WD.... is it really that bad...?

I find manually checking for Settings, Updates and Security, Check for Updates will deliver a WD definitions update, sometimes on a daily basis.

Thank you to all for your comments and opinions.

Reviews are (in my view) an important part of assessing the benefits, advantages or deficiencies in products. There are so many tech products available today that it would be impossible for anyone to know everything about every product.

One would not be so naive as to believe product reviews from dubious sources. However, reputable sources should deliver unbiased, reliable and truthful reviews. If they do not do that then the entire structure of reviewing products in doubtful.

If long-standing, supposedly reputable magazines, such as Computer Shopper and PC Pro cannot be trusted to be truthful about products in their reviews then they are not worth purchasing.

T.

I was a long-time Avira and Avast user (Avast longer than Avira). For the past few months, I decided to try WD and, to date, have been satisfied. In fact, Windows performance, especially web browsing, seem to be quicker and more responsive. However, I do also have Malwarebytes Free installed and periodically run (manually of course), just for piece of mind. As others have said, WD reputation has been getting better and better in independent lab testing. That is what prompted me to give it a shot.

It's always been good enough for me on my Windows machines.

mccnavy said:

I was a long-time Avira and Avast user (Avast longer than Avira). For the past few months, I decided to try WD and, to date, have been satisfied. In fact, Windows performance, especially web browsing, seem to be quicker and more responsive. However, I do also have Malwarebytes Free installed and periodically run (manually of course), just for piece of mind. As others have said, WD reputation has been getting better and better in independent lab testing. That is what prompted me to give it a shot.

Note WD also has cloud file analysis. WD sent a file I downloaded a few days ago for cloud analysis and quarantined it. It turned out to be a false positive but it shows the feature operates and might save the day. I also use Malwarebytes Free and AdwCleaner - do I need to use both?

Hi there
use whatever suits you but I really can't see the point of multiple A/V programs -- like lights on an XMAS tree -- if you have too many some will fail.

Personally I don't see what any A/V could do to defend you against scams such as what appear to be genuine Govt / Banks etc sending emails that you are due a refund please click !!!!

Most scammers work on that type of fraud rather than just hosing up people's computers -- The crooks have moved on big time these days so I agree with a previous poster who says just use WD and spend money saved by investing in using the Net sensibly and avoiding getting scammed.

Windows XP / VISTA and even W7 weren't really robust enough - but the security of W10 is far better and if Ms can't protect their own OS well IMO that's the time I'd use another OS.

However I'm happy with WD and W10 -- no probs at all.

Cheers
jimbo

TairikuOkami said:

It also depends, when were those reviews written. WD changes with an each upgrade. WD today is far better from what it was, when 10 was released in 2015. Not to mention, that people often confuse it with a basic Windows Defender in Windows 7/8. Also a bad reputation is hard to overcome. IE6 was a malware magnet, but it took 3 versions (~10 years), till it became respectable again, even though IE7 was already secure.

TairikuOkami, thank you for your reply. You will note from my first Post that the review that I am referring to is in the latest Computer Shopper magazine, which is August 2018, issue 366. One must assume that the review was written shortly before publication, which was only a few days ago.

A general comment for all who have contributed to this Thread....... If you have the latest Computer Shopper available where you live then it might be worth 5 minutes of your time to read the review of WD. I cannot recall, in recent times, such a damning review.

If the review is accurate then there is real need for concern. If the review is nonsense, then the reviewer should be dismissed.

T.

Tabvla said:

TairikuOkami, thank you for your reply. You will note from my first Post that the review that I am referring to is in the latest Computer Shopper magazine, which is August 2018, issue 366. One must assume that the review was written shortly before publication, which was only a few days ago.

A general comment for all who have contributed to this Thread....... If you have the latest Computer Shopper available where you live then it might be worth 5 minutes of your time to read the review of WD. I cannot recall, in recent times, such a damning review.

If the review is accurate then there is real need for concern. If the review is nonsense, then the reviewer should be dismissed.

T.

Hi there
I think there's an English expression that should cover this :

"The proof of the pudding is in the eating"

Most users of WD on this board don't seem to have problems with WD - seems to protect their computers OK --

In any case a lot of those testing scenarios that are used for magazines like computer shopper are so eseoteric that a normal user will never encounter them.

Unless you are a huge user of sites like "The P***** Bay" or similar downloading huge amounts of pirated content you are unlikely to get riddled with serious viruses anyway these days.

You are more likely to get scammed via identity fraud, "cloned" websites etc etc than get infected with malware even if you only have WD on your system. No A/V software can prevent those sorts of attacks.

Also if downloading legitimate software check that you are actually downloading what you want as a lot of sites try and obfuscate the real download with lots of links to ad / trial ware etc.
Also don't accept special offers / toolbars etc.

I'd still say WD is perfectly OK for the vast majority of home users. However if you prefer any extra features or the interface of 3rd party software by all means use it.

Cheers
jimbo