Anti-virus protection programs discussion

[mcb39]

15 hours ago, Lee B said:

What virus protection program are you using?

Avast

[Abby Normal]

On 6/29/2024 at 11:19 AM, mcb39 said:

Avast

Avast is the absolute worst. The only one I've used that I like in the past 30+ years is ESET. You're better off just using the windows built in antivirus.

[Lee B]

I haven't used a third party antivirus in years. The antivirus app included with Win 10 and Win 11 is good enough.

Most malware incidents happen due to people clicking on the wrong links or other questionable decisions.

According to several tech articles that I have read, even the very best antivirus programs can only stop about 80% of malware attacks.

 

[Lee B]

25 minutes ago, Abby Normal said:

Avast is the absolute worst. The only one I've used that I like in the past 30+ years is ESET. You're better off just using the windows built in antivirus.

Abby, P C magazine rates Avast as # 6 in their rating of the top ten antivirus programs.

[Abby Normal]

38 minutes ago, Lee B said:

Abby, P C magazine rates Avast as # 6 in their rating of the top ten antivirus programs.

I don't care. It's been problematic too many times for too many people. Besides, how do we know those reviews are not bought and paid for?

Others to avoid are Norton, McAfee and Kaspersky.

[ILLMAS]

Kaspersky

[Lee B]

1 hour ago, Abby Normal said:

I don't care. It's been problematic too many times for too many people. Besides, how do we know those reviews are not bought and paid for?

Others to avoid are Norton, McAfee and Kaspersky.

Consumer Reports rates Avast and ESET tied for 4th in their ratings.  I don't think the ratings in Consumer Reports are bought and paid for.

[BulldogTom]

3 hours ago, Lee B said:

Abby, P C magazine rates Avast as # 6 in their rating of the top ten antivirus programs.

 

2 hours ago, Abby Normal said:

I don't care. It's been problematic too many times for too many people. Besides, how do we know those reviews are not bought and paid for?

Off topic, but I am going to post anyway....   Remember several years ago when some magazine rated ATX very high right after it was purchased by CCH and some of us on this board and the other official board lit up his email to disagree?   If I remember correctly, he went on the official board and asked us to please stop emailing him about how bad support became under CCH.   Your back and forth just reminded me of that event and made me smile.   I wonder if that journalist still puts his email and an invitation to reply at the end of articles he writes?

Tom
Longview, TX

[Abby Normal]

Timely article. One reason I have added protection is because not everyone in my household is as computer savvy as I am. Plus it covers it android devices, as well.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/do-you-still-need-to-pay-for-antivirus-software-in-2024/

[mcb39]

18 hours ago, Lee B said:

Abby, P C magazine rates Avast as # 6 in their rating of the top ten antivirus programs.

In reality, I hate their constant popups.  On another note; technology is trying to drive me crazy.  My landline at the cottage has been out for over a week, but, "There are no outages in your area!"  Weirdly, I still have Internet, but it is almost as slow as dialup.

[Abby Normal]

16 hours ago, Lee B said:

Consumer Reports rates Avast and ESET tied for 4th in their ratings.  I don't think the ratings in Consumer Reports are bought and paid for.

Agreed. And my experiences may be outdated, BUT I've never had a problem with or been let down by ESET. It never slows down your computer or other device.

[TexTaxToo]

On 7/1/2024 at 5:14 PM, ILLMAS said:

Kaspersky

While Kaspersky tends to get good technical reviews, it is Russian-based and the Commerce Department just banned it in the U.S:  https://www.bis.gov/press-release/commerce-department-prohibits-russian-kaspersky-software-us-customers

Quote

Today, the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced a Final Determination prohibiting Kaspersky Lab, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of a Russia-based anti-virus software and cybersecurity company, from directly or indirectly providing anti-virus software and cybersecurity products or services in the United States or to U.S. persons.

....

Individuals and businesses that utilize Kaspersky software are strongly encouraged to expeditiously transition to new vendors to limit exposure of personal or other sensitive data to malign actors due to a potential lack of cybersecurity coverage. Individuals and businesses that continue to use existing Kaspersky products and services will not face legal penalties under the Final Determination. However, any individual or business that continues to use Kaspersky products and services assumes all the cybersecurity and associated risks of doing so.

In order to minimize disruption to U.S. consumers and businesses and to give them time to find suitable alternatives, the Department’s determination will allow Kaspersky to continue certain operations in the United States—including providing anti-virus signature updates and codebase updates—until 12:00AM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on September 29, 2024.

 

[Medlin Software, Dennis]

Not commenting on the truth, but the reality is many do not trust items from certain countries. If an AV from Russie has been banned, and drones from China are or are soon to be also, it makes sense these could be trade related only (bans bought by US competitors), based on fact/fear, or a little of both (likely).

I thought about buying a certain computer brand but skipped it because of the origin.

I happen to use a local hardware firewall and can ban and monitor all outgoing items. While I am fine with a global economy, it is an eye opener how many things we usually trust try to connect to places most would prefer not to. As a for instance, a game my spouse plays has to connect to a country I block (for ads) to function, so IU had to setup a safe path for her game to work!