What's the the best internet anti-virus program
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As much as I hate to say it, if you're running Microsoft Windows then spool up Microsoft Defender. Honestly, it's just as good at detecting, blocking, and removing malware as any other product, has a much lower footprint in your system thus running cleaner, and is no extra cost. Just run Defender.
Whatever you do, don't spool up McAfee. Sure they sound good and have a good sales pitch but the product is a resource pig. It'll turn a mid-range workstation into molasses-slow dogcrap and low-end workstation into an electricity sucking paperweight.
If you're philosophically opposed to having a Microsoft mono-culture then I've had good luck with Avira but also like AVG and Kaspersky. Of the non-Microsoft options, I prefer Avira.
But, honestly, when I set up Windows workstations for my family members who stubbornly refuse to see the superiority of Linux, I just enable Microsoft Defender.
Peace favor your sword,
Kirk
Whatever you do, don't spool up McAfee. Sure they sound good and have a good sales pitch but the product is a resource pig. It'll turn a mid-range workstation into molasses-slow dogcrap and low-end workstation into an electricity sucking paperweight.
If you're philosophically opposed to having a Microsoft mono-culture then I've had good luck with Avira but also like AVG and Kaspersky. Of the non-Microsoft options, I prefer Avira.
But, honestly, when I set up Windows workstations for my family members who stubbornly refuse to see the superiority of Linux, I just enable Microsoft Defender.
Peace favor your sword,
Kirk
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Ubuntu MATE - an easy to use, easy to install flavor of Linux.
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For Windows refuges, I prefer PCLinuxOS. On my personal desktop, I cycle through a bunch but I keep coming back to RHEL clones, mostly because I use RHEL at work.
...that and I just kinda don't like Ubuntu.
Peace favor your sword,
Kirk
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I'm an old DOS guy, and find MATE difficult sometimes, but usable. Helps that I'm related to freeish Linux support.
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Malwarebytes Free. for me. You could pay for it and it will run automatically. I manually run SuperantiSpyware too. I don't go to bad places evidently. Never get malware. I do pick up stuff and delete it with SASW.
I probably have tried 90% of what's out there. There are several third party testing companies that give their test results a couple times a year and it always changes. Malwarebytes free is okay but misses a lot. Most internet networks offer a free one in addition to Microsoft's. I'm currently using Avast One because it's rated highly for my phone as well as computers.
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I do everything on my computer and phone. I highly recommend a VPN. Avast comes with one but I don't use theirs. I use Express VPN which uses an onion router and does not store any of your data unlike most others. In short, it's the best way to keep prying eyes out! The Tor browser was developed by the CIA and uses an onion router as does the dark web. Basically a signal is encrypted and bounced off relays all over the world. It's the safest way to communicate with anyone privately.
Windows 10 & 11 come with Microsoft’s anti-malware suite. That includes Defender.
Really, it’s all you’ll need anymore.
Most of the other options are as effective. Just keep in mind, a zero day malware event usually isn’t known by all protection programs at the same time. Microsoft may get one, Nord another, Norton another. So none will ever guarantee 100% protection. It just isn’t possible.
Lastly, you do not want to have two different programs active at the same time. They will interfere with each other. Frequently blocking each other’s protection methods.
Really, it’s all you’ll need anymore.
Most of the other options are as effective. Just keep in mind, a zero day malware event usually isn’t known by all protection programs at the same time. Microsoft may get one, Nord another, Norton another. So none will ever guarantee 100% protection. It just isn’t possible.
Lastly, you do not want to have two different programs active at the same time. They will interfere with each other. Frequently blocking each other’s protection methods.
I need to cancel macafee and go a different direction. I wish this thread was around a few weeks ago before my anti virus auto renewed for a year.
McAfee was pretty much an evil genius. He had some of the best cutting edge software of his time but put " back doors" in it which allowed him to spy on just about any government or person. There's a documentary about him that speculates that he was murdered because of that
I'm really interested in checking that out. Sounds like an interesting story.
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Evil genius like Howard Hughes. They both developed cutting edge technologies and both eventually went bat guano crazy. The fine line and all that.
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Make sure you use Download McAfee Removal Tool (MCPR) - MajorGeeks to get rid of it. McAffee IS a virus, it will leave crap all over your system and cause problems if not fully removed
Good advice, thank you!
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