Serious Discussion Data leak: Avast Free or Bitdefender Free?

[RansomwareRemediation]

But, for those who suggest BD Free, there is some very nice, very informative information on the outbound firewall pop ups (Ask mode/AVG/Avast Free) that won't come with BD free. I may need to revisit which connection I'm allowing out. Avast has Ransomware protection (including Strict mode) which Bitdefender free does not have. They have also improved the web shield in the latest update. At times, in normal daily use, and in being alert ourselves, I'm just thinking Avast/AVG with it's settings and features, also come into play as far as any possibilities of malware during normal daily use, no? (with us being alert/aware, our part).

Avast Community

forum.avast.com

View attachment 284609

This is Nunzio's thread, I'm not trying to hijack it, but he and I both have some of the same questions, and concerns. So I'm just expressing my views, maybe giving a counterbalance view, and of possibly being wrong.

So for a free versions, they may be pretty close security wise, without buying BD?


Then this also. I'm not trying to corner Trident, as I respect the heck out of him and his posts and insights on the forum.


I know I'm repeating myself, but with the features of Avast/AVG free, the settings, Ransomware (strict mode as well), Firewall notifications, ability to easily right-click pause protection, in daily use, doesn't that also factor into what to use?

Avast, having the modules it has, will have worse protection than Bitdefender.

 

[lokamoka820]

But, for those who suggest BD Free, there is some very nice, very informative information on the outbound firewall pop ups (Ask mode/AVG/Avast Free) that won't come with BD free. I may need to revisit which connection I'm allowing out. Avast has Ransomware protection (including Strict mode) which Bitdefender free does not have. They have also improved the web shield in the latest update. At times, in normal daily use, and in being alert ourselves, I'm just thinking Avast/AVG with it's settings and features, also come into play as far as any possibilities of malware during normal daily use, no? (with us being alert/aware, our part).

This out of topic, but I noticed this outbound firewall pop up yesterday with Norton 360, so Gen Digital with Avast/AVG/Norton become Nescafé 3 in 1.

The firewall in Avast Free is a nice addition but the same can be achieved with Windows Firewall.

I'm curious how to achieve the same with Window Firewall, is it for example by using WFC with Medium Filtering (recommended mode)?

 

[Jonny Quest]

This out of topic, but I noticed this outbound firewall pop up yesterday with Norton 360, so Gen Digital with Avast/AVG/Norton become Nescafé 3 in 1.
View attachment 284618

I'm curious how to achieve the same with Window Firewall, is it for example by using WFC with Medium Filtering (recommended mode)?

It looks very familiar, doesn't it And that's why I do like 3rd party AV's/apps, in this case the firewall notifications, it's laid out better, more information (and options) that makes sense. Good question about if WFC can provide some of the same pop up information and abilities.

 

[lokamoka820]

In your opinion, regarding data leak in case of malware execution, which is more effective in quickly interrupting the connection to an IP address? Avast Free or Bitdefender Free?

I ask this question because sometimes I enjoy running some malware to test Avast Free (or Bitdefender when I had it), I know that it should not be done on a PC but on a virtual machine or on a PC where there is no sensitive data.

Anyway, this is the second time that my Paypal login data has probably been stolen, in fact I am receiving the SMS with the code to access. Obviously I will change the password again.

So I would not want Avast Free to be unable to quickly interrupt the connection to a malicious page/IP server.

The same thing happened about 1 year ago when they hacked my LinkedIn and Google account. At that time I was using Avast and enjoying running some malware (I know it shouldn't be done ).

This makes me wonder... maybe Bitdefender's protection is more effective in this regard? Even if you don't have Bitdefender's firewall.

Obviously I won't do these tests on a PC with data anymore, but this makes me think in case of a real attack where I would run a malicious file.

Do you use a dedicated password manager, or you store your login data in your browser's password manager?

 

[Nunzio_77]

Utilizzi un gestore password dedicato oppure memorizzi i tuoi dati di accesso nel gestore password del tuo browser?

Yes i use Chrome password management.

 

[lokamoka820]

Yes i use Chrome password management.

I think you need to start using a dedicated password manager, browsers password manager are not safe, in that case malware will not be able to access your login data.

 

[monkeylove]

I think the firewall built-in is standard, while software like Windows Firewall Control makes it easier to use.

The firewall in Avast Free is probably similar to WFC:

Avast Firewall - Getting Started | Official Avast Support

Learn how to use Firewall in Avast Antivirus, Avast Premium Security and Avast One on Windows PC.

support.avast.com

with the advanced features ("premium") offered in paid versions:

Advanced Firewall Features

businesshelp.avast.com

That means you can probably use Avast Free with the firewall or Bitdefender Free with WFC.

Finally, some of the more advanced features might be available through free versions of other firewalls discussed in the thread or in others, but they might lead to more complications, like some incompatibility or users having to decide what to allow and what to block.

In that case, you are probably better off just getting the paid version of security programs with firewall features. One thing I noticed in light of that is that the paid version can make the system feel heavier, and likely because with more security features there may be more system impact. You can find out by trying trial versions.

 

[Nunzio_77]

I'm reviving this post to try to reach a conclusion.
In terms of data security (of their loss) and protection against malware, especially Zero-day or apps that are legitimate but have received a malicious injection in the code, which free antivirus do you suggest between these two? Better Avast Free or Bitdefender Free?

