Which antivirus software do you use?

[Fanatical Meat]

This. I've gotten exactly two viruses over the past 20+ years and I knew I was going to get them before I even clicked.

That must have been some P0RN

 

[shortylickens]

These days I only use the built in windows 7 protection.

Doesnt seem to cause any issues with games. No problems running anything, no hit to performance.

 

[werepossum]

Wow. Sixth best. Out of 9. What a stellar achievement. What color trophy would that be?
Glad to see its improved, but its clearly a tier or two below still.

That would be the participation trophy. You didn't get a hit, or a walk, or catch a ball. But dog gone it, you're still a special snowflake who deserves a trophy.

 

[JujuFish]

Nope. Computer Shopper Feb 2016:



Click twice.

It really is common sense even if you visit Xvideos and Youporn 4 times a day apiece. :sneaky:

Use AdBlock/Ghostery and common sense.

That's great. It came in 19th of 21 tested programs this year in AV-Comparative's testing:

From page 9 of their annual report here: http://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/avc_sum_201512_en.pdf

 

[Fanatical Meat]

That's great. It came in 19th of 21 tested programs this year in AV-Comparative's testing:

From page 9 of their annual report here: http://www.av-comparatives.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/avc_sum_201512_en.pdf

But from the linked pdf:

Microsoft’s built-in security product served as baseline. It received awards in six out of eight tests
this year, and takes the Gold Award for Lowest False Positives. Its simple design makes it very easy
to use.

 

[calyco]

None, I have tomato on router + common sense browsing and haven't had a problem in a long time. I did also turn off the privacy phone home stuff on Win 10 but don't know how well that is holding up after recent updates.

 

[Vivendi]

I've been using Windows Defender on my computers without any problems for a long time.

 

[Ettitt]

Currently, I am using SafeBytes antivirus software. I am happy with its performance.

 

[ControlD]

People keep saying things like "I use common sense". However, it is possible to get infected from legit websites isn't it? Common sense isn't going to help much if Anandtech gets hacked.

I have been using the built-in Windows protection since Windows 7, but I often wonder if I should pony up for something better.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

People keep saying things like "I use common sense". However, it is possible to get infected from legit websites isn't it? Common sense isn't going to help much if Anandtech gets hacked.

I have been using the built-in Windows protection since Windows 7, but I often wonder if I should pony up for something better.

My definition is keep important stuff backed up and a restore dvd/cd/thumb drive handy

 

[shortylickens]

My definition is keep important stuff backed up and a restore dvd/cd/thumb drive handy

I do both.
Also, my gaming computer only goes online for Steam.
My office computer is the one that uses internet. And I also have a netbook for emergency backup.


ALWAYS BE SAFE!

 

[DigDog]

Avast!

 

[Sabrewings]

My definition is keep important stuff backed up and a restore dvd/cd/thumb drive handy

Do you never access any sensitive information online (banking information, medical, etc)? A zero day exploit could be used to set up a MitM attack and harvest your PII as you go about your business in very short order.

People keep saying things like "I use common sense". However, it is possible to get infected from legit websites isn't it? Common sense isn't going to help much if Anandtech gets hacked.

That's true. Just look at the banners at the top and any of the avatars on this page alone. Any one of them could have a zero day exploit and you could already be infected. AV software that offers heuristic monitoring makes you less vulnerable to these scenarios, but of course there is no "invulnerable."

 

[Stuka87]

AVG Free

 

[digiram]

I use malwarebytes. I remove virus's for a living and most Antivirus to date don't really do a great job. Some that do are pretty heavy in resrouces. So low end computers that are already slow are even slower. Norton seems to be pretty light weight as of late and we have some repeat customers that I have put it on and it seems to be holding up with there browsing habbits.

Same here.. Malwarebytes and that's it.

 

[Lorthreth]

Avira Pro.

When Windows 10 came out, my ISP provided free period of F-Secure ended and I tried Bitdefender, Avast and Avira Free. I liked Avira most out of them and when I found a -70% coupon for Pro I just went and bought 2 years worth. So far it has been worth it

 

[CuriousMike]

I run with whatever is built into Windows 10.
Prior, I ran MSE.

