Would Like Opinions on PC Laptop

Winuser said:

Windows Defender is 100% free. It runs in the background so you don't really need to do anything unless you want to run a manual scan. Microsoft also does a excellent job of keeping it updated.

Thanks for that information!

Bigfoot said:

Thanks for that information!

Hiya Bigfoot! (I hope you actually have two big feet so that walking about is easier.)

Two thoughts --

1. For what it's worth Firefox (now known as Firefox Quantum) is my default browser. It offers more privacy than Chrome or Edge. I keep both of those around, however, because sometimes the work better on certain sites.

2. I'd recommend Windows Defender as well. I'd caution you though that the only times it has found issues is when I've asked it to do a full scan of the complete computer.

You see, when it's on, it automatically quick scans new stuff and likely suspects. Instead of the entire computer. The world's most BIZARRE choice, since again, it has only found issues the manual way.

But don't worry. Running a full scan is really easy. It's best to do that once in a while and walk away from the PC so that it can do it most quickly. It claims you can keep using your PC but it's resource hog and really wants to be left alone. It usually takes my zippy PC 40 or so minutes to complete a full scan.

I used to be a Mac user and so the entire world of viruses were both mysterious to me and scary. I've since learned that they're almost all self inflicted. I mean I used to think you could simply be online doing absolutely nothing and WHAM a virus sneaks in. Nope. Typically you have to be doing stupid things at stupid sites which scream questionable.

I was able to get the free Xfinity Norton Security on my laptop, so I'm set now. I was happy with it on my desktop and I'm used to it.

On the laptop, I did download Firefox and made it the default browser. When I was doing that I had to take the computer out of S Mode, with a warning that Edge was the best and most secure. It said I could never go back to S mode, and that's fine with me.

I've learned a lot from the folks here, thank you all for caring and sharing.

Porthos said:

@Bigfoot
I guess I was correct about Windows 10 S. Glad you were able to unlock Home.
I hope you fully uninstalled the trial of McAfee before you installed Norton ( I agree with others about using Windows defender instead.)

Yes, you were correct, thank you! Even the sales people in the store knew nothing about it, lol. I did uninstall McAfee, the icon was on the desktop and it led you to the store to get the app, something I never did....so it was easy.

I would have definitely used Defender or another program recommended here before I'd use McAfee, used it a long time ago, and it was nothing but a headache for me.