Computer security question

[Robert Poste's Child]

I recently got a new laptop with a trial version of McAfee anti-virus installed. Now that has run out I'm planning to revert to Windows Defender as I don't do much that's risky online and got by without any problems using MS Security Essentials on my old one. I've read that's Defender is OK but that it's a good idea to download Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit and their Anti-Malware too.

Does that sound right, and is there anything else I should do? Would be grateful for advice from anyone who knows about these things.

[DirtyBox]

I use Avast and have done for years, not had any issues

[DulwichFox]

DirtyBox Wrote:

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> I use Avast and have done for years, not had any

> issues

How do you know.. ?

If you have no Anti-Virus you don't know you are infected..

If your Anti-Virus is poor it will not find infections..

You only know you have been infected when your A/V tells you it has found something and deals with it.

Usually by informing you that a page is suspect and has blocked

I use ESET NOD32 ANTIVIRUS 9

Probably one of the best. and there is a FREE help line where you get to speak to a real person.

Defender is NOT a substitute for a dedicated A/V.

I also use Webroot Secure Anywhere for Malware and all that other nasty stuff.

I get reports from both my security packages on a daily basis. and I am not talking about 'dodgy' sites.

A lot from Software Sites and from Technical Support sites..

DulwichFox

Foxy

[DirtyBox]

Avast is an anti-virus solution.

How do you know your anti-virus is working? Just because it is giving you a report doesn't mean it is protecting you. Any anti virus can only protect against stuff it knows about.

[DulwichFox]

DirtyBox Wrote:

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> Avast is an anti-virus solution.

>

> How do you know your anti-virus is working? Just

> because it is giving you a report doesn't mean it

> is protecting you. Any anti virus can only protect

> against stuff it knows about.

ESET is the only A/V that has claimed to of never missed a Virus..

It was at one time not available for sale in the UK in store. It was a download only.

It was reccomended to be from a very clever guy a Moderator on FLASHkit ..

a serious Web design Forum based in the States with over 600,000 members.

ESET was supposedly designed for the US government and is very reliable..

It's the best I have found..

DulwichFox

[Loz]

Microsoft Defender (or MS Security Essentials as it used to be known) is OK. There are others, and each person has their favourite. Defender's big plus is it doesn't continually nag you into buying the paid-for version, like AVG. Avast, etc.

Malwarebytes is a very good scanner to use if you are suspicious something might have slipped through. There is a paid-for version that acts like an antivirus. Malware scanners not only pick up viruses, but also pick up stuff that you may have downloaded/installed inadvertently that are considered 'potentially unwanted', like toolbars, etc. Malwarebytes is used by experts for cleaning up infected computers.

So, Defender is fine, but also run Malwarebytes (free version) every couple of months, or if whenever you are a little suspicious something is acting as it shouldn't.

[Loz]

DulwichFox Wrote:

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> ESET is the only A/V that has claimed to of never missed a Virus..

Sales people claim a lot things, Foxy. I bet they don't guarantee anything!

> ESET was supposedly designed for the US government and is very reliable..

I'd be surprised if that is true, considering ESET are Slovakian.

[Robert Poste's Child]

Thanks, all. Very helpful.