Serious Discussion What modules should a free antivirus offer as the bare minimum in 2026?

[Zero Knowledge]

I don't see the need for robust free AV these days. We have better free tools that increase security in Andy Ful's security tools and danb's tools. Where is the need?

Now with cheap licenses (around $10USD) for AV/AM suites on StackSocial & other places there is enough of a reason to put down a tenner for protection and forget free.

I would put my money into services and apps that make a real difference like imaging subs, then you have AppGuard/OSArmor/Deep Instinct/Checkpoint Harmony.

Together with WD free we have plenty of choice and cheap too. If you have money issues or are a broke teenager spending all you money on Pokemon then there are options.

 

[devjitdutta2025]

I was getting more nagging and ads from the paid McAfee Total. I've found if I just install the basic Avast free modules (helps keep things quieter), and disable Smart Scan and just occasionally run the Quick Scan, I really don't get any nag screen pop ups or ads. This is what my UI looks like on two laptops.

I disabled in General Notifications/Offers/Share app usage data. General Notifications/Pop-up notifications treatment to Limited mode.
In General/Privacy Preferences I disabled Help improve our products and business processes by allowing....and disabling Personalized discounts.
Also, I don't log into an account. The We have a gift for you banner on the bottom, and notice at the top, disappear after awhile of Xing out of them.

View attachment 296013 View attachment 296014

Did you block the UI in the Firewall? I’ve never seen avast without ads unless you block it in the FW. Heck, even I had to block the UI in Norton through the firewall to get rid of the ads.

 

[TairikuOkami]

Available, but paid.

But it is sold as an enterprise AV with that price tag, you need to contact sales for an estimate. Plus it is like an endpoint AV designed to work on a network.

 

[Sorrento]

A pay for most basic AV such in my case K standard, just for a few quid a year (in my case £14) does all I want, no nags, no upsell, no bloat, for ME a perfect solution, recently added Nord with Crowdstrike as another layer...

 

[devjitdutta2025]

Does anybody know of any AV (besides MD) that doesn’t use their own certificate for https scanning?

 

[Parkinsond]

Does anybody know of any AV (besides MD) that doesn’t use their own certificate for https scanning?

Avira free has not web protection, and consequently no certificates.

Avast/AVG free, even with https scanning enabled, when I check websites certificates, they are their own, not issued by Avast.

 

[rashmi]

Does anybody know of any AV (besides MD) that doesn’t use their own certificate for https scanning?

Comodo AV: completely free, no ads/upsells, exceptional 51% detection/protection rate, unmatched 0% web protection, no browser extension, and no HTTPS scanning at all!

 

[Parkinsond]

Comodo AV: completely free, no ads/upsells, exceptional 51% detection/protection rate, unmatched 0% web protection, no browser extension, and no HTTPS scanning at all!

The malware slayer.

 

[Jonny Quest]

Did you block the UI in the Firewall? I’ve never seen avast without ads unless you block it in the FW. Heck, even I had to block the UI in Norton through the firewall to get rid of the ads.

So far I haven't. I have in the past, but it got reset to/unblocked, a couple of times On one laptop yesterday, I did have the red dot notification at the top, and it was for the free gift (trial) that I Xed out of. But, in the past it has been an issue, where I uninstalled Avast and went back to F-Secure. We'll see how long the "quietness" lasts

 

[Behold Eck]

After all this discussion I truly believe that any MT member here would not run into any real trouble only using MD on default settings.

Then again where would the fun be in that?

Regards Eck

 

[Jonny Quest]

After all this discussion I truly believe that any MT member here would not run into any real trouble only using MD on default settings.

Then again where would the fun be in that?

Regards Eck

As well as millions who are not here on MT's and not running into any real trouble, like my sister and a good friend of mine. Both of whom are very common sense and said they didn't need their BD subscriptions any more. That was about 5-6 years ago.

 

[Parkinsond]

Both of whom are very common sense

I was attacked several times here for promoting such a "common sense"

 

[Behold Eck]

As well as millions who are not here on MT's and not running into any real trouble, like my sister and a good friend of mine. Both of whom are very common sense and said they didn't need their BD subscriptions any more. That was about 5-6 years ago.

Very true. I have family members also who have not had any serious problems since the advent of Windows 10 if not Windows 8 and some of them aren`t sensible at all.

Regards Eck

 

[Jonny Quest]

I was attacked several times here for promoting such a "common sense"

And I've gotten some sideways looks in the past for using F-Secure past v19. But, oh well, onward and upward

edit: And I will figure out on my end the at times slow loading apps with F-Secure and uninstall Avast on at least one of my notebooks. Perplexity & Gemini have some ideas, as it is still my favorite AV.

 

[Behold Eck]

I was attacked several times here for promoting such a "common sense"

Only by the self-deluded that think they have a superior sense.

Regards Eck

 

[Parkinsond]

Only by the self-deluded that think they have a superior sense.

Regards Eck

I believe everyone has the right to have his/her own distinctive point of view; just we need to accept someone else may have a contrasting one and should not be prevented (by any mean) from expressing, conditioned the pov does not include asking for violence.

 

[Zero Knowledge]

And I've gotten some sideways looks in the past for using F-Secure past v19. But, oh well, onward and upward

edit: And I will figure out on my end the at times slow loading apps with F-Secure and uninstall Avast on at least one of my notebooks. Perplexity & Gemini have some ideas, as it is still my favorite AV.

In the end just do what works for you! My advice for others now is just buy the cheapest license you can afford from the big players who always score well in tests.

Also if your on a budget and want free use WD with Andy Fuls tools or danb's tools like WDAC. Then you have Avast/AVG free which are very good options.

Not everyone needs a NextGen AV/AM with virtualization and whitelisting up the wazoo. Just do what works for you!

 

[Jonny Quest]

In the end just do what works for you! My advice for others now is just buy the cheapest license you can afford from the big players who always score well in tests.

Also if your on a budget and want free use WD with Andy Fuls tools or danb's tools like WDAC. Then you have AVast/AVG free which are very good options.

Not everyone needs a NextGen AV/AM with virtualization and whitelisting up the wazoo. Just do what works for you!

I agree. And I think that's what eventually happens here, we get to know each others competence level, and know whatever works for them...good for them

 

[Zero Knowledge]

And I think that's what eventually happens here, we get to know each others competence level, and know whatever works for them...good for them

I don't think it's about competence, some people don't have time to whitelist every LOLbins and block every connection through the firewall.

In the end use the technology you feel most comfortable with but with the least usability issues and cost to productivity..

 

[Jonny Quest]

LOL...so true

I don't think it's about competence, some people don't have time to whitelist every LOLbins and block every connection through the firewall.