Question Easy setup for security aware user

[Max90]

Ok, so far I like it. Avast well done

Avast only puts a dot on the icon when it has a message. When you click on it it invites you to do a check. This check is make the user aware that he/she is missing some form of protection. I understand they have to trigger / seduce the free user to upgrade. One critism Avast though, even when these test fail, the dot remains.

Because Avast is a bad loser (the dot remains on the Avast icon although their buy premium persuasion tests fail) I also disabled showing the Avast system tray icon and re-enabled Windows Security icon. The only purpose is to show al is well and MD security icon does that.

Avast also is snappier now (I tried it a long time ago and it slowed the startup of Edge noticeably), don't notice any difference with MD

 

[Max90]

@Gandalf_The_Grey

Because a lot of MT-members are positive about F-secure, I will probably check our ISP's F--secure protection out. To my surprise it says that I can use it on 20 devices. Do you have it installed for all family members? If so, is it quit or chatty or somewhere in between?

Spoiler: Ziggo safe online

 

[Gandalf_The_Grey]

@Gandalf_The_Grey

Because a lot of MT-members are positive about F-secure, I will probably check our ISP's F--secure protection out. To my surprise it says that I can use it on 20 devices. Do you have it installed for all family members? If so, is it quit or chatty or somewhere in between?

Spoiler: Ziggo safe online

View attachment 272217

It depends on your subscription with Ziggo and/or Vodafone.
I lost my 20 devices when going from Vodafone to hollandsnieuwe (for mobile).
At the moment I have only Ziggo Safe Online for 1 device.

That one is installed on my daughter's laptop.
Because I'm a beta tester for F-Secure I have FS Protection installed on the laptops of my son and myself.
My mother in law has KPN and has KPN Veilig installed on her laptop.

So we run 3 versions here: Ziggo Safe Online, KPN Veilig (both F-Secure Safe rebrands) and FS Protection (F-Secure Safe beta).
They are all quietly doing their job

Be sure to install the Browsing Protection by F-Secure extension in your browsers (only Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome are officially supported).

 

[simmerskool]

(both F-Secure Safe rebrands) and FS Protection (F-Secure Safe beta).
They are all quietly doing their job

fully concur with Gandalf_The_Grey. FS SAFE 18.5 is very quiet, very light, with very good protection. Also VG support if you need it, you probably won't.

 

[Ink]

By customising MSDAV with third-party tools, it makes the program more aggresive and less predictable. It's an advantage for the minority who can comprehend these behavioural changes. Not so much for the majority.

When it comes to security, overthinking it is highly common:

• Avoid 3rd-party Free AV - Most, if not all are bundled with junkware features or forced paywalled placeholders than cannot be removed. Some may require account registration which can additional collect data and usage information. Not all can be opt-out.
• A few trusted Paid AV are safer bets, but there is no guarantee for remaining malware-free.*
• Bonus: Halloween arrives early when the license expires.

* A paid AV does not mean lower risk to malware, the odds on remaining malware-free is vastly improved when the user practices safe browsing habits on a continual basis.

---

Stock Microsoft Defender is certainly a solid foundation

+ safe browsing practices​

+ modern browser with Ad and Content blocking​

+ regular backups​

+ don't ignore OS / App updates​

+ Standard User Accounts (encouraged, though optional)​

Microsoft engineered their Defender Antivirus for the general population; powerful protection with an easy UI and no confusing pop-ups, all work (local or cloud) is done behind the scenes.

End of the day mistakes can happen, be prepared.

How I got infected last time thread

The purpose of this thread is two fold: To share one's experience and to raise user awareness to both members of MT and guests. A few days ago, after being in contact with WinPatrol, I decided to test out their WinAntiRansom program against some nasties. I followed their guide for...

malwaretips.com

All opinions are my own.

 

[Stopspying]

fully concur with Gandalf_The_Grey. FS SAFE 18.5 is very quiet, very light, with very good protection. Also VG support if you need it, you probably won't.

I was checking out Ivacy VPN and F-Secure SAFE blocked it, saying that there was a potential PUA involved on 02 Dec 2022. I did a few online scans and nothing else flagged it. I sent the file to F-Secure, after I'd not heard back from them I chased it up and only got a response on 18 Jan 2023. I was really surprised at the length of time this took, as I'd always had quick responses from them whenever I'd contacted them. The reply included this -

"This email is the response to your ticket raised some time ago via our Submit-A-Sample portal. We deeply apologize for our delayed response. Our investigation and analyze team are suffering a backlog issue with the current situations. We are trying our best to solve every issue as fast as we can while still ensuring quality in our responses with our limited force. Our analysis indicates that the file you submitted is indeed a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA). "

It hasn't put me off of F-Secure, as I said above this was an exception IMO.

 

[Max90]

I have not found the time to install Ziggo F-secure, currently running Avast Free on my wife's laptop with Hard_Configurator (enhanced sponsors + microsoft recommended) only allowing the photobook application in User\Appdata. This App updates in Appdata\Temporary folder so I added one rule (User\Appdata\*\apc.exe) in H_C. Office apps are forbidden to create child processes in MD Exploit Protection and enabled all MD EP settings for APC.exe which did not break/blocked the execution of that app. As posted I disabled the Avast icon in System Tray to get rid of the icon warnings (trying to scare the free user into buying the premium) and used Defender icon for that.

All in all I must say that Avast free is an amazing free security suite. I was so much charmed by Avast that I had to resist the urge to replace my quadruple Microsoft whitelist security with Avast Free plus WDAC ISG. Because Avast free really is a suite without the bloatware, I have a hard time understanding the business model behind it. I hope many free users are converted to paid users, allowing me to use this app for free. The merger of Norton, Avast, AVG, Avira and Bullguard might bring additional benefits or spoil the 'respect free' user party.

For now an AVAST free fan

 

[Freki123]

Because Avast free really is a suite without the bloatware, I have a hard time understanding the business model behind it. I hope many free users are converted to paid users, allowing me to use this app for free.

About two years ago it was like:

Avast Scandal: Here's What You Need To Know

Here's what you need to know about Avast's alleged data collection and sharing.

screenrant.com

 

[Max90]

About two years ago it was like:

Avast Scandal: Here's What You Need To Know

Here's what you need to know about Avast's alleged data collection and sharing.

screenrant.com

Yes, that is probably why they offer to disable data collection. They have to be "best boy in the class" because of the brand reputation damage they suffered with that incident.

Avast the raven with the white feathers.

 

[Max90]

Well, due to lack of time have not tried F-secure Ziggo yet. This morning I had to be at home for some repairs and checked my wife's laptop to see that Avast free had no warnings/messages urging the free user to upgrade to paid for three days now (what a difference with Avira free ). Lazy as I am, I keep Avast free with Hard Configurator for a while (don't fix what ain't broken).

 

[Max90]

Ahh, just when I started to like you, you let me down :-(

Spoiler: Avast Forum