Don't buy anything defender does it all, unless you want extra protection.

I've been running it for months and its perfect, one of the best there is. Based on security essentials and forefront

 

The Samsung IMO

 

I too thought the Samsung.
Thanks Littleted for also confirming windows deffender is working well.

Amazing this site, not only get advice and info about our beloved Subaru's but also top notch computer advice.......thankyou all that has replied in this thread

 

Advice to anybody using windows 7 or 8

Windows 7 install security essentials, don't waste money on any mac fee or avg, unless you absolutely need that extra bloat ware they offer like site advisor etc. security essentials for windows 7 is free and is in the top 3 products.

Windows 8 goes another step with already installing defender, this is the same as above with bells on.

The virus companies are finding it tough as in all honesty after my 23 years in IT, you only really need them if your on vista and xp, and who is. Ok some of you are lol tight wads

 

Is it worth upgrading to W8 from W7, I've ran the upgrade assistant and it's recommending W8 Pro at £24.99. There is a couple of compatibility issues that should be solved by updates and downloads. From what I can gather all my files will be transferred so I won't lose anything.

Aaron

 

Think twice before following @Littleted’s advice above.

If you’re running Window 7
Security Essentials is a very poor anti-virus (AV) performer, one of the worst.
Get a better AV package.

If you’re running Windows 8
AV security is built in (called Defender) but it’s still a rebadged version of Security Essentials with the same AV engine at its core.
Microsoft is very active at issuing updates so it’ll probably get better over time. But for now I’d treat it like that new girlfriend: she’s more attractive, more colourful, richer and more entertaining than your ex. But you’ve only known her 2 or 3 months; so keep using a condom!

As a rule, 'paid for' AV packages will generally outperform free ones. And if you shop around they’re fairly cheap. Trend, Norton and Bitdefender, for example are all pretty effective.

 

Disagree on comment on the Paid for AV is better than free,like Norton and other paid will not protect you against the "rogue virus" or other nasty virus(Metropolitan Virus is good example)

Have look on this test

http://www.av-comparatives.org/comparativesreviews



Jura

 

http://download.cnet.com/Microsoft-S...-11106842.html

http://www.pcworld.com/article/17295...ssentials.html

http://www.techsupportalert.com/best...s-software.htm

I don't really want to get into a ***** waving comp, but read the above use google and decide.
If your it Literate and know about P2P badness etc, then my advice is 100% sound, yes paid for will help a bit better , but not much and nothing that id pay for. I only ever paid for stuff when I was using XP and Vista.

Essentials is exactly that its simple and effective, if you want Bloat ware, stuff that you don't need, OR indeed its your dad whos 80 then pay for it.

But just google rather than me go into why its the best youll see the results then make your own mind. I certainly know that id never pay for it, and in the 6 years or so ive been on Windows 7 and 8, including my 3 kids ive had None 0 nada that's enough for me. Im usually right :P

 

 

My friend lpatop is good example,he run BitDefender,before he run Norton,but after several my virus removals he just fed up with the those paid for AV and tried above mentioned Security Essentials with ComboFix and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is finally happy and without the viruses

I've tried AVG and must admit probably worst AV I've tried,so slow and clunky,resources hungry and really I wouldn't touch this AV never





Jura

 

Thanks for the link, @Jura. And thanks for backing up my statement.

@Littleted, ???

Perhaps you should have actually read the review before you replied.

Here's a summary from the link @Jura provided for 'Real World' Protection Test for Dec 2012:

Advanced (3 star)
BitDefender, GDATA, Qihoo, Kaspersky, BullGuard

Avanced (2 star)
Trend, F-Secure, AVIRA, Avast, Tencent, ESET

Standard (1 star)
Sophos, PC Tools, AVG, eScan, Panda

As I said and your kindly provided link shows:
As a rule, 'paid for' AV packages will generally outperform free ones.

 

As I said many AV paid or free will not protect you against the Rogue Virus or nasty virus

In many cases free AV is good enough for most people,this 'Real World' Protection Test for Dec 2012 is good,but still there is only small difference between the Paid for and Free ones,in most cases is there just marginal difference

Jura

 

You claim to know what you're talking about. Then you point me to:
- a cnet link for user evaluation for an AV product? Not many people are ever going to see more than a few viruses, but which ones is the key question?

- a 3-year old PCWorld test? The AV world's moved on.

- an evaluation site for freeware? Well he would say that, wouldn't he?

To evaluate AV package performance you need independent lab based testing.

AV-Comparatives (independent consultancy) have backed up my assertion with their Dec 2012 Awards.

Well let's see how right you are when AV-Test (independent consultancy) publish their annual results at the end of January.

And I'm happy to '***** wave'. I come well equipped... and it's in my nature.

 

Whilst security essentials does lag behind some of the paid for products in terms of up to date detection, I find it scores superbly in being non-intrusive, fast and ease of use.

If you want the best it's probably Kaspersky, but Security Essentials/Defender is good enough for most people who run noscript and don't download warez.

Noscript will help against drive by installers of malware, and most new virus'/malware starts distribution in pirate software.

Like everything, you pay your money you make your choices.

 

I'm in the free AV camp on this one. The differences between a free and fee AV are marginal and if OS updates are up to date, Windows 7/8 is a very secure OS and lot less vulnerable to malware than previous MS OS's. Also if your sensible with your email and surfing habits and using your common sense, chances of getting infected are slim. Proof of this for me is that I've never been subject to a malware infection in all my years of using a PC.

Of all the AV's I used, free and fee, MSE has had the least impact on performance and is the least intrusive with no adverts and prompts to update subscriptions. Fee AV's are only good as long as you keep paying for the subscription.

 

to be honest as long as your fiarly computer literate and dont go clicking random links all the time you should be fine with free AV.....

 

Security essentials is pretty good.

 

You don't have to take my word for it.

PC Pro March 2013:



And 'Paid for' outperformed 'free' in virtually every test.