Laptop anti virus

[SpokeyDokey]

Built in Windows is spot-on.

 

[si_c]

Windows defender is perfectly good for your needs with the bonus that it's free, doesn't hog system resources and doesn't constantly suggest you go for the premium advanced home pro version.

That being said I run Avast on my desktop because I installed it when it was a Windows 7 machine in 2012 and it's just kept updating itself since and I can't be bothered removing it as it's no real problem. I'm now running Windows 10 which has been updated through Win 8 and 8.1 to get where it is now.

A bigger problem than Antivirus software on all machines is making sure that your browser is up to date, most consumer attack vectors are through websites now.

 

[MontyVeda]

Microsoft Security Essentials is great. Can't fault it.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Defender for me too. Third party AV just seems to slow the machine down with no extra benefit. I hate McAfee for that reason.

 

[DaveReading]

Neither Windows Defender nor Microsoft Security Essentials is sufficient on its own. Use them both together.

 

[ColinJ]

Neither Windows Defender nor Microsoft Security Essentials is sufficient on its own. Use them both together.

I hadn't heard of Microsoft Security Essentials. I just looked it up and it is designed for Win 7/8 so I thought about installing it but... though I am running Win 7 on this laptop, support for it stops in January so I will either upgrade to Win 10 (unlikely, unless Win 10 can run fast enough on very old hardware - Core 2 Duo 1.2 GHz processor, 2 GB RAM?) OR convert the machine to Linux. Meanwhile, I'll stick with Avast for extra protection.

 

[gavroche]

If you are with BT for your internet, you already get full protection with McAfee for free and BT protect.

 

[Slioch]

It's an unwritten rule that all computer questions on forums must degenerate into a Mac v Microsoft argument.

As a Mac user I find the concept of anti-virus very quaint.

Ahem!
Linux user here. What are these "virus" thingies of which you speak?

 

[gavgav]

I’ve just uninstalled AVG and gone back to Windows Defender, mainly because I’m sick and tired of AVG trying to get me to upgrade to the premium version.

 

[HLaB]

Someone here recommended AVAST to me about 10years ago and to my knowledge I've never had a virus (I've tried a few 30d trials of pay anti virus in between and they've never fond anything). I sweep every so often with malware bytes too

 

[Shut Up Legs]

It's an unwritten rule that all computer questions on forums must degenerate into a Mac v Microsoft argument.

As a Mac user I find the concept of anti-virus very quaint.

As a Linux user I find the concept of an operating system with proprietary software using proprietary hardware, propietary interfaces, etc. very quaint.


I do have a Windows 10 laptop PC at home also, though, and the Windows Defender running on it seems to do the job.

 

[Drago]

I stare menacingly at the front facing camera.

 

[Mr Celine]

I stare menacingly at the front facing camera.

No you don't. We hacked your camera ages ago and we're all watching now.

 

[MartinQ]

Windows Defender. I also use Malwarebytes once in a blue moon.

Likewise, for defender & malwarebytes.

 

[Mart44]

Bitdefender here. It always does well in AV comparison tests. A low 'false positive' rate too. Windows Defender is also also comparing fairly well these days though and I'll consider using this when renewal time comes along.