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Arrogant Anti-virus Doesn't Appreciate Your Choices

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Re: Arrogant Anti-virus Doesn't Appreciate Your Choices

#2
It's unfortunate that more people don't understand just how serious a breach it is to install special root certificates. This actually does a complete home run around the entirety of web-based security.

It's very close to having every physical lock sold by a company having a special key that can open all of the locks they sell. Even if you trust that company to buy your lock from them, it's going much too far in allowing them to open up your safe whenever they want to.

Re: Arrogant Anti-virus Doesn't Appreciate Your Choices

#4
I have recently purchased Avast and I regret it. While free version serves as an anti virus well, paid version does all kind of strange things with system. It made Wi-Fi stop working under Windows 8, rendered OpenVPN drivers uninstallable and what not.

Anyone with a good AV suggestion? I want something light on system that has Firewall as well(can go for separate Firewall as well), free options preferred.

Re: Arrogant Anti-virus Doesn't Appreciate Your Choices

#5

I have recently purchased Avast and I regret it. While free version serves as an anti virus well, paid version does all kind of strange things with system. It made Wi-Fi stop working under Windows 8, rendered OpenVPN drivers uninstallable and what not. Anyone with a good AV suggestion? I want something light on system that has Firewall as well(can go for separate Firewall as well), free options preferred.

If you have W8. why don't you just stick with what is built in? There is really no need to have AV software on W8

Re: Arrogant Anti-virus Doesn't Appreciate Your Choices

#6

I have recently purchased Avast and I regret it. While free version serves as an anti virus well, paid version does all kind of strange things with system. It made Wi-Fi stop working under Windows 8, rendered OpenVPN drivers uninstallable and what not. Anyone with a good AV suggestion? I want something light on system that has Firewall as well(can go for separate Firewall as well), free options preferred.

For suggestions, I'd always suggest crowdsourced AV like SocialAV. But, for quick and old way, Avira AntiVir is great.

Re: Arrogant Anti-virus Doesn't Appreciate Your Choices

#7

I have recently purchased Avast and I regret it. While free version serves as an anti virus well, paid version does all kind of strange things with system. It made Wi-Fi stop working under Windows 8, rendered OpenVPN drivers uninstallable and what not. Anyone with a good AV suggestion? I want something light on system that has Firewall as well(can go for separate Firewall as well), free options preferred.

ClamAV/ClamWin. It's not a resident antivirus so you'll have to scan files you download yourself (or set some kind of trigger) which IMHO is better because it doesn't hog your PC when you don't need it.

Microsoft Security Essentials is good on Windows too. Microsoft has a bad reputation but it does a good job here.

You'll need a separate firewall, but Windows has one built-in and Linux has sooo many alternatives.

Also: keep your software up to date and do regular full-system scans just in case.

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EDIT: care to explain the downvotes please? It's so irritating when you downvote legitimate comments without further explanation. Where am I wrong here? Is it just because I mentioned Microsoft?

Of course you can downvote but please do us all a favor and explain.

Re: Arrogant Anti-virus Doesn't Appreciate Your Choices

#8
post #5

I have recently purchased Avast and I regret it. While free version serves as an anti virus well, paid version does all kind of strange things with system. It made Wi-Fi stop working under Windows 8, rendered OpenVPN drivers uninstallable and what not. Anyone with a good AV suggestion? I want something light on system that has Firewall as well(can go for separate Firewall as well), free options preferred.

If you have W8. why don't you just stick with what is built in? There is really no need to have AV software on W8

I don't know why this was downvoted. Windows 8 comes with Microsoft Security Essentials (rebranded back to "Windows Defender"), Windows Firewall, and Windows Smart-screen Filter all set up by default. Additionally, every browser (including IE10) now does its own phishing/malware site flagging protection.

Together, that's about the sum of what AV packages provide you--so I don't really see the need for one any more, as long as you leave all the defaults on.

Re: Arrogant Anti-virus Doesn't Appreciate Your Choices

#9
post #5

I have recently purchased Avast and I regret it. While free version serves as an anti virus well, paid version does all kind of strange things with system. It made Wi-Fi stop working under Windows 8, rendered OpenVPN drivers uninstallable and what not. Anyone with a good AV suggestion? I want something light on system that has Firewall as well(can go for separate Firewall as well), free options preferred.

If you have W8. why don't you just stick with what is built in? There is really no need to have AV software on W8

I should have mentioned that I downgraded to Windows 7 after having graphics drivers issue with 8. Apparently, AMD never built drivers for 44xx series of cards, so I couldn't play games properly.

But Windows Defender is available on Win 7 too, right?

Re: Arrogant Anti-virus Doesn't Appreciate Your Choices

#10
post #7

I have recently purchased Avast and I regret it. While free version serves as an anti virus well, paid version does all kind of strange things with system. It made Wi-Fi stop working under Windows 8, rendered OpenVPN drivers uninstallable and what not. Anyone with a good AV suggestion? I want something light on system that has Firewall as well(can go for separate Firewall as well), free options preferred.

ClamAV/ClamWin. It's not a resident antivirus so you'll have to scan files you download yourself (or set some kind of trigger) which IMHO is better because it doesn't hog your PC when you don't need it. Microsoft Security Essentials is good on Windows too. Microsoft has a bad reputation but it does a good job here. You'll need a separate firewall, but Windows has one built-in and Linux has sooo many alternatives. Als…

Thanks for suggestions. I will try these. I am using Windows 7 and Avast really irritates me out sometimes.

Regarding Windows Firewall, is it good enough?

P.S. I did not downvote, in fact just upvoted you.

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