Advice Request Currently what is the best free AV?

[Block_shield]

Regarding recent Kaspersky rumors I am unsure should I uninstall (free version) it or leave it. Today I looked for other free alternatives and seems like there is no big choice:

BitDefender - they are retiring free version soon
Norton owns Avast, AVG and Avira and by user comments they all become bloatware and cryptominers
Panda - by some reviews seems like it has lower detection rate

Anything else worth mentioning except Microsoft Defender?

For passive scanner Malwarebytes is still a top choice (free version)?

 

[simbatippe1234]

Hi, what do you get for free today?
Windows Defender you can have for free because you paid for the OS or the PC it is installed on.
As I see it the only option is Windows Defender.
On the contrary, there are lots of free on-demand scanners.

 

[amirr]

7 reasons to pay for antivirus software and skip the free versions

Seven reasons why skipping the free tier could be best for you.

www.windowscentral.com

 

[kC77]

Windows Defender teamed up with Configure defender in highest mode is solid and was my normal choice.... and for free it would by number 1.

recently picked up a free 3 year f-secure trial, wasnt even planning to use it, but after seeing the many positive posts on here i gave it a go, and have to say I like it a lot so now my current protect - Im leaving F-secure to resident duties, and using task scheduler have 2nd opinion scanners which run staggered...

F-Secure Safe - Resident
Microsoft Defender - Commandline updates/quickscans task scheduler every 2 hours (takes about 1min)
EmsisoftEEK - commandline updates/quickscans every 2hours (takes about 35 seconds)
Sophos Scan & Clean (basocally free version of hitman pro) - commandline scans every 2 hours (takes about 2-3mins)


Ive been testing with a lot (200+ samples from Malware bazaar)
Windows defender would pick them up, but would seemingly take ages to action them/delete etc, F-Secure is like lightning.... so fast at processing (but it does miss a fair few samples!)
whatever F-secure missies, at least one of the other manual scanners do find and remove (WD/EMSI/Sophos)

 

[peterfat11]

There is a Bitdefender premium 1 yr for free at giveaway section: Unlimited Giveaway - Bitdefender Premium Security 2022 [1 Year || 10 Devices ]
I mean its free but it isn't you know..

 

[DJ Panda]

"Norton owns Avast, AVG and Avira and by user comments they all become bloatware and cryptominers" I've been a bit behind on the news but didn't realize Norton bought the three. I know Avast had merged with AVG and they were planning something with Avira.. It's kinda sad since I grew up with Avast for over a decade and they went down the hole.

As for a good Free AV, if you don't do too much high things online, Windows Defender with PUP protection and such should be enough. GitHub - AndyFul/ConfigureDefender: Utility for configuring Windows 10 built-in Defender antivirus settings.
Making regular backups of important files is a good habit to get into. Emsisoft Emergency Kit is what I would use as a secondary on demand scanner.

 

[kC77]

this is annoying... my most recent test 305 new samples from malware bazaar, (simple extract of zipfiles, not running the malware) F-Secure got rid of most, down to maybe 20 leftover files.... then between EMSI & Sophos cleared the rest.
Im left with 3 samples

VirusTotal

VirusTotal

www.virustotal.com

VirusTotal

VirusTotal

www.virustotal.com

VirusTotal

VirusTotal

www.virustotal.com

Now Running F-secure scan shows NO ISSUES it thinks clean - F-secure had missed maybe 17 other samples in this test....
running EMSIsoft shows clean - these 3 files are clean.....
running Sophos scan and clean (or even tried hitman pro) and it says these are clean.....

now I run windows defender...... custom scan and it can see they are threats, and is the only thing that detects them.... (3 of 3 items detcted) but it doesnt attempt to remove them, or give me any option to remove them, congrats to defender here! but it should remove the files i think!



so after running all these emsi/f-secure/wd/sophos/hitman, 3 .exe files exist ...... only WD actually detects them right now.. Microsoft's AV has come such a long way.
Once its detection's get the speed of F-secures removal.... ill be happy!

 

[Shadowra]

now I run windows defender...... custom scan and it can see they are threats, and is the only thing that detects them.... (3 of 3 items detcted) but it doesnt attempt to remove them, or give me any option to remove them, congrats to defender here! but it should remove the files i think!

so after running all these emsi/f-secure/wd/sophos/hitman, 3 .exe files exist ...... only WD actually detects them right now.. Microsoft's AV has come such a long way.
Once its detection's get the speed of F-secures removal.... ill be happy!

I already had this problem, it was the Windows Defender Cloud that did not sync...
I had set it with DefenderUI in maximum setting

 

[kC77]

that my config in CD... you think maybe extend from 20s?

 

[Shadowra]

that my config in CD... you think maybe extend from 20s?

I had put 60s with Confidence Zero on DefenderUI

 

[kC77]

I had put 60s with Confidence Zero on DefenderUI

just made thos changes set to 60s / zero & rebooted.... (WD isnt my resident protection here, F-Secure still is which is not detecting)

another custom scan ran, and again WD see's 3 threats but makes no attempt to remove
(im quite happy here i can just delete these static files manually) but I'd like one of these supposedly amazing engines do it automatically!

 

[Shadowra]

just made thos changes set to 60s / zero & rebooted.... (WD isnt my resident protection here, F-Secure still is which is not detecting)

another custom scan ran, and again WD see's 3 threats but makes no attempt to remove
(im quite happy here i can just delete these static files manually) but I'd like one of these supposedly amazing engines do it automatically!

F-Secure does not block them indeed (I found your droppers, I could test) .

With my configuration, I tested on the file with low detection on Microsoft Defender in VM

I don't know if it's a flange made on purpose by Microsoft, but it's a pity... because by pushing the hidden settings, it is much more responsive

 

[kC77]

Just updated f-secure again

Spoiler

just updated emsisoft defs...... it still misses them

sophos / hitman still says its clean

Windows defender however detects the 3 files... but doesnt remove/delete/clean -

 

[Shadowra]

@kC77 please use the Spoiler function for your picture

 

[kC77]

just goes to show how good defender has become!

 

[kC77]

@kC77 please use the Spoiler function for your picture

oops sorry, will try!

 

[kC77]

testing spoilers.... dont shoot me!

NPE managed to detect and delete the 24f sample

VirusTotal

VirusTotal

www.virustotal.com

that hitman/sophos/f-secure/emsisoft/WD couldnt!
NPE still misses the other 2

 

[kC77]

noticed a new WD update so scanned again and now it gives the option to remove

good old windows defender......... everything else missed is or wouldn't detect it, eventually it removed it ( i could of just manually deleted this static sample.... but i wanted a tool to do it for me) Windows defender was the first to do so

 

[oldschool]

testing spoilers.... dont shoot me!

I can't shoot you because now I've got double vision!

Try using thumbnails for your images. Please!

 

[kC77]

I can't shoot you because now I've got double vision!

Try using thumbnails for your images. Please!

i'll give up!