Stop Paying For Anti-Virus

Jim Kim

2[H]4U
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May 24, 2012
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We all know the best av is your finger. If you don't click the link, read the email or open the attachment you're probably safe. But for those times when your finger does something it's not supposed to do there are Anti-Virus programs, both free and paid, that are supposed to stop bad things from happening. This article says the default av that ships with windows is more than sufficient.
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3434097/why-you-can-stop-paying-for-antivirus-software.html
 
I recently read that Microsoft's built-in anti-virus/anti-malware is one of if not the best solution out there right now.

The crazy part for me too is that Dell still includes shit like McAfee with every computer they sell... it always surprises me when I see it because I keep wondering how they are still in business when there are so many free solutions that are not only better but don't screw up the performance of your system. But I know that the majority of people who buy retail never install Windows fresh to get rid of their bloatware. Lots of people I am sure still think they need that stuff though.
 
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For enterprise systems there is still a use case for endpoint anti virus. And really it has to do with compliance for several type of business certifications as well. Not to mention for keeping joe user from doing stupid things on a locked down business computer.
 
Some consumer Anti-Virus (looking at you, McAfee) have just become scareware platforms to peddle more of their suite using fear and ignorance to fuel cross-sales.

Case in point: I got a series of panicked pings from my sister last week because McAfee's Security "scan" had revealed her network was "insecure." Granted network security is never 100% secure, her network hardware is relatively modern and using WPA2 encryption on her Wi-Fi. She sent over a screenshot of the warning, and it said "1 threat found" in a big bold red header. When she drilled down on the alert, it simply referred her to McAfee's VPN service... If she hadn't talked to me, she would have been suckered into buying something she doesn't really need under the guise that it will solve all her network security problems, and we all know there are zero silver bullets in that regard.
 
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Some consumer Anti-Virus (looking at you, McAfee) have just become scareware platforms to peddle more of their suite using fear and ignorance to fuel cross-sales.

Case in point: I got a series of panicked pings from my sister last week because McAfee's Security "scan" had revealed her network was "insecure." Granted network security is never 100% secure, her network hardware is relatively modern and using WPA2 encryption on her Wi-Fi. She sent over a screenshot of the warning, and it said "1 threat found" in a big bold red header. When she drilled down on the alert, it simply refers her to McAfee's VPN service... If she hadn't talked to me, she would have been suckered into buying something she doesn't really need under the guise that it will solve all her network security problems, and we all know there are zero silver bullets in that regard.


Wow... just wow. I worked for McAfee for a while doing enterprise support. The enterprise software is MUCH better and doesn't pull shit like that. But if your system is under powered it will highlight it. You need to know what you are doing and want to do to configure the endpoint security to let your programs run at full speed.

Though now I am curious as to how good/fast McAfee's VPN service is.

Where I work today we are using a cloud based end point security solution and it's just stupid.
 
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I managed (among other things) McAfee ePO for a government agency , its a decent product and i never had any issue with false alerts or false positives , at most it required exceptions for better performance in application specific usage (like SQL Server ,web service IIS etc.)
client side deployments are transparent and painless and the policy management is very nice.

for my home PCs, common sense , not giving admin privileges to my users (aka children/wife) and Windows built in virus scan are sufficient for me
 
We all know the best av is your finger. If you don't click the link, read the email or open the attachment you're probably safe. But for those times when your finger does something it's not supposed to do there are Anti-Virus programs, both free and paid, that are supposed to stop bad things from happening. This article says the default av that ships with windows is more than sufficient.
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3434097/why-you-can-stop-paying-for-antivirus-software.html


 
I just use MSE. No reason to pay for Anti Virus, its always been a rip off.
 
I don't trust Microsoft because of their crap updates and BS with telemetry so I'm in the market for a different AV program. Paid if necessary....

How much do I have to pay in order to NOT be spied on?
 
Some consumer Anti-Virus (looking at you, McAfee) have just become scareware platforms to peddle more of their suite using fear and ignorance to fuel cross-sales.

Case in point: I got a series of panicked pings from my sister last week because McAfee's Security "scan" had revealed her network was "insecure." Granted network security is never 100% secure, her network hardware is relatively modern and using WPA2 encryption on her Wi-Fi. She sent over a screenshot of the warning, and it said "1 threat found" in a big bold red header. When she drilled down on the alert, it simply referred her to McAfee's VPN service... If she hadn't talked to me, she would have been suckered into buying something she doesn't really need under the guise that it will solve all her network security problems, and we all know there are zero silver bullets in that regard.

