do you guys use windows defender bafs and automatic sample submission? seems like it's supposed to protect your computer but also seems like there might be privacy concerns.

what's the general recommendation between protection efficacy and privacy concerns? yay or nay?

I’ve used Malwarebytes (free version) on my MacBooks for more than ten years. I’ve never suffered an infection. I don’t have any privacy concerns either. I think that it’s available for Microsoft too.

Ive been using Malwarebytes also for several years without complaint in conjunction with an anti-virus program.

Acronis, which I use for back ups, come with malware and virus protection, so that’s what I use.

All my PC's are on 11 and I run with Windows Defender for real time protection. I have Malwarebytes free version to run periodic scans as well.

For a Mac and iOS devices, Malwarebytes is all I use. I keep updating OS's from Apple quickly because they are good at catching bugs.

I was a network security consultant for over 30 years until I retired. I do not use any A/V products, except occasionally on a trial basis because I feel there is at least as good a chance that the A/V product has unpatched vulnerabilities as the system it is intended to protect. Having a firm faith in the duplicity of my fellow man, I am not at all uncertain that some of these might be intentionally placed in an A/V product.

I do run penetration tests on my various systems from time-to-time, and protect my home LANs with firewalls. I do not do egress "sniffing" at this time, but am considering implementing it. I also run a local DNS server that blackholes various domains that have been found to be suspect by various security researchers.

Being careful is a much more effective defense than any A/V software. If you are counting on the latter to relieve yourself of having to pay attention, you have already lost.

And. oh yeah, I don't run any Microsoft products.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
do you guys use windows defender bafs and automatic sample submission? seems like it's supposed to protect your computer but also seems like there might be privacy concerns.

what's the general recommendation between protection efficacy and privacy concerns? yay or nay?

To answer you, no I don’t submit. Nor does the company I work at.

Might it help Microsoft Defender? Sure.
Is it more likely that it will get data mined by Microsoft? Yes.