Advice Request Is Windows Defender effective enough to protect?

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ForgottenSeer 72227

Between these two, which is more simple to use and configure for the less technical (or average) Windows 10 user?

I've been using both and agree that OS Armor is much more install and forget compared to NVT ERP 4. With that said, they have be adding more features to NVT ERP 4 such as trusted vendors, allow signed processes, etc... so to me, its becoming more and more user friendly by comparison. Since using NVT ERP 4 I've only had to deal with 2 pop ups using default settings and I have been running it for about a week or so. There's also the learning mode that users can use in NVT ERP if needed as well, which they can turn off after a period of time.
 

bribon77

Level 35
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Well-known
Jul 6, 2017
2,392
Let's see if you have a license from KIS and Emsisoft from my point of view I would use them. Because you have time and if you do not use it you lose the license.
Windows Defender is always there and does not expire. :giggle:
 
Last edited:

plat

Level 29
Top Poster
Sep 13, 2018
1,793
Is Windows Defender good enough? This is very subjective and depends on your threat model and computer hardware. I would use Defender only in conjunction with OS hardening tools like group policy (I have it in Windows 10 Home) and NoVirusThanks software (SH, OSA). Only then am I comfortable with Windows Defender.

Can't stand the bloat from unneeded/unused features in third party suites nor system slowdowns from too much real-time. To me it's about hardening and virtualizing what's already in place. Maybe look into using them up first, they're both good software. Or give a license to a friend. :) Edit: I take too much time proof-reading, then someone posts something I posted so, boom! Have to post in a hurry, otherwise I look like a shameless copycat.
 

Bikeman0I17

Level 1
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Sep 22, 2017
48
Been sticking with Avast Free here on all household systems, did try Defender for a while on my newer Intel I7 and Intel I7 Laptop, found it to be still slow, still took ages to scan the system the first time.

Who knows what i'll decide to do when 1903 Launches, if I wanna give it a shot with a fully clean system once again, or just reinstall Avast Free from get go, and just enjoy my system with gaming, and other tasks
 

novocaine

Level 5
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Aug 19, 2016
200
the question is relative to the user habit. if you have no sense in recognizing harmful sites or if you dont know how to install something like clicking accept, install, agree, always, then WD is not enough for you.

but if you know what sites which is safe to visit and if you can install and avoid additional software or bloatware, then WD is enough for you and not just WD but every AV is enough for you. not to mention the signature shall be always updated
 

Bikeman0I17

Level 1
Verified
Sep 22, 2017
48
My Habits are to read each and every install, Only install what needed or use the most these days, usually visit the same sites--MalwareTips, some other PC tech sites, local news, local news paper at times, ublock origin adblocker in place on Edge and Chrome (Edge used 90 percent of the time, Chrome 10 percent).

Weekly scans with Malwarebytes

Adwcleaner monthly

Always using standard user account for day to day activites (With Microsoft account)

Local Admin account for admin tasks

Thinks maybe safe enough if I choose to use WD it seems to me
 

oldschool

Level 81
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Mar 29, 2018
7,044
My Habits are to read each and every install, Only install what needed or use the most these days, usually visit the same sites--MalwareTips, some other PC tech sites, local news, local news paper at times, ublock origin adblocker in place on Edge and Chrome (Edge used 90 percent of the time, Chrome 10 percent).

Weekly scans with Malwarebytes

Adwcleaner monthly

Always using standard user account for day to day activites (With Microsoft account)

Local Admin account for admin tasks

Thinks maybe safe enough if I choose to use WD it seems to me

Yes, if this is how you use your computer, WD will prove more than sufficient.
 

shmu26

Level 85
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Jul 3, 2015
8,150
Windows Defender is meant to work together with the other built-in Windows security features, such as SmartScreen. It is part of Windows.
If you don't try to bypass SmartScreen, such as by downloading cracks in rar files, then Windows Defender will keep you safe.
If you want super-safe, then tweak Windows Defender. The easiest way to do that is with Andy Ful's ConfigureDefender.
 

monkeylove

Level 10
Verified
Well-known
Mar 9, 2014
489
In general, I use the free version of the best AV overall, and then other software (also, free) to supplement it. For example, free versions of

Avast (because it seemed that file and web browsing was slower for the other AVs)
MalwareBytes and now Zemana (for offline scanning)
SphinxSoft Windows Firewall Control

and for the browser

uBlock Origin
NoScript

and a few others.

Although the point about good habits is notable, it sometimes isn't enough. For example, I read that ads in legitimate sites might have some sort of malware, which means you can still be affected even if you do safe browsing.

Finally, I use free versions because I found out that sometimes some AVs tend to do well at present and then slow down or become less reliable with some new version or patch in the OS. With that, I can choose to move to another AV or security program, use more than one, etc.
 

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