee -- https://www.createspace.com/3707686 |
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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
On Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:21:50 +0700, David
wrote: Can anyone make a first-person-user recommendation? Or recommend further impartial reviews that I might study? I'm quite satisfied with my choices and have been running them together for a couple of years: Microsoft Security Essentials Malwarebytes Anti Malware Plus, I manually run Super Anti Syware once a week, and use Spybot Search and Destroy's Immunize feature for blocking potentially dangerous websites. I let MSSE and MAM update themselves automatically, but update SAS and Spybot manually before running them, usually once a week or so. I'm happy so far. -- Zilbandy |
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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
On Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:21:50 +0700, David
wrote: However, since my McAfee subscription is about to expire, I am now ready to let it go and try a different AV package. That is my dilemma. I am unable to find any consensus as to which is a good replacement. Four points: 1. In my view, and that of lots of others of us here, McAfee is one of the *worst* security programs available. Getting rid of it is a good choice. 2. Uninstalling McAfee isn't easy. Read he http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS101331 3. You will never find consensus on which xxxx is the best (regardless of what xxxx is). Your question is like asking which is better, a Ford or a Chevrolet. 4. For an anti-virus program, I recommend eSet NOD32 or Kaspersky, if you are willing to pay for it. If you want a free anti-virus, I recommend one (do not run more than one antivirus program) of the following three: Avira AntiVir Avast Microsoft Security Essentials |
#9
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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
On Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:21:50 +0700, David wrote: However, since my McAfee subscription is about to expire, I am now ready to let it go and try a different AV package. That is my dilemma. I am unable to find any consensus as to which is a good replacement. Four points: 1. In my view, and that of lots of others of us here, McAfee is one of the *worst* security programs available. Getting rid of it is a good choice. 2. Uninstalling McAfee isn't easy. Read he http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS101331 3. You will never find consensus on which xxxx is the best (regardless of what xxxx is). Your question is like asking which is better, a Ford or a Chevrolet. 4. For an anti-virus program, I recommend eSet NOD32 or Kaspersky, if you are willing to pay for it. If you want a free anti-virus, I recommend one (do not run more than one antivirus program) of the following three: Avira AntiVir Avast Microsoft Security Essentials +1 |
#10
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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
On Friday, February 8, 2013 2:21:50 AM UTC-6, David wrote:
I have to make a decision and would greatly appreciate some guidance. Recently my McAfee Anti-Virus Plus has been acting up, and the McAfee tecchies, after many on-line chat sessions, have been unable to fix it. I feel quite sure that it is not due to a virus/malware problem because I also have Windows Defender and HitmanPro running and they find no problems. (Both packages indicate that they do not conflict with McAfee.) However, since my McAfee subscription is about to expire, I am now ready to let it go and try a different AV package. That is my dilemma. I am unable to find any consensus as to which is a good replacement. For example, CNET and AV-Comparatives do not agree at all in their ratings, and I have seen other comparisons that are equally inconsistent. (I am not even asking for a "best" replacement, because I realize that is subjective -- I will be content with just "generally very good".) What I do need though is a recommendation that will be compatible with Windows Defender and HitmanPro, since I am happy with both of these products. Can anyone make a first-person-user recommendation? Or recommend further impartial reviews that I might study? Thank you very much for any thoughts, David If you decide to go with Microsoft's Security Essentials, it will enable Automatic Updates even if you previously set it to disabled. You can also manually download updates for it. I feel that leaving automatic updates on is like leaving the front door of your house open. :-) I agree with the other poster that Malwarebytes Anti Malware is pretty good. Kaspersky offers a nice rescue disk that you put on a CD. It includes a registry editor on it. Andy |
#11
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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
From: "Paul in Houston TX"
Ken Blake, MVP wrote: On Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:21:50 +0700, David wrote: However, since my McAfee subscription is about to expire, I am now ready to let it go and try a different AV package. That is my dilemma. I am unable to find any consensus as to which is a good replacement. Four points: 1. In my view, and that of lots of others of us here, McAfee is one of the *worst* security programs available. Getting rid of it is a good choice. 2. Uninstalling McAfee isn't easy. Read he http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS101331 3. You will never find consensus on which xxxx is the best (regardless of what xxxx is). Your question is like asking which is better, a Ford or a Chevrolet. 4. For an anti-virus program, I recommend eSet NOD32 or Kaspersky, if you are willing to pay for it. If you want a free anti-virus, I recommend one (do not run more than one antivirus program) of the following three: Avira AntiVir Avast Microsoft Security Essentials +1 Ditto... ;-) -- Dave Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp |
#12
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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
From: "Andy"
snip I feel that leaving automatic updates on is like leaving the front door of your house open. :-) snip ** WRONG ! ** If a utility, EXE or DLL opened a TCP or UDP port, then one may consider that a door or window is open on one's computer. And that is why one's computer(s) should be behind a NAT Router or a NAT Router with a full FireWall implemetation such that is mitigatged. However a program or utility that makes a; HTTP, HTTPS, BITS or some other private protocol session does NOT leave a perverbial door or window open. Think of it as a pipe between the computer and destination. Nothing is "open". The communication stream is contaned within the confines of that pipe. -- Dave Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp |
#13
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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
On Friday, February 8, 2013 10:53:38 AM UTC-6, David H. Lipman wrote:
From: "Andy" snip I feel that leaving automatic updates on is like leaving the front door of your house open. :-) snip ** WRONG ! ** If a utility, EXE or DLL opened a TCP or UDP port, then one may consider that a door or window is open on one's computer. And that is why one's computer(s) should be behind a NAT Router or a NAT Router with a full FireWall implemetation such that is mitigatged. However a program or utility that makes a; HTTP, HTTPS, BITS or some other private protocol session does NOT leave a perverbial door or window open. Think of it as a pipe between the computer and destination. Nothing is "open". The communication stream is contaned within the confines of that pipe. -- Dave Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp You are making excuses for poor programming. You are also misinformed and unwilling to consider other people experience and knowledge. Andy |
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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
Andy wrote:
On Friday, February 8, 2013 2:21:50 AM UTC-6, David wrote: I have to make a decision and would greatly appreciate some guidance. David If you decide to go with Microsoft's Security Essentials, it will enable Automatic Updates even if you previously set it to disabled. No. MSSE is a separate function from MSAU. |
#15
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Some Anti-Virus/Malware Questions
From: "Andy"
On Friday, February 8, 2013 10:53:38 AM UTC-6, David H. Lipman wrote: From: "Andy" snip I feel that leaving automatic updates on is like leaving the front door of your house open. :-) snip ** WRONG ! ** If a utility, EXE or DLL opened a TCP or UDP port, then one may consider that a door or window is open on one's computer. And that is why one's computer(s) should be behind a NAT Router or a NAT Router with a full FireWall implemetation such that is mitigatged. However a program or utility that makes a; HTTP, HTTPS, BITS or some other private protocol session does NOT leave a perverbial door or window open. Think of it as a pipe between the computer and destination. Nothing is "open". The communication stream is contaned within the confines of that pipe. You are making excuses for poor programming. You are also misinformed and unwilling to consider other people experience and knowledge. Andy You are a Google Grouper newbie that has very little "experience and knowledge" and your retort has no basis in fact or relaity. Your post was nothing but an "opinion" based upon misunderstanding bias. -- Dave Multi-AV Scanning Tool - http://multi-av.thespykiller.co.uk http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp |
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