Antivirus Free for W10

[elvis]

H! All,

Can anybody tell me which Antivirus is good for W10 as i need one.

Thanks

[Lynnrose]

I'm Windows 7 and using Kaspersky free, so no help to you x

[Deleted]

Win 10 comes with Windows Defender which is as good if not better then other free AV's.

[Pete]

I run win 10 with AVG (free version), then run a scan with Malwarebytes free version ...

[elvis]

H! all sorry for not letting you know what I did, I went for Avira Free for W10 as I use to use it before with Window.

Thanks all

Elvis

[mikkh]

www.techradar.com/uk/best/best-antivirus

Now I'm not going to endorse this as gospel, but it is an interesting read and detailed analysis of current virus checkers from a respected web site with no (apparent) agenda.

I do believe most people are quite safe with Windows 10 built in security and a weekly check with Malwarebytes just to ease their minds - if you use common sense like not opening attachments in emails and blindly clicking links in emails/messages on their phones that is.

The best virus checker has always been you and my favourite conspiracy theory still thinks anti virus companies might be responsible for a good proportion of them

Pass my tin foil helmet, no not that one!

Too late

[jazzazz]

I'm a bit late to this party, but y'all have kicked back not posting anymore or hardly at all, WAKE UP, LOL, anyway, when I last had Windows (Was WindowsXP) from 2006-2010, but then after they stopped supporting it went to Linux, downloaded and installed it, after burning the Disc (Mint 17).

Anyway, then when I finally got rid of that, retiring that PC to our 2nd bedroom, stored there, haven't taken out the HD yet to drill full of holes, LOL, I bought this MAC desktop, a MacMini, 8G of Ram and 1TB HD, anyway, the posters in the Apple support grp, all those AppleFanBoys said that AV and anti Malware was not needed.

Me, I never believed that, so I do run, once per week, AVG AV, and MalwareBytes, but have to say, have never ever detected a single thing, not even a, "Pup," or whatever Apple calls those.

Now when I am on my Chromebook, absolutely no worries there, no AV or Anti Malware anything, built in protection. Not sure how, but probably the safest machine on Earth :-).

[mikkh]

Most browsers now play an active part in stopping potential malware and virus infections at source.
Google Chrome is a bit too heavy handed at times when it refuses to follow a link to a Linux ISO I'm trying to download, forcing me to switch to Firefox to get the job done.

Windows 10 and obviously 11 have much better inbuilt security tools, virtually negating the need of third party virus checkers. The paranoid will still install them and claim them to be the reason they haven't been infected over x amount of years. Norton, Mcafee and similar firms thank for your custom, while laughing all the way to the bank.

It's been many years since I've been called out to fix a virus problem, but when I did get called out on a regular basis, every machine had a virus checker supposedly protecting them installed.
They clearly weren't doing their job and to add insult to injury were very resource hungry, basically crippling slower machines.

[mikkh]

www.cclonline.com/article/2078/Guide/PC-Maintenance/5-Reasons-You-Shouldn-t-Use-Cleaning-Software/

Close, but no cigar for this article, but the basic message is true.

With SSD's being more popular now, they should have emphasised the need NOT to try and defragment these type of drives a bit more and go into more detail about SSD's in general.

It started well claiming Windows (10/11) is good basic protection - which I agree with, but then backtracks and starts naming a bunch of third party virus checker programs.
Then it starts to read a bit more like a stealth advert with a hidden agenda.

There's no mention of Malwarebytes as another free tool to use. It's a respected third party app where the free version is a good choice as a put your mind at rest option or to double check the Windows security programs haven't missed something. I'm surprised Microsoft haven't tried to buy them out, or maybe they have and been rebuffed.

And I don't recommend the Malwarebytes Pro version btw. The whole point of the free version (in my mind at least) is that you run it when you want to, not for it sit in the background like a virus checker eating up resources and throwing out occasional messages to justify it's worth - like most virus checkers do.

As a Linux user I'm duty bound to mention that Linux is the best security to use with 99% of viruses targeted solely at the Windows market for obvious reasons.
I also know it's out of a lot of peoples comfort zone, but it shouldn't be. It's a point and click interface just like Windows and the oft quoted myth that it requires a lot of command line input is simply not true on a day to day basis. I can't remember the last time I HAD to use the command line.
I do use it occasionally because I know how to and enjoy the challenge of finding out what's under the hood, so to speak. Just as I do in Windows sometimes when fixing someones machine.

..... and digressing slightly, OK a lot, PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) is neither a virus or malware, but is deemed undesirable for one reason or another. Like programs that install another one without asking or giving you the choice to skip it.