Windows 10: Security for Windows 10 and Windows 8?

Hi all, first post here so be gentle *Tongue

So after many years of running Kaspersky which we got free through my wifes bank, they now recommended we no longer use it!!! So I have spent hours reading and watching reviews looking for a free alternative that we can use on both a W10 desktop and a W8 laptop. Just when I think I've found the one, I then read another review that says it's system hungry, of has a lot of bloatware etc.

The top ones seemed to be:
Avast
Avira
Bitdefender

I was ready to try Avast but then saw a few reviews saying it slows your system down and only lasts 1 year and then doesn't update! I then started to look at the firewalls that were compatible with the next two, Avira & Bitdefender. I came across good things being said about Zone Alarm, so I took a look at their website and saw that they also do a full security system called 'ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus 2018' which has an AV and firewall program built into one package FREE Antivirus Protection for PC - Download Now! I'm wondering if anyone has used it and what their review of it is?

Or is the inbuilt security package in W10 & W8 good enough for normal household use, web browsing, forums, shopping online etc.

PS: I've also been using the free Malwarebytes for year to scan once week.

Thanks in advance for any help and information *Wink

:)

 

Windows 10 Unexpected shutdown on start up

OK, so i figured it out myself

Found the logfile in "C:\Windows\Minidump".

You need the Windows Development Kit to open it and a bit of googling to understand it.

Found out that a Daemon driver caused an error. Removed Daemon but this didn't solve it. (ps: Daemon itself worked normally).

I let hibernate my computer again and found another error with sptd2.sys: SCSI Pass Through Direct layer

More google and ended up on the duplexsecure site. Downloaded the W10 version and voila: problem fixed.

For the Windows support team: It would be really helpfull if you could pass problems to a more skilled helpdesk who can do more than proposing the standard solutions in case those won't work.

Cheers

 

Windows 10 Unexpected shutdown on start up

OK, so I also found out that this occurs when sleepmode (for me after 3 hours) changes into hibernate mode.

Seems like the going into hibernate and/or starting up from HIbernate results in a shutdown. In safeboot it works perfectly.

Anyone any idea how I can figure out where it goes wrong. Is there a way to log this (I couldn't find it in bootlog)

 

Well the Inbuilt Security in Windows 10 and 8, might be enough depending on user habits, and such, folks around here use it quite a bit Defender, and Malwarebytes, but I myself no expert, just started using Defender a few weeks ago (haven't updated info on the profile yet) Previously used Avast for years, (since 2006) but slowly transitioning over to Built in Security as well here

 

Zone Alarm (with HIPS) is for more advanced users and besides, it uses Kaspersky, which you are trying to avoid.

You might try Sophos Free, it is decent and made in UK, so there should be no issues regarding espionage. *Rolleyes

Avast is usable installed in Minimal Protection (+Behaviour Shield) and Bitdefender would do nicely too.

 

Yeah a few Computers in household still use Avast with Minimal protection, file shield, web shield, mail shield, behavior shield, no performance issues on those systems reported with that setup

 

I was using the free Kaspersky software from Barclays until recently. I now just use Defender and the latest version of Windows 10 (FCU). I also run periodic scans with AdwCleaner and Malwarebytes. For banking sites, I've created a Chrome incognito mode shortcut to the login page.

 

There are several alternatives that are good: Right now I am doing a second/third test of BitDefender Free, Windows Defender is also good, Avira Free is good, Avast Free is ok too. In the end it mostly depends on user habits, combining AV with another layers of protection (MBAE, some antiransonware thing) and doing a lot of independant backups of sensible data.

 

Hi guys and thanks for all the replies so far *Wink

I've been looking into some of the programs mentioned above, whilst doing so i came across this person's channel on youtube, they seem to do rather good tests on each AV available, thought I'd share it *Smile https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQn...able_polymer=1