Anti Virus laptop problems.

[STEVIEBOY1]

I am having problems with my anti virus software again. It keeps turning itself off. Can anyone recommend a good anti virus/spyware programme that is good and not too dear.

 

[Lrd]

Windows Defender, built in to Windows, free and all you need.

 

[nlogax]

Assuming you're still on Windows 7, I'd go for third party protection. Defender (aka MS Security Essentials on your Windows version) is ok but something like AVG Free will likely do a better job. https://www.avg.com/en-gb/free-antivirus-download

 

[Harpers Tate]

Agree with the Windows Defender/Security (etc) suggestion. No need for anything else, although an occasional full system scan with MalWareBytes free when you aren't using for anything else doesn't go amiss.

 

[GWRtom]

It would also be a good idea to install the following browser extensions, as extra preventative measures if you're using Chrome or Firefox ;

- HTTPS everywhere ( Forces a connection to use Secure Sockets Layer encryption wherever possible, preventing man in the middle attacks)
- NoScript (Blocks JavaScript code from running on untrusted sites; Helping protect against XSS; Cross Site Scripting, and click jacking attacks)

 

[trainmania100]

Providing you keep your windows up to date and do all the necessary checks to keep it up to date, and are sensible online (ie you know not to click flashing sidebar banners and popups etc), you should be fine with windows defender.
In my experience, I use avast. It can run in the background and if you tell it to be silent it will, and it's free.
I don't like to use antivirus as usually they're quite heavy and use lots of system resources.

I recommend avast. It's free, and leaves you alone. Many people get bsod when installing but after wards it's usually fjne

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Windows Defender, built in to Windows, free and all you need.

Thanks for that, I just looked and infact don't seem to have that loaded, I wonder if when I bought the laptop it was taken off at the shop and a paid anti virus was installed instead.

 

[Harpers Tate]

@STEVIEBOY1 I believe it WILL be loaded; I believe it always is. But if there is another AV installed, it quietly takes a back seat. If you do a full uninstall of anything else, I suspect Defender will "appear" after a reboot. I don't think it can be uninstalled.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

@STEVIEBOY1 I believe it WILL be loaded; I believe it always is. But if there is another AV installed, it quietly takes a back seat. If you do a full uninstall of anything else, I suspect Defender will "appear" after a reboot. I don't think it can be uninstalled.

Ok thank you for that, I will look again. At the moment I am using Avira and Malware, although the latter seems to be a trial and expires tomorrow.

 

[Harpers Tate]

Malwarebytes - if/when the trial expires, base (free) functionality can be continued. I can't remembedr exactly what process you go though to do this, but a free edition is certainly part of their offering. I don't think it can be running all the time, but you can set it to do a periodic system scan, which IS useful occasionally.

 

[Bevan Price]

I use Norton/Symantec anti-virus - you have to pay for it, but it seems to work very well. I tried AVG some time ago, but found it had too large an impact on computer performance, making things even slower, especially my already snail-speed internet connection. I also use Malwarebytes (Free) for an occasional added check - beware it can clash with some other anti-virus software, but there are options to prevent this.

However, one of the best precautions is never click a link in email messages which look as if they could be "spam" - even if the link appears to be to somewhere you think ought to be safe.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Thanks,I am runing a malware bytes free scan now as it happens, the other one is not opening at the moment. I am very careful with emails I don't know and pop ups. If in doubt I double delete and ignore it. I may go back to the Norton paid for one, as that seems a good product.

 

[najaB]

I may go back to the Norton paid for one, as that seems a good product.

Please don't. The sooner Norton is no longer a 'thing' the better for the IT industry as a whole. When Norton was an independently owned small company they made good products (anybody else old enough to remember Norton Tools?) but through mergers and acquisitions they have become increasingly poor overall.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Please don't. The sooner Norton is no longer a 'thing' the better for the IT industry as a whole. When Norton was an independently owned small company they made good products (anybody else old enough to remember Norton Tools?) but through mergers and acquisitions they have become increasingly poor overall.

Ok thank you for that tip.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

@STEVIEBOY1 I believe it WILL be loaded; I believe it always is. But if there is another AV installed, it quietly takes a back seat. If you do a full uninstall of anything else, I suspect Defender will "appear" after a reboot. I don't think it can be uninstalled.

I think I just found the Defender by doing a programme search, so I shall try loading that and uninstalling the others.

 

[Harpers Tate]

I think I just found the Defender by doing a programme search, so I shall try loading that and uninstalling the others.

I think all you need to is UNinstall others first and then reboot, whereupon Defender will activate. OR you'll get a warning icon which takes you to the necessary page to turn it on. One or the other.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I think all you need to is UNinstall others first and then reboot, whereupon Defender will activate. OR you'll get a warning icon which takes you to the necessary page to turn it on. One or the other.

Ok Thank you, I shall give it a go and see what happens.