Antivirus Help Needed

[wolf63]

I need help in picking an antivirus

For years I used AVG free but I had problems last year and bought the paid-for virus (can't clearly remember what the problems were) and have been happy with that for the last year.

It will soon be renewal time and I have realised that they will charge way too much money that I would rather squander elsewhere. So I am looking for a new antivirus. I don't really want a free one. I also use Carbonite which stores my documents as I have previously lost all saved stuff on an earlier PC.

This is the cover that I have just now
AVG Ultimate includes:

• AVG Internet Security and AVG AntiVirus PRO for Android™ for protection
• AVG PC TuneUp® and AVG Cleaner PRO for Android™ for performance
One device or many, they’re all covered

I have three computers - this is the main one (Lenovo? win-10) and the other two are not covered by antivirus (Kindle for playing games and MacBook that is seldom used).

re any of these products going to be of help to me?

https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/buying-advice/internet/antivirus-deals-3667690/

Thanks for any help

[Old_Geezer]

I use Kaspersky, but if you're uneasy with AVG prices ...

[bainbrig]

I found Kaspersky hugely expensive on renewal, although their customer service was very good.

We’ve switched to Norton four our two Macs.

[Buenchico]

As far as the anti-virus element itself is concerned (rather than the 'add-ons' in a full 'security suite'), a free anti-virus program is exactly the same as the commercial version of that program. e.g. if you use the free version Avast you'll get exactly the same level of virus protection as if you fork out eighty-five quid for 'Avast Ultimate Bundle'. (The same is true of other free anti-virus programs and their commercial counterparts).

So, if you're looking beyond the free stuff, you need to ask yourself exactly what it is that you want in addition to anti-virus protection. For example, do you need/want a password manager, do you need/want another web browser or do you need/want a different firewall?

Once you've decided what (if anything), other than anti-virus protection, is important to you, you'll be in a better position to make your choice.

Personally, I've found absolutely nothing in the commercial security suites that is of any value to me, so I'm sticking with a freebie. (Avast).

[dannyk13]

Chris, I too have Avast but if you get a virus you need Avast Clean Up to get rid of it.

[Buenchico]

PS: Most trustworthy sites (including the one you've linked to in your own post) suggest that you don't need to install any security software onto an Amazon/Kindle device:
https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/feature/tablets/do-you-need-antivirus-on-amazon-fire-tablet-3669333/

Even those which say that you should possibly consider installing security software (such as BT), point you towards the free stuff:
http://home.bt.com/tech-gadgets/computing/kindles/how-to-secure-your-kindle-fire-11363861596119

MacBooks used a 'sandboxed' operating system, which offers far greater protection against viruses that Windows does. (Android, on your phone or tablet, is similarly 'sandboxed', so it's hard for a virus to do any real damage). Windows is based around its dreaded 'registry', which tries to link all of the functions of a computer together but, in doing so, means that a virus that gets into one small area can spread throughout the entire machine.

So many people don't bother installing any anti-virus software onto a MacBook. Those that do often go with the free stuff which, just like with a Windows PC, is exactly the same as the equivalent commercial versions. (i.e. if you're going to pay for a security suite, you need to ask yourself what you need/want above and beyond anti-virus protection. If the answer is 'nothing', you'll simply be wasting your money by forking out for a premium product).

[wolf63]

O_G and bainbrig - it is a company that I would consider using but not too sure about the cost.

Chris - I don't know what I need. AVG gave me some sort of password protection but I never set it up. I store my various passwords on Chrome (or whatever) except for my Premium Bond account and my Bank Account - they are memorised.

AVG kept telling me that the detected issues on my laptop that were security risks. There were three documents that they said were an issue - they weren't.

Most of my computer activity is to do with social media (here and FB), Wikipedia, competitions and valuing stuff for Oxfam and shopping.

What do you suggest that I need? I would normally ask another AB member (my wee brother) but you are not quite so grumpy as him.

[Buenchico]

>>> I too have Avast but if you get a virus you need Avast Clean Up to get rid of it

Don't allow yourself to be fooled by those little pop-ups the free version of Avast gives you from time to time, Danny! They're simply there to worry you into thinking you need a registry cleaner (which is what Avast Cleanup is, rather than an anti-virus tool anyway) to get the best from your computer. You most definitely do NOT need Avast Cleanup!