Yep, this is unfortunately the majority of PC/Mac users.

I went to an undergraduate class yesterday at a major university, 50k+ student university. I sat in the way back of the lecture hall with 300+ students. For shits and giggles I looked at everybodys computer screen (Only looked at the top of the screen) and saw that the majority of them had these devices over their laptop camera or a sticker over it. Easily 70+ people.... Good on a company to capitalize on the fear of someone spying on them through the camera but... Yeah.....
 
Since there's no av for Linux, who knows if you're infected. Security by obscurity won't last, just ask Mac users ;).

I thought Linux was the anti virus?


Anyone use PCMatic? I always see commercials for it.
 
I never made a point of using antivirus software at all since the late 90s for myself. I let Windows Defender install when it was added to Windows update though.

Home clients on the other hand, endless infections in XP and Windows 7 no matter what antivirus software they used. In the enterprise, standard user accounts in Win7 and F-Secure wasn't too bad.

That all changed with Windows 10 and Defender. I don't see anywhere near the amount of infections that I used to. When I do, its malware infested Chrome extensions.
 
I don't trust Microsoft because of their crap updates and BS with telemetry so I'm in the market for a different AV program. Paid if necessary....

How much do I have to pay in order to NOT be spied on?

More than you can afford. Data mining is a trillion dollar industry...

Maybe this would do it...
image.jpg
 
People who say you don't need AV probably don't have to be tech support for friends and family (and/or the elderly).

NOD32 or bitdefender or kaspersky are like $5-10 on ebay. Huge fan of Eset/NOD32, tiny install and very easy on resources. Agree that McAfee is total crap and Norton isn't much better. And as someone who has had to rebuild systems for all kinds of friends/family with nasty viruses because they don't know better to NOT click on porn links, or "free games", or hijack trojans (I'm looking at YOU, mother in law).... spend the $10 sheesh.

Defender has gotten better over the years and it is better than nothing, agreed.

Malwarebytes is great for that crowd too... but they know they have a good product because I can never find good deals on it. If you can find it under $20 you've done well.

I snuck my mother an Ubuntu build once and she just couldn't deal with it. She called me every night for like 3 weeks and Ijust gave up and installed Win.
 
I recently read that Microsoft's built-in anti-virus/anti-malware is one of if not the best solutions out there right now.

The crazy part for me too is that Dell still includes shit like McAfee with every computer they sell... it always surprises me when I see it because I keep wondering how they are still in business when there are so many free solutions that are not only better but don't screw up the performance of your system. But I know that the majority of people who buy retail never install Windows fresh to get rid of their bloatware. Lots of people I am sure still think they need that stuff though.
that's odd I have 13 laptops/tablets from Dell consumer and business side and not one of them came with any av software installed. latest\ purchase was a inspiron 7577which offered a 12month mcafee sub but was not installed
 
Mentioned above, but the few I've used recently (paid and free) were all just ad machines. Always trying to heavily push other services.

I 'm definitely going all defender and maybe malwarebytes or a firewall/monitor type of thing depending on the machine.
 
I actually pay for NOD32 and use Malwarebytes Free.

I visit nefarious sites though and all the free ones I've tried either spam you as others have said or let stuff through.
 
We all know the best av is your finger. If you don't click the link, read the email or open the attachment you're probably safe. But for those times when your finger does something it's not supposed to do there are Anti-Virus programs, both free and paid, that are supposed to stop bad things from happening. This article says the default av that ships with windows is more than sufficient.
https://www.pcworld.com/article/3434097/why-you-can-stop-paying-for-antivirus-software.html

The av software is at large useless today, and microsoft forfront/whatever its called today is also sh*t. The challenges have changed, as the way 'virus' work.

Most common 'viruses' botnets etc per say, are contained within website (execution of java scripts), and the browser (addons etc.)
The landscape has changed dramatically, and its now on Firefox, and Google to protect people.
The landscpe:
Certain java scripts are capable of penetrating the system, or systems browser being used while the page is open to join botnet. Penetrating system how? execution of normal batch or powershell scripts like open website / send email with something etc, scheduling a task in task scheduler. Those won't trigger any anti-virus software. You do not need a keylogger software to operate passwords anymore, you just take a copy of their user data rom containing them from chrome or firefox (those include the temp certs to your banks etc).
0 security, and you get everything.

