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
Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc
-
- 5StarLounger
- Posts: 1185
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 12:02
- Location: Wales, UK.
Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc
Nathan
There's no place like home.....
There's no place like home.....
-
- Administrator
- Posts: 12618
- Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 15:49
- Location: London, Europe
Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc
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
- 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
-
- gamma jay
- Posts: 25455
- Joined: 17 Mar 2010, 17:33
- Location: Cape Town
Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc
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.
Rudi
If your absence does not affect them, your presence didn't matter.
-
- Administrator
- Posts: 78586
- Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 00:14
- Status: Microsoft MVP
- Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands
Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc
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.
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
Hans
-
- Panoramic Lounger
- Posts: 8185
- Joined: 25 Jan 2010, 09:09
- Location: retirement
Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc
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
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
-
- 4StarLounger
- Posts: 568
- Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 16:02
- Location: Recently moved to Bracebridge - in the heart of Muskoka.
Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc
Stuart, you mention Adblock Plus in your response. Do you have any thoughts, suggestions or opinions regarding Adblock vs. Adblock Plus for Chrome?
John
A Child's Mind, Once Stretched by Imagination...
Never Regains Its Original Dimensions
A Child's Mind, Once Stretched by Imagination...
Never Regains Its Original Dimensions
-
- Administrator
- Posts: 12618
- Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 15:49
- Location: London, Europe
Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc
John,
I just happen to have Adblock Plus installed, but looking at this page maybe I should try Adblock instead.
I just happen to have Adblock Plus installed, but looking at this page maybe I should try Adblock instead.
StuartR
-
- gamma jay
- Posts: 25455
- Joined: 17 Mar 2010, 17:33
- Location: Cape Town
Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc
Personally I prefer uBlock Origin.
Regards,
Rudi
If your absence does not affect them, your presence didn't matter.
Rudi
If your absence does not affect them, your presence didn't matter.
-
- cheese lizard
- Posts: 6241
- Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 00:14
- Location: Sydney Australia
Re: Best Free Security - Anti Virus etc
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.
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.
-
- Administrator
- Posts: 12618
- Joined: 16 Jan 2010, 15:49
- Location: London, Europe