Is Microsoft security essentials enough?

[pikergolf]

Is Microsoft security essentials enough to protect my computer? My McAffe is ready to expire and has given me nothing but problems for the last couple of weeks. I heard Microsoft stuff was as good as anything?

[CNP]

I haven't used anything but what comes with Windows for years. Windows Defender is enough for me and I suspect most users. Save your money.

[Shekka]

MSSE should be enough antivirus wise. However, who is your internet through?

Both Shaw and Telus provide antivirus for free for 2 devices atleast. So if you have either one of those you could use that.

Telus is currently offering Norton, and Shaw is offering Mcafee.

[CNP]

If you have windows 8 or better you have Windows Defender as an anti-virus program. If you use telus or shaw....yes they offer free anti-virus software. However, it is not recommended that two anti-virus programmes are running on the same computer............so in reality, the free stuff from Shaw or Telus is not necessary.

[Shekka]

Originally Posted by CNP

If you have windows 8 or better you have Windows Defender as an anti-virus program. If you use telus or shaw....yes they offer free anti-virus software. However, it is not recommended that two anti-virus programmes are running on the same computer............so in reality, the free stuff from Shaw or Telus is not necessary.

Of course you never run more then one antivirus at a time. But Norton or Mcafee are both better than any free antivirus you will find, so if you have Shaw or Telus, why not take the version they offer as part of your internet subscription?

[CNP]

Originally Posted by Shekka

Of course you never run more then one antivirus at a time. But Norton or Mcafee are both better than any free antivirus you will find, so if you have Shaw or Telus, why not take the version they offer as part of your internet subscription?

Because my Windows 10 computer runs Windows Defender.

[Skybuster]

Originally Posted by CNP

If you have windows 8 or better you have Windows Defender as an anti-virus program. If you use telus or shaw....yes they offer free anti-virus software. However, it is not recommended that two anti-virus programmes are running on the same computer............so in reality, the free stuff from Shaw or Telus is not necessary.

Why is this?

In years past it has been well documented that no anti-virus will catch 100% of the malware. It was recommended that you run at least two anti-virus software tools to catch more, though even then not all. Personally I didn't want that much cpu consumption so I only ran one interactively, but also manually ran malwarebytes periodically. When did it become a bad thing to run two?

[CNP]

Originally Posted by Skybuster

Why is this?

In years past it has been well documented that no anti-virus will catch 100% of the malware. It was recommended that you run at least two anti-virus software tools to catch more, though even then not all. Personally I didn't want that much cpu consumption so I only ran one interactively, but also manually ran malwarebytes periodically. When did it become a bad thing to run two?

You're changing the context. Using one anti-virus programme independent of say Malwarebytes is a different thing altogether. Running two resident anti-virus programmes at the same time is bad...

https://www.google.ca/search?q=runni...ograms&ie=&oe=

[schmedlap]

I just went with the "free" security things from my internet provider or ...?

Because, at some point, I got fed up with their ineffectiveness, crashed laptops due to viruses, etc, I have subscribed to Norton ("360") for a number of years, on all the family devices. I pay a relatively small amount yearly (about $80?), for several devices. I have had no issues at all since - they seem to notify of and immediately pick up and correct all issues, automatically do periodic scans, provide backup (my sons have used this to restore their laptops to previous status after total crashes), storage, etc. It is easy to transfer as one recycles old PC's into newer, etc. I am not "techie" by any means. I just know what has worked for me.

Do I no longer need to subscribe and pay? I am Cheap (?). If I can get the same for free, my "loyalty" will dissipate quickly. But, I have to say, as someone who does not know much about such, I have been quite impressed by Norton's very effective protection of my systems to date.

[Roughneck12]

I have a Mac. Nuff said. Lol.

[Au revoir, Gopher]

It is enough unless you routinely partake of "unsafe browsing"

Honestly, your best defence is, don't click on that link...

ARG

[32-40win]

I just installed the Malwarebyte 3.0 a few wks ago, run it and Defender. It gives me notices that Defender doesn't seem to flag. For what the Malwarebytes costs me, 4.00/mo, I don't mind paying that. Certainly better than Norton or MacAfee in my opinion, from what reading I have done on it, and what they show for ratings on those products. I also pay for Carbonite, and have had to use it once, which paid off. Nothing is perfect, but, when Telus decided to go Norton, I cringed, decided I would do something different than that.
If it has CPU usage , it doesn't seem to be noticeable for what I do.