( I have never done anything as such, and i am against such actions)
- but plenty of guys like to show off on IRC channels, and boards.
A hacker wants money? it never been easier... create online bank account for random ssn from pastebin, make a deposit of couple cents (through some cheap-ass crypto or gift card), register paypal, get ebay account - sell non-existent item to yourself, buy crypto or something else with money on paypal - or transfer to 3rd account, open a case against that account that you didn't receive item (do not respond on 2nd account), within a week you double your money. The more of those you create, the more you can potentially rake in. (its automated, no human actually looks at it - if 2nd party doesn't respond within time.)

Why bother? There are currently almost no viruses in the way we remember viruses. There are only governments playing those, so unless there's something they want - you won't get a virus - and even if you do you won't notice it - as your system, and all your software by default is already spying on you.
 
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People who say you don't need AV probably don't have to be tech support for friends and family (and/or the elderly).

NOD32 or bitdefender or kaspersky are like $5-10 on ebay. Huge fan of Eset/NOD32, tiny install and very easy on resources. Agree that McAfee is total crap and Norton isn't much better. And as someone who has had to rebuild systems for all kinds of friends/family with nasty viruses because they don't know better to NOT click on porn links, or "free games", or hijack trojans (I'm looking at YOU, mother in law).... spend the $10 sheesh.

Defender has gotten better over the years and it is better than nothing, agreed.

Malwarebytes is great for that crowd too... but they know they have a good product because I can never find good deals on it. If you can find it under $20 you've done well.

I snuck my mother an Ubuntu build once and she just couldn't deal with it. She called me every night for like 3 weeks and Ijust gave up and installed Win.

what did she need to do that she needed Windows?
 
I used BitDefender for a couple years until it caused constant crashes once I moved to Windows 10. Now, I just use Windows Defender. Never heard of Malwarebytes. Think I'll look it up.

I run a few versions of Linux on my laptop (Dell XPS 13 9380). Haven't made the move to Linux on my desktop, yet.
 
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what did she need to do that she needed Windows?

It was never ending...just too different for her. Couldn't get her online puzzle web site game to work (I'm guessing a flash plugin problem)... didn't like the free office alternative (i forget which one, libre maybe), wifi kept disconnecting and couldn't figure out anything because it was different. etc etc. But she's old and resistant to change... oh she cried her eyes out when her win 7 upgraded itself to 10. But at least she can (mostly) use 10. Couldn't get her printer working, scanner, etc. Also I can remote support that with teamviewer etc but not so much on linux. Her much beloved Hoyle card/board games didn't work...etc.

If someone in the linux world could come up with something that looked just like win 7 with same menus etc that would be great, but then MS would sue them into oblivion. (and yes I am aware of a build that looks sorta like Win 7 but I forget the name)

The short answer is, don't set elderly parents in front of a linux desktop and expect miracles to happen. If you're reading this forum, we could probably find a workaround to most problems/issues/compatibilty. Trying to walk my 70 yr old mother through anything in linux on the phone made me want to kill myself.

I've tried to get them all to buy macs (which I won't support, LOL) but they cost too much, even old used ones

edit - this is all off topic anyway, I'm sure there's a forum for why the elderly can't use linux
 
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I work in IT and to be honest I find M$'s security software to be a pain in the butt sometimes. And more often then not it doesn't work.
 
I recently read that Microsoft's built-in anti-virus/anti-malware is one of if not the best solutions out there right now.

The crazy part for me too is that Dell still includes shit like McAfee with every computer they sell... it always surprises me when I see it because I keep wondering how they are still in business when there are so many free solutions that are not only better but don't screw up the performance of your system. But I know that the majority of people who buy retail never install Windows fresh to get rid of their bloatware. Lots of people I am sure still think they need that stuff though.

they include it because they are being paid under the table to include it.... not because they are your friend.
 
https://www.malwarebytes.com/

Be careful if you type the URL... I know years ago that a few mispelled versions when to bad/fake websites.
Malwarebytes got the .com a few years ago since it was "teh nasty" and peeps can't seem to type .org;)
Windows Defender + Malwarebytes, you're good.
Kaspersky Free and lifetime mbam here. Once i have my customers install Malwarebytes there issues disappear.
 
I've never used 3rd party AV software ... but many do ... small wonder why so many are so easy to scam in other ways as well
 
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