I also use Cryptoprevent now. Hopefully will protect against cryptolocker/ bitcoin scam. Its free but you have to manually check for updates.
best free anti virus
- Thread starter Broughtonblue
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cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Go on then how is it user error?
Automatic updates are set but do not download and when i tyried toi manusally download them MSE froze.
Issue according to google is do do with the schedule set by MSE for updates, if the pc misses an update thenMSE throws a wobbler.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
I have done a full system scan no issues and avast works fine .
- Location
- London
Yes it struck me as a strange statement from ASC1951 - MSE actually gives the user very little control indeed. I sometimes like to run progs, including virus checkers on manual updates (but do daily) so I can see what the thing is up to/if it is behaving properly. MSE won't allow you to do this. It also has no facility to go back a step if an update may be faulty.
Do you have a background in customer support ASC1951?
- Location
- London
On the topic of free AV, just a warning.
DO NOT under any circumstances install McAfee, free or otherwise. I gather some manufacturers actually pre-install a free limited subs version of it - avoid such machines and if you should find it on there, get it off ASAP.
I foolishly paid good money for it on some sort of offer when I very recently got a new laptop.
After speaking to McAfee customer support I lost what little remaining confidence in it had and uninstalled it - a year's subs down the drain but at least I'm free of it. Free Avast now installed so checking that out.
DO NOT under any circumstances install McAfee, free or otherwise. I gather some manufacturers actually pre-install a free limited subs version of it - avoid such machines and if you should find it on there, get it off ASAP.
I foolishly paid good money for it on some sort of offer when I very recently got a new laptop.
After speaking to McAfee customer support I lost what little remaining confidence in it had and uninstalled it - a year's subs down the drain but at least I'm free of it. Free Avast now installed so checking that out.
Melonfish
Evil Genius in training.
- Location
- Warrington, UK
I've worked in IT for wow, 16 years this march, i've seen all sorts in terms of anti virus programs and obviously viruses and i would say to you that absolutely no anti virus program will protect you 100%
the best antivirus program you can possibly run is called common sense.
i'm not trying to be condescending (although even in my own head i clearly sound like i am) i'm just stating fact. be careful what you click on, never click a pop up and always install software from trusted sources, be suspicious about every web page you visit because the ads within the page can contain scripts that will try and run in your browser window if not the actual page itself if anything pops up, look for the close X in the corner, if you're unsure ctrl-alt-del and end task on the browser.
never install toolbars (for the love of any god NEVER INSTALL TOOLBARS) and don't run a program unless you know exactly what it is and where it came from.
i speak with people daily who have viruses and they tell me they've no idea how they got them, i do, browsing dodgy sites. the systems we run are locked down so you can't install anything on some you can't even use the right mouse click context menus. we run anti virus programs and firewalls on the machines and yet they still get infected and it is through web pages that these infections get in.
it is sensible to run periodical scans for adware or data miners, free programs like spybot or malwarebytes are good for this. at the end of the day though get educated on how your machine can be infected, which have guides out there and you always have your best friend google.
Keep programs such as Java and flash up to date, any exploits found in these programs get patched out so by updating them you limit the ways in which your system can be infected, the same goes for your operating system, keep it patched.
finally "keep it secret, keep it safe" on the internet anonymity is your friend, you are one of millions so as long as you don't draw attention to yourself as a target you are safe from targeted attacks, it is only the passive things you need to look out for.
the best antivirus program you can possibly run is called common sense.
i'm not trying to be condescending (although even in my own head i clearly sound like i am) i'm just stating fact. be careful what you click on, never click a pop up and always install software from trusted sources, be suspicious about every web page you visit because the ads within the page can contain scripts that will try and run in your browser window if not the actual page itself if anything pops up, look for the close X in the corner, if you're unsure ctrl-alt-del and end task on the browser.
never install toolbars (for the love of any god NEVER INSTALL TOOLBARS) and don't run a program unless you know exactly what it is and where it came from.
i speak with people daily who have viruses and they tell me they've no idea how they got them, i do, browsing dodgy sites. the systems we run are locked down so you can't install anything on some you can't even use the right mouse click context menus. we run anti virus programs and firewalls on the machines and yet they still get infected and it is through web pages that these infections get in.
it is sensible to run periodical scans for adware or data miners, free programs like spybot or malwarebytes are good for this. at the end of the day though get educated on how your machine can be infected, which have guides out there and you always have your best friend google.
Keep programs such as Java and flash up to date, any exploits found in these programs get patched out so by updating them you limit the ways in which your system can be infected, the same goes for your operating system, keep it patched.
finally "keep it secret, keep it safe" on the internet anonymity is your friend, you are one of millions so as long as you don't draw attention to yourself as a target you are safe from targeted attacks, it is only the passive things you need to look out for.
I mean 'user error' very widely ie including your hardware and other software and especially your settings. MSE works without any problem for most of the millions of people who use it.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
I recently did a full clean install after a format and i have run the programs you mentioned, all that happens is MSE freezes when it tries to update, uninstall/reinstall does not fix it and i had to manually download and install updates.
- Location
- London
Lots of good advice in there melonfish.
