Anti-virus: Resident Or Not?

Discussion in Computers, Electronics & Gadgets started by Peninha • Feb 2, 2015.

  1. Peninha

    PeninhaWell-Known Member

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    I think that more and more people lately are getting virus and Microsoft Security Essentials (or Windows Defender for those with windows 8) isn't doing the job anymore. Is it worth it to have a resident anti-virus or those one time run do the trick and are enough?
     
  2. clairebeautiful

    clairebeautifulActive Member

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    I specifically switched to all Apple products several years ago for the sole purpose of avoiding viruses. Knock on wood (and likely because I've become much more savvy with suspicious websites and emails), my computer has remained free of trojan horses and malware.

    On a PC, I used Avast and paid the very low premium to get the most updated sweeps. It did seem to do a pretty good job, but every once in a while my computer would start running slow, we'd do a sweep, and find out there was something on it. IN that case, every time I simply restored factory settings to clear it out. Honestly, I'm not sure there is a program on the planet that catches everything, but if you have a PC, it is probably better to have something than nothing.
     
  3. troutski

    troutskiWell-Known Member

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    Windows SE and Defender are more than enough for people that aren't doing stupid things with their computers. Also, it's a myth that OSX devices are safer than Windows OS devices. It really all depends on what a person does with their machine. If you're not opening spam emails or visiting sketchy websites or downloading questionable freeware, then you're not going to run into problems, whether you have antivirus protection or not.
     
  4. AngelicDevilTel

    AngelicDevilTelActive Member

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    I use to have Windows and used it faithfully on every computer I have ever had. Then I started having problems with Windows 7 slowing down all the time; so I switched to something else.

    Back when I did have Windows it got viruses and rogues anti viruses a lot, I had Windows Security Essentials but it wasn't doing much and was always giving me false positives. I had downloaded MalwareBytes and it was just awesome, whenever I ran it, it would get just about everything that was wrong on the system. Whenever I would get a rogue anti virus I would start the computer in safe mode, run Malwarebytes, restart the computer, no more rogue. It was the best thing I had ever used.

    Fortunately my new system doesn't get viruses so I have no need for any AV software.
     
  5. Peninha

    PeninhaWell-Known Member

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    I had this impression too, that the MSE and now called Defender was more than enough, until my work computer started to give me problems. I think that the colleague using it when I leave doesn't know exactly how to take care of it.
     
  6. deathbyprayer

    deathbyprayerActive Member

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    If you're really careful with what you're doing online and offline you probably won't need any other antivirus, MSE and WD would be okay. But I always tend to install a dedicated Anti Virus software just in case, you'll never know what your co-worker's flash drive is carrying inside it's belly.
     
  7. sidney

    sidneyWell-Known Member

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    I think that it's a must to have an anti-virus in your pc, because I remember that I was on a webpage and AVG warned me of something malicious trying to get in my pc, so I closed the page asap. The anti-virus of Windows never got to detect anything here in the pc, while others were able to detect the viruses that got past Windows. So I don't really trust Windows Defender.
     
  8. deansaliba

    deansalibaActive Member

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    I have been running AVG for years and have only had a virus get through once and that was when my brother downloaded something when he borrowed my laptop - and it only got through because he disabled AVG so he could play some games.

    To be honest you could have multiple programs running on certain people's computers and they will still get a virus because they are plain stupid and open and download everything without thinking.
     
  9. Denis Hard

    Denis HardWell-Known Member

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    I haven't installed any anti-virus software on my computer. The moment I bought it, after I'd installed all the essential software I'd be using I installed Deep Freeze and never again will I have to concern myself with viruses, trojans and other malware. After a browsing session all I need to do is restart my computer and it will be as clean as it was when it was new. I'd recommend using such "restore" software. It would save you a lot of stress scanning for viruses, worrying about keyloggers, etc.
     
  10. Peninha

    PeninhaWell-Known Member

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    I've heard about Deep Freeze, but I don't know exactly what it does. It just resumes the configuration I've done by every restart? That seems pretty clever... Is it annoying though Denis?
     
