Best Spyware, Malware Recommendation

1492 wrote:

burlmart wrote:
1492

You appear to be the goto guy for security in your workplace, where people get sloppy and tighter controls are warranted. But at home with their own PC, typical users will maybe take some precautions and not have to worry over malware/virus stuff very much - they want simplicity, and I think MS's new Defender for W8 and beyond is meant for us avg users.

In the vid below, a guy tests W8 Defender and gives a positive showing.

Demo of W8.1 Windows Defender built-in AV program

Certainly not bottom-line proof of anything. But notice the point he makes about trying to stop all possibilities of unwanted internet. At the browser level, I could turn on one or more extensions/add-ons to do ad block, flash block, script block, etc. What results is a degraded browsing experience (almost no websites will show properly). And similar effects are seen on overall computer performance/experience when running stricter AV apps.

I don't work in net security, and everything I comment about I currently use or have used on my personal systems. Are you saying you don't know how to install a program? That's all it takes to upgrade to a more secure AV package.

The question I have about your logic can be equated to someone with a medical condition that randomly goes to someone off the street for treatment. Ultimately more for a placebo effect than anything in reality, because that is what they want to hear? Instead of going to a medical doctor or specialist who is at minimum acknowledged as having expertise in the field.

The fact is, you can find anything on the internet that claims a point of view you want to believe?

In any case, every company is going to claim they have the best product, as it's in their best interest to do so. And the reason that independent testing by organizations acknowledged for having expertise in the field is so valuable to the end user. Which is the reason I link to those groups that even the AV manufacturers refer to for feedback on the effectiveness of their products. Otherwise, the end user's info is based largely on marketing claims or opinions, which in most cases, tends to have little to do with reality?

While I agree that the reputable testing organizations provide a useful service not all testing organizations are reputable. I don't think the average user will take the time to sort the good from the bad. Most will ask the doctor on the street what they are using for their security measures.

It amazes me that people are always looking for the free or cheapest means to protect the information contained in their devices. On the other hand they will pay hundreds of dollars for the device and put the most sensitive details of their lives on it and risk it all on the Internet using free security software that they know nothing about or none at all.

Occasionally I will visit the testing sites but find that the AV that's number one today may be number five in a matter of weeks or less. The security software I use, paid for, will tell you up front that there is no magic software that will protect you 100%. I have spent considerable time setting up my computer and understanding the needed security measures to protect my data. Most people will not take the time to do so. While I am far from a professional I don't consider myself an average user.

I follow several security forums and have come to realize that most of the issues are self induced. They would not have occurred had the user paid more attention to what they are doing or if they had educated themselves a bit.

@burlmart:
I use several of the items that you referred to and very strict AV/Firewall/HIPS rules and find that my Internet experience to be just fine. Occasionally I will find a website that my security measures don't like but that's the point of having it.

There are always other websites that I will not have issues with that contain the same information. This is not to say that our use of the Internet is similar or even remotely the same, it's just my experience.