What is your preferred Anti Virus Product?

Marc · September 2019

Looking to see what everyones favorite is. Feel free to comment below on the antivirus of your choice or to add one PCWEEK missed... List compiled mostly from PCWeek top Antivirus list (I can only save 10 choices).

VioletChepil · September 2019

Promoting this and would be great to get some more votes too. @Pooh @kltaylor @Hronos @MDavide @Mirekmal @nexusnet @RickT49 @Manny_Cavalier @attzonko

Pooh · September 2019

MalwareBytes - not on the list

mozarella · September 2019

nth, using Linux, Mac and iOS without classical virus scanner

Marc · September 2019

I use the one that came with my OS

I run macOS without as well. I used Clamav at one point but ended deleting it as my Mac took a performance hit. What is everyone’s thoughts on antivirus and macOS?

keith · September 2019

Bitdefender

36 brands/versions tested by Choice Australia, Bit Defender versions came in 2nd and 7th.
Eset and bitdefender(s) score 100% on detection, surprised, a previous favourite of mine, the popular malwarebytes just 82% (I changed to bitdefender a few years ago, no issues so far)
Of course the selection of test samples may affect results, though I believe Choice use tech resources from many affiliate Choice organisations around the world. (I hope they don't cancel me for this.)

RickT49 · September 2019

Avast

I trust Malwarebytes more than anything else. I run Avast and occasionally the built in antivirus program thinking no one program catches everything.

atomicboy · September 2019

Norton

I run Norton and I have a Firewall Appliance running Untangle. Also I use Nordvpn and my system has VPN Tunnels as part of my bonded WAN system.

Hronos · September 2019

I use the one that came with my OS

In a personal opinion, the best AVS solution es "common sense & information", bad I know the bast majority of people came short on one of those two things...
AVS solution penalize to much the performance of a computer, but if in need, you can't argued with it.
Norton WAS a good one, ages ago... now, not so much, is really annoying.
In my work, they use McAfee's Security Suit, not bad, but if not tuned, it crunch your CPU like I do with popcorn at movies (they doesn't last till the real movie xD).

kltaylor · September 2019

Trend Micro

Pooh said:

MalwareBytes - not on the list

Neither Sophos Home.

kltaylor · September 2019

Trend Micro

Marc said:

I run macOS without as well. I used Clamav at one point but ended deleting it as my Mac took a performance hit. What is everyone’s thoughts on antivirus and macOS?

Its machine code that can take a hit if there was a target for it. I'd say at the very least obtain and use Malwarebytes on your Mac, as I've seen pages pop up that made the user think that their system was infected. Just err on the side of caution.

Marc · September 2019

I use the one that came with my OS

https://community.fing.com/discussion/comment/4000#Comment_4000

Thanks. I’ll give it a shot.

kltaylor · September 2019

Trend Micro

Thats Daphnee, she's a good dog...

"They're all Good Dog's, Brant"

Marc · September 2019

I use the one that came with my OS

kltaylor said:

Thats Daphnee, she's a good dog...

"They're all Good Dog's, Brant"

I had to Google the phrase.. Meme's everywhere!

Pooh · September 2019

@Marc I played with BitDefender for a year with my Mac. Loved the Windows version, not so much the Mac one. Switched to MalwareBytes and not looked back since. Two years now, not one issue.

brianzion99 · September 2019

Kaspersky

Kaspersky is my favorite my second is Sophos

MDavide · September 2019

I use the one that came with my OS

I have a MAC at home, so no antivirus. 😬

I use ClamAV on demand when /if I doubt about repetitive unusual system errors. It happened a couple of times in about ten years but no viruses, the root cause was different.

SteveP · September 2019

Malwarebytes at home and ESET at work.

kltaylor · September 2019

Trend Micro

Marc said:

kltaylor said:

Thats Daphnee, she's a good dog...

"They're all Good Dog's, Brant"

I had to Google the phrase.. Meme's everywhere!

Ahhh yes. You have had a brief insight into my life outside of work.

rDin · September 2019

No anti-virus should be an option. Never use one and never caught any viruses (sometimes the urge to do a scan overcomes me, just to check!)

SimoneSpinozzi · September 2019

i use Comodo, Malwarebytes and Spybot. I don't see any of them above.

Marc · September 2019

I use the one that came with my OS

rDin said:

No anti-virus should be an option. Never use one and never caught any viruses (sometimes the urge to do a scan overcomes me, just to check!)

Hi @rDin, choose the first one. if your OS didn't come with one (that's probably everything but Windows) and you don't install another one, that should cover it.

Marc · September 2019

I use the one that came with my OS

SimoneSpinozzi said:

i use Comodo, Malwarebytes and Spybot. I don't see any of them above.

There is a 10 limit for a survey, I picked PC Weeks top ones. Watching everyones replies, Malwarebytes would definitely make the list if I could edit the selections. I used to use spybot years ago, good to see its still around.

ArtJ · September 2019

Trend Micro

A/V is not the only issue. Remember, we need to protect IOT devices too. I prefer going to a single source. I was using Norton on my Mac, Windows, iOS and Android as well as Norton core router protecting my home network including IOT devices. ButNorton abandoned that product line. Norton core also had an issue with about a 15-20% hit on traffic speeds. I have just switched to an ASUS router product for whole home network protect with their AIProtect feature and Trend Micro A/V for all my other devices. Having single source helps prevent compatibility issues, gives consistent look and feel across platforms and simplifies renewal/administration issues. Since switching I am happy with the TrendMicro products.

