Serious Discussion Which AV are you using and why did you choose this one ??

[basran25]

I have installed different products on my each machine

K7 Total Security - MAT
VIPRE Advanced Security
Bitdefender Internet Security
ESET Home Security Essential

 

[lokamoka820]

Microsoft Defender because it is light and sufficient for my use case.

 

[Cleo]

Emsisoft Anti-Malware Home edition. I used ZoneAlarm earlier this year, but it had too many false positives. I've used Emsisoft before too, and I like the interface.

 

[Vitali Ortzi]

Emsisoft Anti-Malware Home edition. I used ZoneAlarm earlier this year, but it had too many false positives. I've used Emsisoft before too, and I like the interface.

What software did cause the false positives, type of software ?
As I have installed zone alarm on my computer that had probably around 10 pirated software
And it didn't detect any as malware and I have even sent their binarys and library's to threat emulation and these too didn't falsely get detected as malware but I did later try to download some activators that are and they did falsely get detected as malware by threat emulation so I guess it really depends but I'm surprised emsisoft wich has an aggressive behavior blocker and bitdefender signatures had less false positives

 

[Cleo]

What software did cause the false positives, type of software ?
As I have installed zone alarm on my computer that had probably around 10 pirated software
And it didn't detect any as malware and I have even sent their binarys and library's to threat emulation and these too didn't falsely get detected as malware but I did later try to download some activators that are and they did falsely get detected as malware by threat emulation so I guess it really depends but I'm surprised emsisoft wich has an aggressive behavior blocker and bitdefender signatures had less false positives

One was an app called "CoreTemp", and another was RealVNC.

 

[Shadowra]

Eset Smart Security Premium

 

[Oldie1950]

Windows Defender and CyberLock. Runs unobtrusively and reliably. Windows Defender does not cause any compatibility problems.

 

[simmerskool]

Appguard- Eset premium, was going with Microsoft Defender, but Cruel Sister, got me concerned with Firewall's, potential flaw so I switched

@Dave Russo sidenote (fwiw) I was using Eset Premium about 18 mo ago, and it borked the firewall, had to do a windows reinstall (or inplace upgrade) -- I guess eset fixed it by now...

 

[superleeds27]

Eset Smart Security Premium

The boss has spoken!

 

[simmerskool]

tonight: running the VM with ESET Nod32 with AppGuard Solo & WFC (behind a reasonable hardware router with IDS) long time user of ESET -- it's light. (mostly I lurk inside fedora)

@Vitali Ortzi post makes me want to look at HMPA (again) -- long time ago it did not work for me.
In windows when not running ESET -- I'm running the VM with MS Defender + DefenderUI_Pro + AppGuard Solo + WFC | or Harmony + CyberLock |
or Emsisoft Business + CyberLock + WFC (but mostly I lurk inside fedora) | (although the hardware pc is running none of the above except for CyberLock) VMware is now free!

 

[Oldie1950]

After uninstalling ESET, the WiFi connection stopped working. Macrium Reflect saved me.

I have no experience with ESET support myself. But I have heard from many users that Marcos always rules out the possibility that the ESET software could be the cause when describing errors in the ESET forum. Even if the error has already been reported by several users. Only after a long discussion did Marcos confirm that it was an ESET error.

However, I have used NOD32 on several computers for a long time without any problems. It really runs very easily. But when I see how ESET hides NOD32 on its website, I suspect that they will soon let this version die.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Kaspersky internet security and Quick heal IS, ESET smart security and WD

 

[Nautilus]

avast free antivirus and comodo firewall with @cruelsister settings , exclusions sett in both programs and you gor a hassle free and smooth as butter config

 

[Dreams&Visions]

Was using F-Secure Total (short: FS), which out of sudden repeatedly did not receive database updates (it somewhen did again, with the latest), which seems a global issue (another report here, more on Google), and the VPN was getting slower, rendering my internet connection useless for casual surfing. However, the biggest issue and the reason to abandon it for me was the transition to Avira and maybe the drop of DeepGuard - which is the most important module for me, as stated in the BETA thread here.

As I was previously testing K7 in the HUB, and had it installed on my old machine anyway; I equipped my two laptops as well as my main tower with it after upgrading to Win11 24H2. After clean install, the performance of K7 is absolutley awesome (it is the Infiniti version I purchased a year or more ago, it might use MAT now, too). Plus it feels like install and forget - it autoupdates every hour, and installs new version without notification (seldom in the past, it required a reboot, you will get to know about).
I'm aware that K7 might not be on the level of main AVs, however I feel quite confident with the maxed out settings, Evorim Firewall (which accompanied FS too, and did intercept outbounds FS did miss in testing, too, mainly scriptors, weakness of both K7 and FS). Edge is also configured to non-intrusive but high security, and comes with AdGuard and Bitdefender TrafficLight. Only thing I might be missing is FS Banking Protection. Against ransomware, my machines also enjoy AppCheck AntiRansomware free, however K7s DataLocker is pretty aggressive on processes it does not know, the SmartAnalysis does not work well, you will have to add exclusions for e.g. SoftMaker Office and Edge (if you protect the Download folder) on first run.

