Do we really need to buy anti-virus/anti-malware software? (e.g. F-Sec

ship69 · 28 Sep 2022

Paul Black said:

Hello @ship69,

There are MANY threads on this Forum that discuss this topic. At the end of the day, it is really down to personal choice of what you want from the Antivirus.

Windows Security [ Microsoft Defender, formerly Windows Defender ] has come a LONG way over the past few years and is now VERY good and more than capable. Unlike other AV software, it does NOT throttle your Internet connection, or give FALSE Positives like other AV's may.

From what I have read, Microsoft Defender works quite nicely with Malwarebytes.

For added security in case of infection, it is STRONGLY recommended that you regularly create a System Image along with the addition of backing up important data that you do NOT want to lose such as Folders, Files, Photos, etc, BOTH to an external drive.

I hope this helps.

Thanks. OK, just to get clear:

1. Is "Windows Security" part of Windows? Or will I need to install something new in order to activate it?

2. What maintenance is required?
- e.g. Will I need to configure it in any way?
- e.g. Does it do overnight scans
- e.g. Do I need to manually update it?
- e.g. Does it let me manually scan new/suspicious files?
- e.g. Does it let me do manual deep scans of my whole computer?

2. Yes, I have heard good things in general about MalwareBytes, but is that the free version or the paid-for version?
What does MalwareBytes do that Windows Security fails to do?

3. My "F-Secure SAFE" also claims (in addition to scanning for "Viruses & Threats") to also offer:

a) Password & Identity threat protection
(but I have no idea what this really means)

b) "ID Monitoring"
(again I have no idea what this really means)

c) "Secure browsing"
(e.g. blocks malicious sites)

==> Is none of that worth having?

J

Try3 · 28 Sep 2022

1 It's part of Windows. You do not need to install anything.
2 No, you can tell it to, no, yes, yes but you don't need to [Quick scans are all that is needed] - Search for Defender in the tutorial index.
2 [again] Both, nothing worth worrying about.
3 Not unless you find out what they mean in practice and consider the answers in the context of your own usage.

All the best,
Denis

It's really worth making time to browse through the Tutorial index - there's a shortcut to it at the top of every page.

- At the foot of the Tutorial index is a shortcut to download it as a spreadsheet.
- I download a new copy each month.
- By downloading it as a spreadsheet I can benefit from Excel's excellent filtering capabilities when I search for topics of interest.

- Tutorials are also listed by category at Tutorials - there's also a shortcut to that at the top of every page.
- Both tutorial lists are searchable.
- You can also search for TenForumsTutorials in many general search engines, such as Google, by adding site:tenforums.com/tutorials after your search term. For example,
taskbar toolbars site:tenforums.com/tutorials

You can search TenForums using the search box in the top-right corner of all TenForums webpages or using Advanced Search - TenForums
- You can also search TenForums threads in many general search engines, such as Google, by adding site:tenforums.com after your search term. For example,
Search for drivers by HardwareID site:tenforums.com
- [This is what the search box in the top-right corner of TenForums webpages does automatically]

Try3 · 28 Sep 2022

Many of us just use Microsoft Defender / Windows Security / whatever the latest name is this week.

Many of us also have the free version of Malwarebytes just to use for occasional manual scans as reassurance. But it's many years since I heard of Malwarebytes detecting anything that Microsoft Defender let through.

All the best,
Thanks for the rep,
Denis

ship69 · 10 Oct 2022

UPDATE
My F-Secure SAFE has finally expired today, so I have uninstalled it from both my main Windows10 desktop PC and my laptop and I have run a "Quick scan" on both.

> Many of us also have the free version of Malwarebyte
I can't find the free version of Malwarebytes.
All I can find is "free download"s of the paid version.
Does the free version of Malwarebytes still exist?

Thanks

J

Try3 · 10 Oct 2022

"Does the free version of Malwarebytes still exist?"

Yes, it's the same downlaod.
It starts as a trial of the paid version.
You can change it to the free version straightaway in its Settings, Account.

Denis

Paul Black · 10 Oct 2022

Hello @ship69

ship69 said:

I can't find the free version of Malwarebytes.

Basically, install the Trial Version, and when that runs out, it still works as the FREE Version . . .

> Malwarebytes AdwCleaner

Quote from their Website:

Malwarebytes AdwCleaner:

The world’s most popular adware cleaner finds and removes unwanted programs and junkware so your online experience stays optimal and hassle-free.

Fast Results - Powerful Cleaning:

Computer running slow? Strange messages popping up? Browser homepage changed without your permission? This could be the work of adware (and its friends), a sneaky variant of malware that is hard to find, and harder to remove. Malwarebytes AdwCleaner employs innovative technology engineered solely to detect and remove these unwanted hitchhikers. It’s the cleaner of choice for home users and technicians.

Removes Adware and Unwanted Programs:

Aggressively targets adware, spyware, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and browser hijackers with technology specially engineered to remove these threats.

I hope this helps.

Porthos · 10 Oct 2022

When you download Malwarebytes for Windows for the first time, you can provide your email to unlock Malwarebytes Premium features for 14 days. These features can be canceled anytime during this time period. To deactivate your Premium Trial, follow these steps:

Open Malwarebytes for Windows.
Click the cog icon in the top-right corner.
Click the Account tab.
Under the License key field, click Deactivate.

When the Premium Trial has been deactivated, you can continue to use the free version of Malwarebytes for Windows to scan your computer for malware and disinfect your device after an attack. To prevent malware attacks before they cause damage to your computer, we recommend activating a Premium subscription for Real-Time Protection.

flashh4 · 10 Oct 2022

Difference between Malwarebytes & AdwCleaner !
Malwarebytes is primarily a scanner that scans and removes malicious software, including rogue security software, adware, and spyware.
AdwCleaner is a free tool you can use to scan and remove adware, spyware, PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs), browser hijackers, unwanted browser toolbars,
and any other hard to remove software that came preinstalled on your Windows PC.
Malwarebytes is designed to look for malware, and will also find some Potentialy Unwanted Programs (PUPs) and Potentially Unwanted Modifications (PUMs).
Adw is designed to look more specifically for PUPs and PUMs.
So for the moment the two things do different jobs, and that is why they are still different programs.
I believe that the intention is to eventually merge them into a future version of Malwarebytes, but for now they still each stand alone and do different jobs.

ship69 · 17 Oct 2022

New problem!
Having uninstalled F-Secure SAFE (and Freedome VPN), and set up Windows Defender (and MalwareBytes), suddenly I can no longer use TOR Browser. And suddenly I can't even access VPN websites like NordVPN.com and ProtonVPN.com

This is deeply irritating. I need to have a VPN to access stuff from other countries & generally maintain my privacy.

What should I do?

J

3nd · 17 Oct 2022

ship69 said:

New problem!
Having uninstalled F-Secure SAFE (and Freedome VPN), and set up Windows Defender (and MalwareBytes), suddenly I can no longer use TOR Browser. And suddenly I can't even access VPN websites like NordVPN.com and ProtonVPN.com

This is deeply irritating. I need to have a VPN to access stuff from other countries & generally maintain my privacy.

What should I do?

J

all i can suggest is to install revo and look for traces left behind by F-secure. (these AV's can be sneaky in many ways when one uninstall)