Windows 10: Is paying for antivirus a waste of money?

right good to have choices *Biggrin

 

That is a very sensible position to take.

 

I use a similar group of AV programs:

• AVG (Free) on my W7 VMs & XP VMs
• Avast (Free) and MBAM (Free) on my real W7 & XP installs
• Windows Defender on my W10IP VM

Windows Defender seems to be OK in my W10 IP VM, but I normally surf the Internet using FF on the Linux Mint Host.

 

I haven't used anything but Windows Defender/MSE for donkeys years but do have a backup system going, incl a USB drive in a safe.

A recent experience with an 80 year old's comp (win 10 and Defender, only) might be of interest. He got an email saying it was from the NSW Police with an infringement notice. So, he clicks the button, answers the captcha test and whamo, the ransomware gets cracking.

Defender jumped into action quite quickly but there were still files encrypted, including his USB drive's image backups. Luckily all the other hits were on a big folder of stuff that didn't matter and google earth files.

I did have a backup of his here with me that was a month old so that would have been a reasonable backstop but it does illustrate a couple of problems. When you get vague you can't be trusted not to do what are clearly stupid things and you can't be trusted to switch on the backup drive once a week and do the backup then unplug it.

It would be nice to have a cheap foolproof non intrusive system to defeat these b***tards but it isn't here yet and probably never will be, at least in my lifetime.

And, no, I just can't be convinced to switch to Linux!!

 

I have not switched to Linux either, but for internet work in uncharted territory I use Linux. If that blows up (which is unlikely) there is no real damage done.

 

In my experience, yes it is a waste of money. The last time i got any viruses was 6 years ago. I haven't paid or used any antivirus programs since 2011. Windows defender and the free Malware Bytes have been more than enough. Plus i am now a more experienced user and i know where not to click. *Wink

 

Hi there.

I think my views on this topic are well known --I've said for AGES that the days (for HOME not corporate users ) of 3rd party AV vendors is over.

Most problems aren't caused by things AV software can easily (or if at all) detect.

I'll spell again clearly my reasons.

1) More money to be made in SCAMS - fake emails, etc. People giving out too much info on Social media sites so data can get hacked -- such as Bank accounts etc. People do SILLY things like assume if they get an email from a Bank to say please change your password they actually do it !!!!!!. Opening emails from unknown people containing attachments is another very common problem --especially those of a current scam -- you get an email purporting to be an invoice or a payment acknowledgement that contains a dubious attachment. Just sling it -- .

2) A lot of websites have so many green arrows and confusing information that inexperienced people invariably make the wrong download - such as a piece of trial or adware etc. These programs while not Viruses in any sense are mega annoying but an AV program really has very little chance to intercept these -- remember these are "legitimate programs" and some people - unbelievably IMO might actually want them !!!!.

3) A lot of PUPS have the same problem - as far as windows is concerned they are legitimate programs and not "Classic" viruses so AV software has a real battle on its hands here. You could so it via a database but that database needs to be updated very frequently.

4) Most Torrent sites these days don't want rubbish on their sites so much better control over what gets uploaded. Also if you download a legitimate mkv/mp4/avi/mp3/flac file your music player / video player will only handle it if the file is good. Windows won't get corrupted even if their is a nasty in this type of file. If you must use torrents don't download rar/zip/exe/msi type files.

I've made several challenges to people on these forums to send me a music or video file containing a virus to see if it can affect the computer --no one has risen to the challenge yet. Note no .zip/exe/rar etc files. must be flac/mp3/mp4/mkv/avi r recognized video / audio codecs.

5) Windows defender is built right into the kernel -- and Ms update their data base of viruses etc almost daily -- most small companies don't have the resources to do this or even "reverese engineer" the Windows kernel - remember any Windows update could render a lot of 3rd party AV software ineffective or simply breaks it.

My advice is play safe, take plenty of backups and stick with Ms Windows defender.

Any previous period comparison reports are also meaningless-- a new threat could potentially arise AT ANY TIME so any data collected over a previous period as you often see in some technical magazine is useless when you need it on basing a decision for TODAY for example.

