Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc

User avatar
VegasNath
5StarLounger
Posts: 1185
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 12:02
Location: Wales, UK.

Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc

Post by VegasNath »

Hello,
I appreciate that this is a matter of personal preference, but what is the most popular / efficient / reliable free security currently available? I am running Win7 Ultimate SP1 (fully updated :)).... My needs are pretty basic, just want to ensure I have adequate protection....

Thanks,
Nathan
:wales: Nathan :uk:
There's no place like home.....

User avatar
StuartR
Administrator
Posts: 12577
Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 15:49
Location: London, Europe

Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc

Post by StuartR »

FIRSTLY use common sense.
  • DON'T VISIT RISKY WEB SITES
  • Don't install any software unless you REALLY need it
  • Don't let idiots have unsupervised access to your phone or computer
  • Use strong unique passwords for every login, and a password manager to manage these
  • Encrypt everything
  • Keep an offline backup that can't be deleted or corrupted by ransomware. Update this regularly
When you've done that you still need some tools.
  • I think that Microsoft Security Essentials is sufficient as anti-virus for Windows 7, if you follow the above rules
  • Use Flashcontrol on Chrome (or equivalent on other browsers) to help protect you from flash exploits
  • I use Adblock Plus to restrict advertising content, which often includes malware
StuartR


User avatar
Rudi
gamma jay
Posts: 25455
Joined: 17 Mar 2010, 17:33
Location: Cape Town

Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc

Post by Rudi »

    
Based on a few articles I've looked at, a well rated app is: Qihoo 360 Total Security.
I reference it solely based on reviews I have read. I do not personally use it.

Have a look at this Gizmo's article which includes pro's and con's and a few other good contenders.
Regards,
Rudi

If your absence does not affect them, your presence didn't matter.

User avatar
HansV
Administrator
Posts: 78231
Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 00:14
Status: Microsoft MVP
Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands

Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc

Post by HansV »

Windows Security Essentials from Microsoft is free and unobtrusive. It is not the most advanced security program out there, but it is perfectly adequate. In addition to the ongoing real-time protection you can set up a scheduled scan, for example daily or weekly.

As an added security measure, you could run a scan from time to time with the free version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. I run a scan once a week.
Best wishes,
Hans

User avatar
stuck
Panoramic Lounger
Posts: 8125
Joined: 25 Jan 2010, 09:09
Location: retirement

Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc

Post by stuck »

The really good things about Microsoft Sec. Essentials are:
a) it's free
b) it is totally silent, nothing nagging you to upgrade to a paid product

The least noisy free AV that I've found is Avira. It's nags are pop-ups that appear by the system tray when but not always, the PC is booted. The pop-ups do not fill the entire screen and are easily dismissed with the X in the corner.

Malwarebytes is a good complimentary tool.

Ken

User avatar
Rebel
4StarLounger
Posts: 557
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 16:02
Location: Recently moved to Bracebridge - in the heart of Muskoka.

Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc

Post by Rebel »

Stuart, you mention Adblock Plus in your response. Do you have any thoughts, suggestions or opinions regarding Adblock vs. Adblock Plus for Chrome?
John :canada:
A Child's Mind, Once Stretched by Imagination...
Never Regains Its Original Dimensions

User avatar
StuartR
Administrator
Posts: 12577
Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 15:49
Location: London, Europe

Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc

Post by StuartR »

John,

I just happen to have Adblock Plus installed, but looking at this page maybe I should try Adblock instead.
StuartR


User avatar
Rudi
gamma jay
Posts: 25455
Joined: 17 Mar 2010, 17:33
Location: Cape Town

Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc

Post by Rudi »

Personally I prefer uBlock Origin.
Regards,
Rudi

If your absence does not affect them, your presence didn't matter.

User avatar
Claude
cheese lizard
Posts: 6241
Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 00:14
Location: Sydney Australia

Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc

Post by Claude »

I use (and have used for years) Winpatrol Plus which alerts me when a new startup program or service installs itself and provides heaps of other functionality.

I also use all the programs mentioned earlier.

I use my router to directly block incoming IP addresses to the entire local network which safes me the trouble of having to block them on all individual devices.

I always encrypt all my internet traffic, even if I just check the weather forecast and I always hide my current location.

I block all ads. There has been a recent trend on websites requesting that I disable ad blocking and popup blocking in order to continue using the site. When that happens, I simply stop visiting the site and add their IP to the blocked IP list.
Cheers, Claude.

User avatar
StuartR
Administrator
Posts: 12577
Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 15:49
Location: London, Europe

Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc

Post by StuartR »

Other security software that I use includes
  • NordVPN to encrypt all my internet traffic and hide my IP address
  • VeraCrypt to encrypt data on my PC disk drives
  • RoboForm to manage all my passwords and share them across devices
StuartR