If you need/want a registry cleaner, the free version of CCleaner will do exactly the same job:
https://www.ccleaner.com/

[dannyk13]

Thanks for that Chris.

[Buenchico]

I can do 'grumpy' if you like, Susan ;-)

I honestly can't see why the free version of Avast won't meet your needs. (It's what I use):
https://www.avast.com/en-gb/index#pc

My only caveat with suggesting that software is, as I've just mentioned to Danny, that you should IGNORE the occasional prompts you'll get from Avast which suggest that you really ought to buy their registry cleaner. (You DON'T need it!).

[wolf63]

I have about six weeks left on the paid AVC and then I will try Avast.

Thanks
why are things so complicated these days?

[theprof]

This is by and large a matter of how you personally feel about the benefits of a paid AV package. If you really think you need one, for whatever reason, I can tell you that you can legitimately get them for far less than you've seen them advertised. Norton 360 is available directly from a reseller at £15 for 3 devices for a year.
I have a server room at home that's linked directly 24 hours a day to my uni and government servers and I'm protected by umpteen high level AV packages and firewalls, most of which you've probably never heard of. However, one of our daughters uses the Norton package I cited annually and I think she said it's around £70 to buy direct via Symantec or a retailer. There's a similar 2019 Kaspersky package available for around the same price.

[theprof]

I'll provide you with a link if you're interested. I have to say I have absolutely no connection with the reseller concerned and the links are freely available via advertisements in at least two computer magazines. The magazines themselves promote the links.

[wolf63]

theprof - when I saw your name as the latest poster on this thread I thought that you were going to give medical advice on drugs for all my ailments. ☺☺☺

The Norton one sounds okay to me, the price is only a fraction of the AVG one. If you have details of where I could purchase that product I would be very grateful.

The thing that I like about paying for something is that if it goes wrong you can complain to the company. It is difficult to argue about a free product.

I don't know what the statistical probability of anything nasty happening to my laptop but I know that there is always a risk.

[theprof]

There is no risk wolf63. It's a perfectly legitimate link. It's not a torrent site or anything of that nature. The seller is called Cleverbridge and you can't go wrong. The links for Norton are:

www.snipca.com/32069 for three devices for one year or www.snipca.com/32070 for three devices for two years.

The Kaspersky links are www.snipca.com/21532 for one PC for one year or www.snipca.com/21533 for three PC's for two years.

All of them are subject to stock availability over the next few weeks so you need to download from Cleverbridge asap.

The savings compared to retail packages are phenomenal.

[theprof]

I rarely provide medical advice wolf63. Let's just say I'm a professor of biochemistry and a Dean at one of the top three uk universities as well as various visiting professorship in the USA, Canada and Europe and have higher degrees in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Botany and Zoology. I've lectured in all those subjects at university level. In addition, it's not unknown for me to advise governments.
I leave medical advice to Sqad in the Body and Soul section and questions regarding medication are best directed to him.

[wolf63]

Zoology (or Cat psychology) would have been interesting subjects to study.

I knew that you weren't a practising medical doctor, but I am one of the people who see the humour or potential humour in everything. Alas being Bipolar my judgement of when a humourous quip is appropriate is on rather shaky ground.

I will look at the antivirus during the week. That is if I can get an old Tom cat to stop howling and howling.

[theprof]

Zoology is indeed a great subject and I could talk to you for days about cats alone. Somewhere in the region of 35 cats have owned me in my lifetime. Currently, I have three tricolours, all of which have magnificent personalities.

[Bazile]

the prof
Just think what you could have achieved ,if you'd paid more attention and not messing about in classes at school

[theprof]

Bazile, you're spot on there. Failed my Eleven Plus and went to a really rough Secondary Modern school where I got the *** beaten out of me almost every day. Worked hard in the sciences and maths, my favourite subjects and got enough CSE's to join the local grammar school and take my "O" and "A" levels along with the boys' who has been with me at junior school. Managed to get admitted to one of the Oxbridge colleges and onwards and upwards from there.
People tend not to believe me when I tell them I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my gob but boy, if they need a demonstration, I can project an ink covered pellet all the way across the lab to a target with just my thumb, index finger and an elastic band!

[Bbc10inch]

I find BitDefender is a great tool. Very lightweight on PC memory and performance. With Kaspersky I found it slowed my machines down too often. Plus BitDefender works on Mac and Android which is a plus for me.