Yes, this question comes up regularly in the forum but technology keeps advancing and the best answer last year may not be the best answer today.

The McAfee subscription on my Dell laptop I got last February will run out soon. On Windows 10, it looks like I have McAfee LiveSafe and McAfee WebAdvisor.

What would be the most sensible security software or combination of software I should get? I want the right balance between being bogged down by my security software and might as well be nekid with a kind of wishful thinking protection.

I'm neither an expert nor an authority, but I run a combination of Malwarebytes and Avast. They're complimentary, not competing. The former focuses more on malware/adware/spyware, and the latter focuses specifically on viruses.

Both have free versions, and then offer yearly Premium memberships with additional functionality at extra cost.

(Interestingly, I bought a Malwarebytes membership about 8 years ago, and I've never been asked to renew. Not once. I think I'm grandfathered in, or something.)

Been using the following with great success:

• ESET NOD32 antivirus
  
• Making sure my computers are getting updates
  
• Using Adblocking plugins/extensions in Chrome/Firefox
  
• Backing up my files regularly
  
  

Malwarebytes and built-in MS Defender is all you need.
Products that mess with the firewall can be troublesome and hog resources.
Malwarebytes has made me a lot of money over the years in my IT business by fixing a LOT of problems.
YMMV

I wouldn't put anything McAfee on my computer but it's too late for you if it's already there.
Getting the stuff completely off is next to impossible.

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:
I wouldn't put anything McAfee on my computer but it's too late for you if it's already there.
Getting the stuff completely off is next to impossible. Getting the stuff completely off is next to impossible.

I think this also applies to Norton.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Malwarebytes and built-in MS Defender is all you need.
Products that mess with the firewall can be troublesome and hog resources.
Malwarebytes has made me a lot of money over the years in my IT business by fixing a LOT of problems.
YMMV

Microsoft Security Essentials works very well for me.

Bitdefender is consistently at or near the top in all the antivirus software testing/evaluations. I've used it for a long time with no issues.

No votes for PC Matic?

quote:

Originally posted by clubleaf206:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Malwarebytes and built-in MS Defender is all you need.
Products that mess with the firewall can be troublesome and hog resources.
Malwarebytes has made me a lot of money over the years in my IT business by fixing a LOT of problems.
YMMV

Microsoft Security Essentials works very well for me.

I'm leaning this way now. In the past, I went with Norton over McAfee. I've also tried Avast before with previous computers.

I have adblock plus installed.

Will Malwarebytes, native windows security, and adblock plus cover my browser security also or do I need a separate program for that?

I've use CCleaner in the past, would it still be useful?

Thank you, gents for your input.

quote:

Originally posted by lkdr1989:
Been using the following with great success:

• ESET NOD32 antivirus
  
• Making sure my computers are getting updates
  
• Using Adblocking plugins/extensions in Chrome/Firefox
  
• Backing up my files regularly
  
  

This. Add Malwarebytes. Knock on wood, never had anything I couldn't resolve quickly.

Happy user of ESET for years. Not one infestation.

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:
Bitdefender is consistently at or near the top in all the antivirus software testing/evaluations. I've used it for a long time with no issues.

Okay, I'm considering this, too. I looked at ESET and the site was sparse on information.

When I looked at BitDefender, it seemed pretty sparse too until I figured out I can expand each section to get more details.

I've googled whether I can use both BitDefender and Malwarebytes and there are conflicting posts. Do you think I can use both bitdefender and malwarebytes?

Microsoft Security Essentials is all I've been using for many years now. It's unobtrusive.

Comprehensive backup schemes, unique passcodes for each of your web logins, two factor authentication, and a strong distrust of anything that is presented/sent/displayed to you without your specific prompting will get you further than the false security of an anti-virus that claims to be comprehensive.

Anti-virus will fail at some point. Limiting the amount of damage and how you pick up the pieces are what really counts.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
I'm neither an expert nor an authority, but I run a combination of Malwarebytes and Avast. They're complimentary, not competing. The former focuses more on malware/adware/spyware, and the latter focuses specifically on viruses.

Both have free versions, and then offer yearly Premium memberships with additional functionality at extra cost.

(Interestingly, I bought a Malwarebytes membership about 8 years ago, and I've never been asked to renew. Not once. I think I'm grandfathered in, or something.)

This.

0-0

Computer security is something I do.

Symantec endpoint is the go to in the corporate world. It's a resource hog but works rather well.

It's cheap for home users.

I use avast on my home machine, its free and works well, it can be quirky.

I back this up with regular scans of malware bytes and super anti spyware both free programs.

malware bytes is getting into antivirus endpoint protection, this has not been around long enough for me to have an opinion on it.

Fortinet is also getting into the free low end market. It really is a resource hog but its web filter will keep you out of trouble were others will try to block/stop you from getting infected.

It is worth a look.


BACK UP, BACK UP AND BACK UP

in case you didn't hear me do your BACKUPS daily or at least weekly.

The difference between a disaster and I am getting coffee while this finishes is BACKUPS

quote:

Originally posted by mikeyspizza:
No votes for PC Matic?

Am curious about this also. If, and I realize it's a big if, what they advertise is true then I'd think they would get a vote or two here.

PC Matic - The 'Bass-o-Matic' and/or 'Chop-o-Matic' of PC Security. NOTHING advertised on TV is ever even remotely good as they claim/make it seem!

Not just NO, but Hell No!

Yeah... If they have to resort to cheesy late night "As Seen On TV" commercials to hawk their product, that alone is a huge red flag.

I am another satisfied ESET user.

I did have one virus about 4 years ago trying to download some Lego instructions. ESET customer service was very helpful instructing me what to do to get the virus removed.