EDIT: I'm also using Windscribe VPN, which promises to have both a Firewall as well as R.O.B.E.R.T. (a DNS filter against malware and ads).

 

[Marko :)]

I had to change my vote to 100.
The "you forgot one" really was, is profound. No more issues of a 3rd party AV possibly being glitchy in itself or of causing compatability issues with other non installed Microsoft software.

Since F-Secure lately is like watching a slow motion train wreck, and now that I'm retiring and no longer need the Internet for my work PCs (canceled it 3 days ago) I uninstalled F-Secure and Avira Pro I had on my personal notebooks and am just going to use Windows Security with TrafficLight and Glasswire free on my notebooks I'll be occasionally tethering with my phone, and the coffee shop visits.

I really don't download anything anymore, but am just using what's already on my notebooks and basic everyday browsing to my favorite sites. I do have Proton VPN free installed if I ever want to tunnel a connection on a public wifi hotspot.

So for now, no more AV overkill.

The amount of paranoid people here is crazy! For a community discussing security, one would think people are being reasonable with their security choices but this is just beyond my imagination. People here act like they are the main target of hackers and not the billionaires and companies. In fact, I'd even dare to say many here protect themselves like they are criminals browsing the dark web daily.

You really only need three things to keep your PC protected.
1. reputable and the latest version of web browser with ad blocker installed
2. Windows Defender with SmartScreen enabled
3. Windows Update enabled with the latest security updates installed

You can also set DNS server with malware-blocking capability. But everything else is just waste of money and unnecessary.
For anyone thinking this is nonsense, just ask yourself, how many times did my antivirus software alert me since I bought it?

 

[Captain Awesome]

Was using F-Secure Total (short: FS), which out of sudden repeatedly did not receive database updates (it somewhen did again, with the latest), which seems a global issue (another report here, more on Google), and the VPN was getting slower, rendering my internet connection useless for casual surfing. However, the biggest issue and the reason to abandon it for me was the transition to Avira and maybe the drop of DeepGuard - which is the most important module for me, as stated in the BETA thread here.

As I was previously testing K7 in the HUB, and had it installed on my old machine anyway; I equipped my two laptops as well as my main tower with it after upgrading to Win11 24H2. After clean install, the performance of K7 is absolutley awesome (it is the Infiniti version I purchased a year or more ago, it might use MAT now, too). Plus it feels like install and forget - it autoupdates every hour, and installs new version without notification (seldom in the past, it required a reboot, you will get to know about).
I'm aware that K7 might not be on the level of main AVs, however I feel quite confident with the maxed out settings, Evorim Firewall (which accompanied FS too, and did intercept outbounds FS did miss in testing, too, mainly scriptors, weakness of both K7 and FS). Edge is also configured to non-intrusive but high security, and comes with AdGuard and Bitdefender TrafficLight. Only thing I might be missing is FS Banking Protection. Against ransomware, my machines also enjoy AppCheck AntiRansomware free, however K7s DataLocker is pretty aggressive on processes it does not know, the SmartAnalysis does not work well, you will have to add exclusions for e.g. SoftMaker Office and Edge (if you protect the Download folder) on first run.

EDIT: I'm also using Windscribe VPN, which promises to have both a Firewall as well as R.O.B.E.R.T. (a DNS filter against malware and ads).

K7 is doing great work hope it gets the more global success. I am right now only 40 days left in Kaspersky and then i will move to K7. thank you for testing K7.

 

[TuxTalk]

Eset Smart Security Premium

Did you made any special settings with HIPS or other parts of the software ?
Can you share if so ?

 

[vonvon]

On the main PC Eset smart security, on the laptop Trend Micro maximum security, I don't like having the same antivirus on my two machines in case of a failed update of one of them.
Light and efficient with the addition of Osarmor on both machines.

 

[roger_m]

I'm using the new Avast based Norton 360. It's been light and it's easy to restore and exclude quarantined items that I want to keep. It's far from ideal for my usage, as I would much rather it prompted me when detecting something, rather than auto quarantining it. If I ever find an alternative that offers good protection and asks me before quarantining, I'll switch to that. I never get too attached to one particular antivirus.

 

[simmerskool]

I'm using the new Avast based Norton 360. It's been light and it's easy to exclude restore and exclude quarantined items that I want to keep. It's far from ideal for my usage, as I would much rather it prompted me when detecting something, rather than auto quarantining it. If I ever find an alternative that offers good protection and asks me before quarantining, I'll switch to that. I never get too attached to one particular antivirus.

fwiw I cranked up the Norton VM the other day, ran the updates, etc, when it finished I still had v22.. -- the license is good into April 2025.