Windows 10: Confused about antivirus on new laptop

Hi, I have just bought a Microsoft Surface Laptop. I am continually getting pop ups telling me I need to purchase Avast antivirus, but having done an internet search I have learnt that Microsoft Defender comes free of charge on Windows 10 and it is indeed on my machine and activated (although not for antivirus).


My questions:


1) At the moment, Defender anti-virus is disabled and I am prompted to purchase Avast but can anyone tell me why I need to purchase Avast if I can have Defender free of charge?


2) If I decide to ignore the Avast prompts, am I right in thinking that I should be able to "activate" the antivirus that comes with Defender?


3) I have read that malware protection is required on top of Defender, is this correct/ good advice?


I greatly appreciate all advice.

:)

 

Bit the bullet, and ordered my laptop!!

In the meantime, I'm thinking about a list of "indispensible software" to install... while trying to avoid bloat-ware.

Here's my list. Any suggestions welcome. (OS will be Vista Home Premium x64 so they must be 64bit compatible)

- Avast Antivirus
- Spyware Doctor

(any better suggestions for the above two?)

- CPU-Z
- GPU-Z
- SIW
- 3DMark 06 (vantage... I think the last time I checked it wasn't free or I'm confusing it with something else?)
- SuperPi
- CoreTemp
- ATITool (mainly for GPU temperature monitoring)
- Piriform Defraggler

- Firefox
- Fraps

Am I missing out something, and where do you suggest I could improve?

 

Confused about antivirus on new laptop

Hi, I have just bought a Microsoft Surface Laptop. I am continually getting pop ups telling me I need to purchase Avast antivirus, but having done an internet search I have learnt that Microsoft Defender comes free of charge on Windows 10 and it is indeed
on my machine and activated (although not for antivirus).

My questions:

1) At the moment, Defender anti-virus is disabled and I am prompted to purchase Avast but can anyone tell me why I need to purchase Avast if I can have Defender free of charge?

2) If I decide to ignore the Avast prompts, am I right in thinking that I should be able to "activate" the antivirus that comes with Defender?

3) I have read that malware protection is required on top of Defender, is this correct/ good advice?

I greatly appreciate all advice.

 

New FF - passwords


Hi:

If that setting is already enabled, then I suggest as the next troubleshooting step might be Mozilla Safe Mode (not to be confused with Windows Safe Mode)):

Troubleshoot Firefox issues using Safe Mode | Firefox Help

• Please report back and let us know the outcome, as it will dictate the next steps.
• Also: please tell us what AV/AM/firewall programs are you running on this system?

Thanks,
MM