3rd party AV software --R.I.P

@linw -- just proves my point -- User opening Email with attachment from what he thought was a legitimate source. Police IMO NEVER will send emails to anybody !!!!! nor will Govt Tax offices etc etc. No AV system will prevent you against that type of scam.

Everybody has a built in system to defeat the so call "Bar Stewards" !! It's called A BRAIN. !!

Note "The price of Education is expensive - but the Price of Ignorance is Astronomical".

Cheers
jimbo

 

Well written and explained @jimbo45!
Too bad I can't rep on this thread.
I guess a pat on the back will have to do(for now*Wink)-

 

You have said it for me, Jimbo.

But everyone has to make their own decision on this which is why the AV purveyors will still keep in business.

 

Pftt... the real answer to the OP is Yes... use the free stuff...
Windows Defender? nope... don't care about the detractors of the AV tests to defend it.

 

Defender & MSE are "Baseline" because Microsoft shares their malware and virus finds/information with all the AV companies, to make sure users are protected. The 3rd parties on the other hand.... uh-uh. Some even create their own to scare users into choosing their product.

 

No not use Avast. You should find an alternative ASAP. Avast (silently) interferes with security software from the competition and makes it unable to properly detect/remove threats.

 

Hi there

Even things like Malwarebytes that a lot of people recommend - are now a total waste of time -- I can give you ANY number of PUPS against which which Malware bytes is totally useless. -- PUPS act as "Normal Windows programs" and can behave as a perfectly legitimate (but hideously annoying) program. Unless you have a specific block against "progname.exe" then how in the world will Malwarebytes know it's a PUP.

For example say you have PHOTOSHOP.EXE and FOTOKINO.EXE - both could be 100% legit programs -- how will Malwarebytes react.

I think people also need to know - or at least understand :
a) How executables work - i.e what windows does when a program is launched
b) what specifically are they trying to defend against.

My own view is still the same - use COMMON SENSE, have backups and use Windows defender. Anything else isn't worth it ad can just consume resources on your machine.

Cheers
jimbo

 

Avast has specific low resource routines... common sense is a no-brainer and not even part of the equation...

I posted recently how Norton classed ShowKey as PUP based on a reputation signature..and that's only 'cos I included an update check that gets info from Github.

 

Hi All

I think the OP was referring to PAYING for AV software -- all these people mentioning the "Freebies" are OT.

However my view is still the same - Paid for or not - a waste of time.

In any case most of these databases that record against PUPS probably have very poor algorithms to decide what is a PUP and what isn't.

If you are sufficiently worried about one or two specific ones well there is a thing called the Windows FIREWALL - people IMO don't make good enough use of the (actually very good) built in Windows firewall, and of course their router logs too -- I'll bet a load here even on this very forum don't know how to acess their router logs -- IMO you should set up a job to examine these DAILY - I think you might be surprised at numbers of attempts at a login !! -- perfectly normal BTW to see these types of attempts - just make sure none actually get through. !!

How many people here have CHROMECAST - actually a very good convenient piece of kit -- but do thy realize whenever you re-boot or start it you can see it broadcasts an OPEN Wifi signal !!!. Using Chromecast conncted via an adapter to your Ethernet is better - and the open wifi signal isn't available for long - but in theory it could get exploited.

Why Google Has Yet to Fix Chromecast Flaw One Year Later

Stopping these loopholes and using the Firewall and your router properly are far better than any cludgy piece of software.

If you really want to see decent secure systems - you don't have to install it but look at CENTOS and RED HAT and checkout the SELINUX info. This is built into the OS and very hard to break indeed.

Even if you HATE Linux just read the description here abut how it works. Whatever your OS it's a sensible (and not too technical) read.

Security-Enhanced Linux - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Ms kernel is going the same way in implementing security -- good thing too.

As I re-iterate -- understand what the REAL threats are, and what ways you can use to implement them.

BRAIN is still by far and away the safest and most secure method.

Cheers
jimbo