ElW · September 2019

Bitdefender

I use BitDefender on Windows, and Sophos on my Macbook, and Malwarebytes Bytes for monthly scans.

Systops5 · September 2019

Avast

While i voted for Avast, it is very important to note that while many of us have come to distrust Microsoft's Security over the years, and have become accustomed to purchasing a 3rd Party Anti-Virus Solution, Microsoft Defender which comes for free with Windows, was recently tested against a number of well known Anti-Virus Solutions, both paid and free, and there was no difference, or any added Anti-Virus detection and threat handling in the Paid Solutions. Sure Microsoft doesn't always leave us feeling all fuzzy, however, their Anti- Virus and Threat Protection is updated just as frequently and timely as the Paid solutions. So while I am guilty of purchasing Avast, after having read the report, and really looked at what was most important to me, which would be my security and vulnerability, Windows Defender actually provides one very big plus, and that is System Performance. I have found that Avast uses a lot of resources, especially if it has to scan something, but just sitting there, actively protecting me it is eating up more memory and cpu cycles vs the came protection of Windows Defender which protects me for all the same things, has a smaller memory foot print, and does not eat up cpu cycles doing stuff that I don't need it to do.

Most of us tend to by these products mostly on the false thought that Paid Solutions MUST be better, and offer more features, such as Firewall, Malware Protection, Email Scanning, etc... Windows Defender does all of that as well!

Right now, I have to question why I am paying for Avast, I guess for me, Avast has always been my security blanket however, that is sim,ply all it is. There is no real benefit to a paid solution.

Gidster · September 2019

I use the one that came with my OS

Systops5 said:

Microsoft Defender which comes for free with Windows, was recently tested against a number of well known Anti-Virus Solutions, both paid and free, and there was no difference, or any added Anti-Virus detection and threat handling in the Paid Solutions.

I have suspected this to be the case - Microsoft certainly has the capability to build a great AV solution - but can you please reference the tests you mention

SimoneSpinozzi · September 2019

@Gidster
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-jul-aug-2019-factsheet/
lengthy comparison with metodologies

Windows defender is very good, but has 2 main problems.
1) too many false positives
2) it is the base defense system of windows. Therefore everybody and their cousin will try and best that one defense against their "infiltration methods"

on the other hand:
1) one of the best protections (protects against PIRBCAK problems rather welllllll... but also see the large number of false positives)
2) by itself it's very very hard to compromise a system protected by defender alone (but also means little to no control left to the user unless one has advanced system knowledge)

Which leads back to (essentially) main problem #2 everybody and their cousin are going to test their malicious software so that users will do what asked.
Which means social engineering.
Which means to protect from social engineering even more control will be eventually removed from the end user.

Basically my main reason not to recommend windows defender to people it that it's like invasive training wheels that really do not wish to let you do what you want but want to keep you safe.

Recommended readings: The Humanoids by Jack Williamson; The Machine Stops by E. M. Forster; in this order 😂👍💖

kltaylor · September 2019

Trend Micro

SimoneSpinozzi said:

@Gidster
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-jul-aug-2019-factsheet/
lengthy comparison with metodologies

Windows defender is very good, but has 2 main problems.
1) too many false positives
2) it is the base defense system of windows. Therefore everybody and their cousin will try and best that one defense against their "infiltration methods"

on the other hand:
1) one of the best protections (protects against PIRBCAK problems rather welllllll... but also see the large number of false positives)
2) by itself it's very very hard to compromise a system protected by defender alone (but also means little to no control left to the user unless one has advanced system knowledge)

Which leads back to (essentially) main problem #2 everybody and their cousin are going to test their malicious software so that users will do what asked.
Which means social engineering.
Which means to protect from social engineering even more control will be eventually removed from the end user.

Basically my main reason not to recommend windows defender to people it that it's like invasive training wheels that really do not wish to let you do what you want but want to keep you safe.

Recommended readings: The Humanoids by Jack Williamson; The Machine Stops by E. M. Forster; in this order 😂👍💖

I was going to say the same thing, so glad you and I reference the same place when we need to reference AVS for both desktop and mobile.

RWild · September 2019

AVG

Geez! I can’t be the only AVG user here!? I use AVG Ultimate on all my Windows computers not too old to run it. Most of the older computers or Linux beasties don’t get used much for browsing and only for emails between my own machines when that is convenient. All but one of my Macs have died but I worry about the survivor.

keith · September 2019

Bitdefender

Gidster said:

Systops5 said:

Microsoft Defender which comes for free with Windows, was recently tested against a number of well known Anti-Virus Solutions, both paid and free, and there was no difference, or any added Anti-Virus detection and threat handling in the Paid Solutions.

I have suspected this to be the case - Microsoft certainly has the capability to build a great AV solution - but can you please reference the tests you mention

I used, personally and for clients, ms defender for years without issues. Hated the restrictive approach. Then malware bites, Now bitdefender.
Choice au testing puts ms defender well below eset 100%, bitdefender 100%, avast, nortons, avg and more on 20 odd types of threat, BUT, so far I can not get a list of the threats used. I will ask them directly this week and post it if possible.
Another test site that "might" be worth checking. (No threat list!)
https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/august-2019/

What is your preferred Anti Virus Product?

What is your preferred Anti Virus Product? 36 votes

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