Antivirus malware

i have avast, i ran the free version for a long time, and upgraded to the paid version a few months ago

Best paid av/firewall is Kaspersky, but they've had issues configuring for win10 because there's so much spyware built into the OS.

I use Zonealarm av/firewall (free), which uses the kaspersly virus engine, and works very well with win 8.1. I like avg (free) but it didn't want to work with win 8.1.

Most configurable av/firewall is Commodo, but they also had issues with win 8.1, for me at least.

I also agree that the built-in windows firewall does a decent job IF IF IF you configure it painstakingly. My issue is that I've learned not to trust MSFT with wirewall security.

I use spybot-search and destroy, malwarebytes, MS security essentials, OSSEC-HIDS client on all internal machines and a custom rolled firewall at the border of my personal network. Beyond that is a hardware VPN provided by my employer which connects directly to my cable modem.

Systems with sensitive information cannot be connected to or connect to the outside except through tightly controlled tunneling.

There are other systems in place, various active response services, packet inspection and the like.

If some system internally were to become compromised the most likely avenue would be drive by installer/malware coming into a client machine via browser. it would have several more hurdles to get into any systems with anything useful, and have to evade a lot of security software that most malware authors don't have to worry about so they don't even try to evade.

That's roughly what I do, however this is not for everyone ;-)

EDIT: forgot to mention, monthly audits as well. Employer takes security seriously...

Avast free was rated Number 1 a couple of Years ago by Pcworld Magazine.

wa8yxm wrote:
...As a paid professional Paranoid (yes it was part of my job description) I believe that at Microsoft there is a contest.. programmers are paid a bonus for every "Back door" they put in based on how long it takes Hackers to find it.

X10!

Windows Defender is among the lowest rated (if not the lowest rated) protection software per assorted experts and magazine articles.

Malware Bytes, Avast, AVG mentioned above and several others get high to top ratings, Zone Alarm is the top rated fire wall.

As a paid professional Paranoid (yes it was part of my job description) I believe that at Microsoft there is a contest.. programmers are paid a bonus for every "Back door" they put in based on how long it takes Hackers to find it.

I'm a cheapskate, so I look for the free versions.

I used AVG for years until it got so bloated it slowed down my computers. I was amazed when I removed it.

Now using Bitdefender Free version and Malwarebytes free version. Seems to be working okay.

I used to have AVG (free) and Kaspersky on my PC's. They worked fine.

Since moving to Macs 8 years ago, I haven't installed any anti-virus protection and my computers don't bog down.

ESET Nod32 is what we use at work on the servers and I have at home.

1492 wrote:
Take a look at this independent security ratings site based on your version of Windows/Mac here.

Great advise as different antivirus programs do not perform evenly across all platforms. If you are running Win 10 Bitdefender is hard to beat.

To those of you with small business's with web sites make sure you have protection on your site as well. You don't want a customer to call and inform you that your site is redirecting to a porn site. Trust me, that kind of call will ruin your day.