I wasn't so much as criticising McAfee for not finding every virus on the planet but for just taking control of far too much of my computer, not really telling me what it was up to or how my PC was (apart from bland continuous reassurances that all was well with my PC, the world, the universe etc etc) and then finally freezing on scans for no discernible reason and with no explanation.
A call to customer support didn't try to address the issue, or even admit that anyone else had had it, but just sent offered to send me a link to something called "virtual technician" which would supposedly sort things. Bu I've read too much about the potentially disasterous results of this software.
Lots more here - I know any product will attract bad press of some sort on the global internet but the tales of woe from these folk have the ring of truth.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/computers/mcafee_antivirus.html
Thanks for the tip about spybot.- I am actually wary of googling for these free prog recommendations in case it directs me to a fake bit of spyware.
Is this a good/the real source?
http://www.safer-networking.org/
I must admit that I have visited the odd mucky site and am aware that it is often the ads rather than the reputable purveyor of filth to the public that is the problem.
Can you recommend anything to just block ALL the ads?
On the issue of closing suspicious pop ups I do tend to use CT/Alt/Del as I was under the impression that often the little crosses/supposed "close" buttons could be rigged to actually execute stuff. Any truth/sense in this?
I wasn't so much as criticising McAfee for not finding every virus on the planet but for just taking control of far too much of my computer, not really telling me what it was up to or how my PC was (apart from bland continuous reassurances that all was well with my PC, the world, the universe etc etc) and then finally freezing on scans for no discernible reason and with no explanation.
A call to customer support didn't try to address the issue, or even admit that anyone else had had it, but just sent offered to send me a link to something called "virtual technician" which would supposedly sort things. Bu I've read too much about the potentially disasterous results of this software.
Lots more here - I know any product will attract bad press of some sort on the global internet but the tales of woe from these folk have the ring of truth.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/computers/mcafee_antivirus.html
Thanks for the tip about spybot.- I am actually wary of googling for these free prog recommendations in case it directs me to a fake bit of spyware.
Is this a good/the real source?
http://www.safer-networking.org/
I must admit that I have visited the odd mucky site and am aware that it is often the ads rather than the reputable purveyor of filth to the public that is the problem.
Can you recommend anything to just block ALL the ads?
On the issue of closing suspicious pop ups I do tend to use CT/Alt/Del as I was under the impression that often the little crosses/supposed "close" buttons could be rigged to actually execute stuff. Any truth/sense in this?
Melonfish
Evil Genius in training.
- Location
- Warrington, UK
copy MSE to a cd. then uninstall it.
take said cd and set it on fire.
honestly don't bother with it, regular windows updates are all you need.
Melonfish
Evil Genius in training.
- Location
- Warrington, UK
that is the site for spybot yeah, they have got a bit more grown up in recent years.Lots of good advice in there melonfish.
I wasn't so much as criticising McAfee for not finding every virus on the planet but for just taking control of far too much of my computer, not really telling me what it was up to or how my PC was (apart from bland continuous reassurances that all was well with my PC, the world, the universe etc etc) and then finally freezing on scans for no discernible reason and with no explanation.
A call to customer support didn't try to address the issue, or even admit that anyone else had had it, but just sent offered to send me a link to something called "virtual technician" which would supposedly sort things. Bu I've read too much about the potentially disasterous results of this software.
Lots more here - I know any product will attract bad press of some sort on the global internet but the tales of woe from these folk have the ring of truth.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/computers/mcafee_antivirus.html
Thanks for the tip about spybot.- I am actually wary of googling for these free prog recommendations in case it directs me to a fake bit of spyware.
Is this a good/the real source?
http://www.safer-networking.org/
I must admit that I have visited the odd mucky site and am aware that it is often the ads rather than the reputable purveyor of filth to the public that is the problem.
Can you recommend anything to just block ALL the ads?
On the issue of closing suspicious pop ups I do tend to use CT/Alt/Del as I was under the impression that often the little crosses/supposed "close" buttons could be rigged to actually execute stuff. Any truth/sense in this?
you can get add ons to browsers that will block pop ups and adds in general adblockplus.org is quite good for this
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Currently running adbock and noscriptthat is the site for spybot yeah, they have got a bit more grown up in recent years.
you can get add ons to browsers that will block pop ups and adds in general adblockplus.org is quite good for this
- Location
- London
Could you clarify this/say more? In particular what do you mean by "drawing attention to yourself" - I had the impression that these malicious programs weren't attacking me personally (I'm not that paranoid/vain) but were just automatically seeking out weaknesses.
asterix
Comrade Member
- Location
- Limoges or York
MSE gets slated in this review:
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/software/1303828/microsoft-security-essentials/2
Giving away details about yourself on line is 'drawing attention to yourself'. This ranges from having an email address, through on line shopping right up to inviting the world to a party at your place on Facebook and or providing your full bank details with PIN numbers (No one would do that, right?!).
I am drawing attention to myself responding to you, for all I know you could be a hacker looking for a victim and luring me into a false sense of security
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/software/1303828/microsoft-security-essentials/2
Giving away details about yourself on line is 'drawing attention to yourself'. This ranges from having an email address, through on line shopping right up to inviting the world to a party at your place on Facebook and or providing your full bank details with PIN numbers (No one would do that, right?!).
I am drawing attention to myself responding to you, for all I know you could be a hacker looking for a victim and luring me into a false sense of security
