So in January(?) Comcast/Xfinity will be eliminating the free Norton they have been providing. Currently I see I can get Norton 360 for ~$20-$25 and I may end up springing for that. Don't really like that they are hard pushing auto-renewal. It can be turned off, just going to have to set an alert/reminder.
Just wondering what other Grogs are using on their PCs?
I use Pandadome.
Combination of BitDefender and Malwarebytes.....I have tried others over the years (i.e. avast, norton, mcafee, kaspersky, etc.) and BitDefender is the least intrusive that I have ever used. To the best of my knowledge, my computer has never been infected and does not report false positives often (actually rarely).
I've used Norton 360 for years and have been happy with it.
Avast free, Malwarebytes premium, and Win10 defender
Quote from: Grim.Reaper on November 29, 2020, 10:16:03 AM
Combination of BitDefender and Malwarebytes.....I have tried others over the years (i.e. avast, norton, mcafee, kaspersky, etc.) and BitDefender is the least intrusive that I have ever used. To the best of my knowledge, my computer has never been infected and does not report false positives often (actually rarely).
+1. That is exactly what I am using and what I have used, plus AVG and another I cannot recall.
AVG internet security suite
Anti malwarebytes
CCleaner
Sophos and Win 10 Defender.
I'm in the same situation as Steve58 and I'll look around but Norton has been good to me and I've been using it since it was rewritten it, so that it wasn't the resource hog that it was years ago, and that was prior to Xfinity providing it free. I'm sure that there are other competent security suites out there but, as I say, Norton has been good to me for a decade or more and I'll probably stick with them.
I only use the standard Windows protection, and Firefox's security. For the last twenty years. I have never been infected with malware or been the victim of nasty stuff. For most of that time I also ran internet services from my network.
My opinion on other protection software is that they just produce problems. They also nag you because they want to make you feel they were worth the money spent on them.
For what it is worth, I am a retired software engineer and I have built network solutions for Dutch and European government agencies.
Norton 360. Was using Norton Security until today when I upgraded.
I know Sauron40 uses Avast - a free virus protection and he swears by it.
I agree with Lotti's comments about protection software producing problems, especially with heuristics and marketing followup on virtually every little thing. :-\
Quote from: Lotti Fuehrscheim on November 29, 2020, 08:10:04 PM
For the last twenty years. I have never been infected with malware or been the victim of nasty stuff.
Most malware doesn't want you to know you are infected.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_(computing)
Botnets of zombie computers are often used to spread e-mail spam and launch denial-of-service attacks (DoS attacks). Most owners of "zombie" computers are unaware that their system is being used in this way.https://computer.howstuffworks.com/zombie-computer.htm
Quote from: Pete Dero on December 04, 2020, 04:17:38 AM
Quote from: Lotti Fuehrscheim on November 29, 2020, 08:10:04 PM
For the last twenty years. I have never been infected with malware or been the victim of nasty stuff.
Most malware doesn't want you to know you are infected.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_(computing)
Botnets of zombie computers are often used to spread e-mail spam and launch denial-of-service attacks (DoS attacks). Most owners of "zombie" computers are unaware that their system is being used in this way.
https://computer.howstuffworks.com/zombie-computer.htm
That is very true. Good point.
I have CCleaner, but don't use it for protection issues.
I use paid Avast. It still nags me to buy more stuff on a somewhat regular basis. ::)
Quote from: Pete Dero on December 04, 2020, 04:17:38 AM
Quote from: Lotti Fuehrscheim on November 29, 2020, 08:10:04 PM
For the last twenty years. I have never been infected with malware or been the victim of nasty stuff.
Most malware doesn't want you to know you are infected.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_(computing)
Botnets of zombie computers are often used to spread e-mail spam and launch denial-of-service attacks (DoS attacks). Most owners of "zombie" computers are unaware that their system is being used in this way.
https://computer.howstuffworks.com/zombie-computer.htm
I used to monitor my network activity, as I had webserver, mailserver and ftp-server running on my network. Never noticed anything but failed stupid attacks.
I have also regularly ran external scans that don't install themselves on your PC.
And of course I have always been fully patched and for the last decade have always the standard Windows protector running, that causes only the minimum of disruption.
And I don't run MS Office, which removes a large attack vector, and I don't visit dodgy websites (and when I did I used a virtual machine running Linux that resets itself after use. All part of good internet hygiene.
I decided to pick up Bitdefender Total Security 2021 based on reviews. I found a 2 yr deal for 5 devices on Amazon for $55 (https://www.amazon.com/Bitdefender-Total-Security-Device-license/dp/B07G8RQGHL/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Bitdefender+Total+Security+2021&qid=1609261216&sr=8-3). Amazon also had a $15 coupon, so for 2 years for $40 I'm going to give it a shot.
FYI to self. Always check Slickdeals before ordering. #:-)
PCWorld has a 2 year/15 device deal for $30 (https://software.pcworld.com/p36636-bitdefender_family_pack_2021_15-device_2-yr).
I use the free version of Kaspersky and it seems to do the trick. I used the free version of Avast for many years before making the switch last summer. I also run Malwarebytes' scans once in a while.
Some say just using Windows Defender is good enough though.
Windows defender and never had a virus.
Bitdefender for years now. Works well and is nicely quiet.