Off Topic Best Antivirus for Windows.

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
Brucebones

Brucebones

Well-Known Member
Apr 28, 2012
9,161
3,473
113
53
Manchester
I’ve used Norton Antivirus since I got my first laptop in 2004, I always buy the piece of cardboard with the new number on it every year, never really had any issues with it, until last year. When I went to install it, it came up I had to put my CC in so it would auto renew, there was no way round it & I had to put it in, as the piece of cardboard is less than £20 & auto renew is £80 odd, I was fuming.
I eventually got in touch with support who sorted it, but I didn’t want a repeat this year, plus I had issues where if I didn’t use my laptop for a while, I literally had to uninstall it, as it was blocking my internet access. Towards the end of my Norton time it stopped doing this, but the whole thing left a sour taste in my mouth. Now I have no antivirus, so not using laptop at all.
I am considering staying with Norton, but I just thought I’d ask if anyone had any better ideas for one, my tech ability is kind of limited, but I somehow get through with most stuff.
 
Brucebones said:
I’ve used Norton Antivirus since I got my first laptop in 2004, I always buy the piece of cardboard with the new number on it every year, never really had any issues with it, until last year. When I went to install it, it came up I had to put my CC in so it would auto renew, there was no way round it & I had to put it in, as the piece of cardboard is less than £20 & auto renew is £80 odd, I was fuming.
I eventually got in touch with support who sorted it, but I didn’t want a repeat this year, plus I had issues where if I didn’t use my laptop for a while, I literally had to uninstall it, as it was blocking my internet access. Towards the end of my Norton time it stopped doing this, but the whole thing left a sour taste in my mouth. Now I have no antivirus, so not using laptop at all.
I am considering staying with Norton, but I just thought I’d ask if anyone had any better ideas for one, my tech ability is kind of limited, but I somehow get through with most stuff.
Click to expand...

There's a bloke who writes a good 'home computing' column in our local paper every other week.
He repeatedly says to a) just use the inbuilt MS Defender and then b) download Malware Bytes Free (free not paid for) and run off line scan occasionally (say every couple of weeks / each month). He recommends not to use a paid for AV software - no need as Defender does all you need, doesn't slow your pc down, saves a bit of money, etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Brucebones and Ron Burguvdy
Gone For A Walk said:
There's a bloke who writes a good 'home computing' column in our local paper every other week.
He repeatedly says to a) just use the inbuilt MS Defender and then b) download Malware Bytes Free (free not paid for) and run off line scan occasionally (say every couple of weeks / each month). He recommends not to use a paid for AV software - no need as Defender does all you need, doesn't slow your pc down, saves a bit of money, etc.
Click to expand...
I tried that but I found Malware Bytes a bit intrusive. I've been using Eset last 7 years, about £75 for 3 years. I've had no issues and it gets updated regularly, automatically, at least once a week.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Brucebones
Plum said:
I tried that but I found Malware Bytes a bit intrusive. I've been using Eset last 7 years, about £75 for 3 years. I've had no issues and it gets updated regularly, automatically, at least once a week.
Click to expand...

Just for clarity. Malware Bytes FREE isn't active, you don't activate the live functions. All he recommends is to use it for an occasional scan (and removal of threats if it finds something). That way it cannot be intrusive as it's totally dormant until you open it to do a scan. All that is working live is MS Defender.
 
  • Like
Reactions: taigers, Ron Burguvdy and Brucebones
i found norton slowed my machine down too much. tried a few swore by spybot for a while. but for the last decade ive used microsoft defender and malwarebytes. i dont understand the intrusive bit? if it in anyway affected how i wanted to do things it would have been binned years ago. i even paid £30 for a fancy version thats on an old pc in the loft gathering dust.
if ever i got infected, which has been years now i used to go on bleeping computer website and use all the usual free tools which remove stuff even the likes of mcafee and norton couldnt. rkil adwcleaner and loads of others ive forgotten. having another pc to use whilst cleaning the infected one was valuable.

i think a decade ago we werent as suspicious maybe a bit daft and infections happened once every couple of months.
it was my lad honest.

i think the best safeguard or antivirus is just to watch what you click.
 
Brucebones said:
I’ve used Norton Antivirus since I got my first laptop in 2004, I always buy the piece of cardboard with the new number on it every year, never really had any issues with it, until last year. When I went to install it, it came up I had to put my CC in so it would auto renew, there was no way round it & I had to put it in, as the piece of cardboard is less than £20 & auto renew is £80 odd, I was fuming.
I eventually got in touch with support who sorted it, but I didn’t want a repeat this year, plus I had issues where if I didn’t use my laptop for a while, I literally had to uninstall it, as it was blocking my internet access. Towards the end of my Norton time it stopped doing this, but the whole thing left a sour taste in my mouth. Now I have no antivirus, so not using laptop at all.
I am considering staying with Norton, but I just thought I’d ask if anyone had any better ideas for one, my tech ability is kind of limited, but I somehow get through with most stuff.
Click to expand...

I've used Avast free antivirus for years without any problems.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rovertiger and Brucebones
i've used an assortment of free ones over the years, but ditched several when they got too bloated or tried to take over the universe. i've stuck with the inbuilt windows defender on some and i have bitdefender on my main machine. i hardly notice it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Brucebones
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back