Thanks.

 

[ifacedown]

Or get ZoneAlarm.

ZoneAlarm is bad these days, especially the free version. The Extreme version is just decent, but not good.

 

[Vitali Ortzi]

ZoneAlarm is bad these days, especially the free version. The Extreme version is just decent, but not good.

Unsure if that's true but they should definitely be included in more tests

 

[Vitali Ortzi]

I'm reviving this post to try to reach a conclusion.
In terms of data security (of their loss) and protection against malware, especially Zero-day or apps that are legitimate but have received a malicious injection in the code, which free antivirus do you suggest between these two? Better Avast Free or Bitdefender Free?

Thanks.

I would say avast between those too and since it doesn't have a firewall someone can use Symantec, zone alarm firewall which are both great and free (only Symantec can be configured)

Reason for avast is that avast has cyber capture "CyberCapture is a feature in Avast Premium Security, and Avast Free Antivirus that detects and analyzes rare, suspicious files. CyberCapture is enabled by default to block all unrecognized files."


Here is Symantec for a firewall (install only firewall module and IPS if you want to use it as a firewall only )

Unlimited Giveaway - Symantec Endpoint Unmanaged without time limit

System requirements : Want to run a free SPEM server to manage your family computers, PM me for a license file (.SLF) (works up to 10 years ).

malwaretips.com

Alternatively if you prefer old Norton you can use Symantec as your av instead


As basically Avast is basically the new Norton and Symantec is the older one

 

[Nunzio_77]

I would say avast between those too and since it doesn't have a firewall someone can use Symantec, zone alarm firewall which are both great and free (only Symantec can be configured)

Reason for avast is that avast has cyber capture "CyberCapture is a feature in Avast Premium Security, and Avast Free Antivirus that detects and analyzes rare, suspicious files. CyberCapture is enabled by default to block all unrecognized files."


Here is Symantec for a firewall (install only firewall module and IPS if you want to use it as a firewall only )

Unlimited Giveaway - Symantec Endpoint Unmanaged without time limit

System requirements : Want to run a free SPEM server to manage your family computers, PM me for a license file (.SLF) (works up to 10 years ).

malwaretips.com

Alternatively if you prefer old Norton you can use Symantec as your av instead


As basically Avast is basically the new Norton and Symantec is the older one

So in your opinion Avast Free is better than Bitdefender Free?

 

[Vitali Ortzi]

So in your opinion Avast Free is better than Bitdefender Free

Seems I was wrong as bitdefnder free has a behavior blocker too (didn't have it s few years ago )
So actually im unsure who is better now and thought only avast had a behavior blocker

 

[Nunzio_77]

Yes, I can confirm that Bitdefender Free also has a behavior blocker.

 

[Jonny Quest]

@Jonny Quest the anti-ransomware module of Avast and AVG is very much based on the trusted/untrusted concept. Whilst it may block some ransomware, it won’t help when there is code injection in a trusted process. Same goes for the firewall prompt, which as well is very much trusted/untrusted executable based. The strict mode is likely to cause false alerts.

The paid Bitdefender editions with memory and command line scanner can deal more effectively with code injection before it has happened. Whatever the obfuscation attackers have used, will be “peeled” in memory and the malware will reveal its true, naked form. This greatly enhances chances of early detection, specially when yara rules on process memory are used. Attackers can take the same payload and create tens of thousand of versions of it, by changing the packaging and obfuscation. The real payload remains the same, and with memory scanning, it is always detected.

The benefits of memory scanning are enormous.

The paid Bitdefender editions also includes ransomware remediation, which in Avast products is not available.

So all in all, Bitdefender Antivirus + and above. provide better protection against advanced attacks than Avast Free and Paid.

The firewall in Avast Free is a nice addition but the same can be achieved with Windows Firewall.

Revisiting this thread, still an amazing post. Thanks again @Trident

 

[Nunzio_77]

Apart from the second level protection against "remedetion" ransomware, is the memory scanning feature included in the free version of Bitdefender or only in the paid version?
I'm curious to know with certainty.

 

[nickstar1]

Avast/AVG paid versions have browser password protection which is very effective in blocking attacks not known to it's antivirus. it blocks all attempts at stealing cookies/sessions.

 

[omidomi]

Between BugDefender & NSA SpyTool , it seems BugDefender is better

 

[Jonny Quest]

Apart from the second level protection against "remedetion" ransomware, is the memory scanning feature included in the free version of Bitdefender or only in the paid version?
I'm curious to know with certainty.

Sorry, buddy, but Bitdefender wouldn't let me install the free version to check it out. I used the uninstall tool, looked for any hidden files, but it must be finding a leftover registry key from somewhere of a previous install? Even though I didn't log into for it to find my account, it still wants to install Total. Thanks, Bitdefender

 

[Nunzio_77]

Friend if you want try to uninstall Bitdefender with its uninstallation process from the control panel and also uninstall the Agent.
After uninstalling it with "Antivirus Removal Tool" look for Bitdefender folders and files in the various folders that this tool finds (it is excellent for cleaning everything after uninstalling an AV). Use the search function, then for each path enter and delete the corresponding folders that it finds.
Then re-run the Bitdefender Free installation, so you should be able to do it, obviously using a mail account that does not have any Bitedefender subscription already active and associated.