I visit a variety of sites.

For years, I haven't seen any behaviour on my machines that makes me think I'm infected.

Maybe I'm silently infected?

To those that run actual AV software, how often are you positively being infected, and the AV software is legitimately removing a real virus ?

MSE and whatever is built into Windows 10 literally never talk to me.

 

[escrow4]

Do you never access any sensitive information online (banking information, medical, etc)? A zero day exploit could be used to set up a MitM attack and harvest your PII as you go about your business in very short order.



That's true. Just look at the banners at the top and any of the avatars on this page alone. Any one of them could have a zero day exploit and you could already be infected. AV software that offers heuristic monitoring makes you less vulnerable to these scenarios, but of course there is no "invulnerable."

What banners? Already said, use AdBlock Plus + Ghostery and common sense. Then uninstall flash and java unless you really need it. What zero days?

 

[Sabrewings]

What banners? Already said, use AdBlock Plus + Ghostery and common sense.

I have an adblocker too, but not everyone uses them.

Then uninstall flash and java unless you really need it. What zero days?

Browsers themselves have zero days, or are you looking at the internet with a TI-83? It's not hard to attack an OS with a simple JPEG file that is loaded by the browser.

 

[StinkyPinky]

I get ESET free from work so i just use that and the free version of Malwarebytes.

 

[ImpulsE69]

People keep saying things like "I use common sense". However, it is possible to get infected from legit websites isn't it? Common sense isn't going to help much if Anandtech gets hacked.

I have been using the built-in Windows protection since Windows 7, but I often wonder if I should pony up for something better.

Yes. My wifes PC gets infected with crap all the time and she only visits up and up sites. In fact, hobby sites and non tech sites are the most common source of malware and viruses simply because they are not tech savvy and don't bother to clear the stuff out and it spread fast.

My father in law has gotten one of the crypto viruses twice now just visiting astronomy sites and online gambling (ugh) sites.

The whole 'porn and piracy' thing is an old outdated mentality and mostly a scare tactic these days. It just takes some common sense, if you click a link and it says 'run this exe' you most likely don't want to run that exe.

You can get crap from anywhere, but really most AV's are worthless and bloaty these days. Your best bet is to run backups (hd space is cheap) and occasionally scan your systems with a couple different malware tools.

 

[werepossum]

People keep saying things like "I use common sense". However, it is possible to get infected from legit websites isn't it? Common sense isn't going to help much if Anandtech gets hacked.

I have been using the built-in Windows protection since Windows 7, but I often wonder if I should pony up for something better.

What killed us at work (until we added the Fear of G-d) was amateur sports fan and fantasy football sites. These people (or maybe their neighbors' kids) were typically savvy enough to get the site up and running, but not savvy enough to keep it uninfected.

Windows Security Essentials is the sports team whose fans march around chanting "WE. ALSO. PLAYED. WE. ALSO. PLAYED." It's buying a '79 Fiat X19 so you can have the status of owning a sports car. It's driving a Subaru Brat because real men have trucks.

 

[Carfax83]

Browsers themselves have zero days, or are you looking at the internet with a TI-83? It's not hard to attack an OS with a simple JPEG file that is loaded by the browser.

This is very true. I remember once that I was visiting Neogaf, when I opened a thread and next thing I know, Norton tells me I was attacked by some kind of malware.

That's just for opening the thread, and not clicking on anything. Websites get hacked all the time, and malware is inserted into them without anyone knowing.

 

[biostud]

I run with whatever is built into Windows 10.
Prior, I ran MSE.

I visit a variety of sites.

For years, I haven't seen any behaviour on my machines that makes me think I'm infected.

Maybe I'm silently infected?

To those that run actual AV software, how often are you positively being infected, and the AV software is legitimately removing a real virus ?

MSE and whatever is built into Windows 10 literally never talk to me.

Only when getting files that is not from a legit source...

 

[CuriousMike]

Only when getting files that is not from a legit source...

When I was younger and had no money, I'd get files from a non legit source. I got bit once or twice.

Now that I'm older and have money, I generally buy legit source. I don't get bit.