Pc/laptop Total Security - Any Recommendation

[countrykid]

My Bullguard PC security expires in a weeks time. Bought it as deal last year but auto renewal price much dearer. Have used Norton in the past and before Bullguard used Kaspersky.

I’d be keen to hear any views on which packages free or paid for are worth looking at. We have two laptops running windows 10 on one, and I think windows 7 on the other, and are used for email/surfing the web mostly. We also both use an android smart phone but unsure if we need same protection. Any suggestions appreciated.

[pixie374]

I'm no expert on this, but have always just used Malwarebytes on a laptop. It doesn't seem to have any effect on android phones though, I changed my phone one to Kapersky, and that works well.

[Buenchico]

A free anti-virus program will be as good as a paid-for one, simply because the free ones are actually parts of paid-for suites of software anyway. (i.e. the company gives away the core anti-virus component, in the hope that some people will then go on to buy the 'bells and whistles' version).

Reading over a decade of posts on here suggests to me that Avast is currently the favourite freebie among ABers (and it's what I use myself):
https://www.avast.com/en-gb/index

If you top it up with a decent anti-malware program, such as AdwCleaner, (and remember to run that program every so often, perhaps once per fortnight) you'll have all the cover you need:
https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner/
(AdwCleaner is 'out of the same stable' as the better-known Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, and therefore just as good, but doesn't get you involved in a free trial of their paid-for product, which slows some computers down).

[countrykid]

My thanks to pixie and burn for your suggestions. I’ll click on the links tomorrow and go from there. When it comes to uninstalling Bullguard is it just a case of going into “programmes” and uninstalling

[countrykid]

Just clicked on the avast link to read about it. Not sure if it was because I was on iPad but it took me to a free 7 day trial/buy now option (for iOS). I’ll log on to AB via laptop in morning and check it from that. Thanks

[Buenchico]

Thanks for your reply.

My link above definitely goes to the freebie on a Windows machine. (I've just checked).

The instructions for uninstalling Bullguard are here (although it's probably what you'd do anyway):
https://www.bullguard.com/support/product-guides/bullguard-desktop-protection-guides/getting-started/uninstalling-bullguard.aspx

[countrykid]

Sorry "Buen" became "Burn in last post - love auto spell check!!!
I've now clicked on the avast link using my windows laptop and yes it did take me to the free download. It looks perfect so I will opt for this, along with your other recommendation re adwcleaner. I presume there is some kind of desk top icon that appears once installed, which I click on to run a system check as suggested fortnightly. Do I do the same with avast or is that always running in the background? Thanks again for great advice

[Buenchico]

Avast always runs in the background. If you want to access it to run a full scan though (or to alter any of its settings) you simply need to click on its icon in the system tray at the bottom right of your screen.

I can't remember whether AdwCleaner automatically creates a desktop shortcut or not but it will definitely appear in your list of programs when you click on the Start button. (You can create a desktop shortcut for ANY program by finding it in the Start menu, RIGHT-clicking on it and selecting Send To > Desktop).

[countrykid]

Thanks again Buen