[klrbkld]

Originally Posted by Roughneck12

I have a Mac. Nuff said. Lol.

Indeed.

Because apple doesn't have exploits....
Because they can't hack your Mac inside of 20 seconds when you visit a honey pot webpage...
Because hackers have never created a virus for Macs that would turn them into bots...
Because Apple will take care of you, if only you just give up all control to them....

Of course, if Apple ever told you about all of their issues, you wouldn't feel nearly as safe as you do.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolog...computers.html
You might not even know if you had a virus, been hacked or botted,
http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/03/tech...bug/index.html
because most anti virus programs don't work on Macs so nothing is there to tell you that a virus is already running rampant through your computer. Mac hacks just aren't as destructive as PC hacks, because once they are in, they can reside there for years. Watching.

Ever wonder why you don't hear about Mac vulnerabilities? Because Apple only tells you what they want you to know, not what you should know. Remind you of any other institution?

[jrowan]

Sophos Home is free for up to 10 computer on 1 account, and is a cloud based solution that comes from a enterprise level firewall provider that has the lightest client I know of.

The install is a combined firewall/anti virus with topic based web filtering.

https://home.sophos.com/reg

For the people who are more tech savvy they also have a free home utm OS download that is good up to 50 IP addresses and includes pretty much their entire enterprise solution.

Also their client through either the UTM or cloud inspects every packet going in and out of the computer with no noticeable decrease in network speed.

[Roughneck12]

Originally Posted by klrbkld

Indeed.

Because apple doesn't have exploits....
Because they can't hack your Mac inside of 20 seconds when you visit a honey pot webpage...
Because hackers have never created a virus for Macs that would turn them into bots...
Because Apple will take care of you, if only you just give up all control to them....

Of course, if Apple ever told you about all of their issues, you wouldn't feel nearly as safe as you do.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolog...computers.html
You might not even know if you had a virus, been hacked or botted,
http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/03/tech...bug/index.html
because most anti virus programs don't work on Macs so nothing is there to tell you that a virus is already running rampant through your computer. Mac hacks just aren't as destructive as PC hacks, because once they are in, they can reside there for years. Watching.

Ever wonder why you don't hear about Mac vulnerabilities? Because Apple only tells you what they want you to know, not what you should know. Remind you of any other institution?

I was joking dude. Kind of.
I actually found an anti-virus/malware program that works on Mac's and did a full scan and it was clean. I was kind of amazed, and pleased.

[ATF]

Originally Posted by Shekka

Of course you never run more then one antivirus at a time. But Norton or Mcafee are both better than any free antivirus you will find, so if you have Shaw or Telus, why not take the version they offer as part of your internet subscription?

Meh.
I picked up several viruses on different computers while running Shaw's virus protection for a lot of years. I dumped it and went with MSE on all and haven't had an issue yet in several years of operation.

[Rockman]

I run the Microsoft one only. Keep the definitions up to date and stay smart in what I click on/where I go. I know what I'm doing and haven't had a problem in about 9 years now.

I do occasionally visit less than mainstream sites, but carefully. And I avoid clickbait or obvious crap sites or buttons like the plague (obvious to me anyways). NEVER install or download any file from anywhere unless I was specifically asking/looking for it.

PS: The problem years back was when I was using another prog. Norton if I recall correctly.

[saskminer]

I had Kaspersky for years but the new win 10 anti virus is so good, I've removed the third party stuff completely. I do check my computer with a free utility called Stinger once in a while when I am concerned that Windows is acting funny. So far so good - 4 computers and no issues at all.

Sent from my SM-N920W8 using Tapatalk

[KinAlberta]

Originally Posted by jrowan

Sophos Home is free for up to 10 computer on 1 account, and is a cloud based solution that comes from a enterprise level firewall provider that has the lightest client I know of.

The install is a combined firewall/anti virus with topic based web filtering.

https://home.sophos.com/reg

For the people who are more tech savvy they also have a free home utm OS download that is good up to 50 IP addresses and includes pretty much their entire enterprise solution.

Also their client through either the UTM or cloud inspects every packet going in and out of the computer with no noticeable decrease in network speed.

On my Mac desktop I have Sophos and some things from Objective-See.

On my Windows 10 desktop I have Defender and MalwareBytes.

Then I have backup hard drives that I disconnect out of fear of some ransomwear thingy corrupting the backups too.