  11. valiantx

    valiantxActive Member

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    Any anti-virus program that came with a new CPU tower or laptop are the lowest and ineffectual softwares, I simply delete them all once I've installed a new or better anti-virus program. In my opinion, stock virus programs usually become faulty once the trial period is over and it becomes detrimental to the performance of a CPU and its processes. I personally use the anti-virus called Malwarebytes and it has helped me maintain my computer from virus and spam attacks, and it works just as good or even better than more expensive anti-virus programs out there.
     
  12. Denis Hard

    Denis HardWell-Known Member

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    It can be annoying at times, yes.

    For example if you were composing something on WORD and for some reason the computer goes off, you lose everything. But that happens only to someone who is using the program for the first time. Someone like me, I prepare for the worst.

    What I hate though is having to reinstall media players each time I restart the computer.
     
  13. Beautyspin

    BeautyspinMember

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    I use KIS2014 paid version. It is better to have a resident antivirus program rather than nothing. Of course, there are problems with them deleting normal software because of false positives, but I feel it is better to feel safer than sorry. I do not know how restoring to factory image works on a Mac, and though it is a foolproof option, it is not for me as I do a lot of customisation for all my software and redoing them is a lot of pain.
     
  14. Peninha

    PeninhaWell-Known Member

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    Ouch, so I don't think I would ever use that! Can you just reprogram deep freeze for the installed programs? Have you heard about restore reboot? I think it does the same thing, but it's more effective.
     
  15. tournique

    tourniqueActive Member

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    I'm experiencing small issues after using only MSE. Come to think about it, I probably need another anti virus. I've been running malware bytes as well and it seems that they hardly find anything on my computer. Probably those pesky trojans and spyware can get past the MSE basic software security.
     
  16. MrSuperCoolPenguin

    MrSuperCoolPenguinNew Member

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    Microsoft Security Essentials is decently good, and can cover many of the most common viruses; however, there are other alternatives that are in my opinion flat out better. Even baidu antivirus seems to be better. For myself, I use AVAST! Free antivirus. They are really nice and unobtrusive if you keep it on silent mode. Most of the time though, I didn't even have antivirus. Antivirus can be unneeded by just practicing safe habits on the internet. By not downloading random programs and sticking to safe sites, you won't even need antivirus, you can keep yourself safe. But if you like to have that extra layer of protection, it is not that bad of an idea.
     
  17. Denis Hard

    Denis HardWell-Known Member

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    It's my OS that has issues, Peninha, not the software. If it was possible, I could disable Deep Freeze, install the programs I wish to keep then enable it. My OS is like "frozen" in one state [and it's not by Deep Freeze]. So like it or not, I'm stuck with old software that is obsolete. Only the browsers are OK. It forces me therefore to install any other software I'll be using each time I restart the computer.

    I'd never heard of Restore Reboot and my curiosity piqued, I decided to look around, read some reviews and learned that it was as good as Deep Freeze. Unlike Deep Freeze though they have a free version of the software [which is great!]. Thanks for the recommendation. When I buy a new machine in a few months time, I'll prefer using this software . . .
     
  18. Peninha

    PeninhaWell-Known Member

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    No problem, we are using Restore Reboot here where I work and it's really simply, when I want to install something I just disable it and when I finish the installation I enable it again, it's as simple as it can get.
     
  19. beccagreen

    beccagreenActive Member

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    On my PC which has Windows 8.1 I never really installed any other Anti-Virus program since I never use it for anything other than doing offline work and gaming so I don't really worry that much about viruses. But on my laptop which I use to surf the internet and download a bunch of stuff, I have 2 anti-virus programs running.
     
  20. Goat of Departure

    Goat of DepartureActive Member

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    I think MSE is a pretty good anti-virus program. I use to have it on my Windows 7 PC and it did a pretty good job actually. But now I have a better one and I don't like how MSE sometimes just allows suspicious files to come in through the system without any warning, like that one where I got loads of adware stuck on my PC for a week, had to do a massive cleanup.