I'm sick and tired of prompts and windows popping up from internet security suites like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Panda, etc etc. I just kind had it with them, so I uninstalled the Suite, put a free AV in (Avira) turned Windows Firewall back on, plus I got the hardware firewall from my router. Is this reckless or is it enough? Please only reply if you got experience with computer security

Windows Firewall is a lot better than it used to be so I wouldn't say it's reckless, but I'd still take Bitdefender over it any day. If you are using an OS that allows a custom hosts file, that is a quick, easy, and unobtrusive way to both speed up your system and reduce harmful web interactions that you might otherwise miss.

If you don't know much about security, have someone who does take a look at your hardware firewall and optimize it for you.

I hated bitdefender, i use windows as a user not admin, bitdefender would frequently lock me from making significant changes to the software policy unless I relogged as admin. I had issues with games, programs all kinds of things. I'm dont want to do a 2 hour course on how to use a program just so I can have it operate normally

I've used bitdefender as a non-admin user for several years now, never had issues like you describe. In fact, I've only ever got windows prompts and windows firewall prompts for things.

If you're behind a hardware firewall and use the windows firewall + use a non-admin account for day-to-day usage + a reputable AV vendor (see av-test.org rankings), you're basically fine.

If you're super paranoid, grab an extra browser like Opera, enable its VPN, and disable Flash/JavaScript in that one browser. For any risky browsing, use the locked down browser.

For files you're not sure about, throw them in virustotal before downloading. If it's a huge file, just get the hash output and search that. (This is massively easy with Bash for Windows installed)

ETA

I'm probably not a security expert, but I do work in the industry, have a tech degree, have specialized training, etc. Doesn't mean you should 100% take my word for anything ldo

Windows firewall is typically fine as a software firewall. Your main source of ingress (incoming) and egress (outgoing) protection is going to be your hardware firewall, which typically will be your consumer router for home users. Now, these typically are not very robust or configurable, but combined with anti virus and being smart on the internet, they're typically fine.

If you're on the techie side I highly recommend getting an old desktop computer, getting an intel PCI Network Interface Card with at least one gigabit ethernet port, and setting it up as a PFSense router/firewall, which is far more robust and configurable than consumer grade routers with built in firewalls. But even then, how good your network security is, both on the LAN and WAN side, ultimately comes down to your firewall rule set.

You are probably better off behaving online in a way that won’t invite trouble and then you are fine with windows 10. For 7, think about upgrading or install security essentials. Supplement with mbam scans manually/periodically and make sure you are getting zero detections. Use chrome and *********** and watch that you don’t install unecessary extensions.

If you have compliance needs like you are using a business computer to also be your personal computer, maybe rethink your setup.

If you must go to some risky sites or just don’t know the difference, get a sandbox like sandboxie or a vm so you don’t natively go to those sites outside of a virtual jail. If you can’t stop yourself from porn surfing, buy a used iPad so you don’t risk your pc.

Uninstall Avira for just about anything else immediately

* not sure why it blocked out ad block plus from gmbh

2p2 filters that for dat ad revenue

Ah ty, for the record it can be toggled off but most sites that detect you are using block just give you a pop asking to turn it off to view the content if they have a problem with it.

Man, abp is turrible. If u want to block ads of nefarious origin, there are better extensions out there.

Also Avira is top rated. Why uninstall it? You seem to be thinking this is like five years ago when it’s not.

Agree with the first statement.

As far as Avira, I think there's been some shadiness like what has been seen with AVG and also I think Avast in terms of advertising parternships with **** like Ask toolbar.
https://www.dslreports.com/forum/r25...zeware-Vendors

Of course then there's a whole other level of shadiness like Comodo, and Kasperky.


http://www.securityweek.com/comodo-b...gle-researcher

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2887...-security.html


https://arstechnica.com/information-...r-nsa-secrets/

AllCows, which AV do you use?

I use BitDefender's free AV.
https://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html

I also use MalwareBytes Anti-Exploit which is very good, but the free version of it unfornately does not protect against .pdf viewer exploits, LibreOffice and Microsoft Office exploits, or media player exploits. It does protect against web browser and java exploits though which is good.


Looking on their website, it looks like they're integrating Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit into their paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, but they have a standalone free beta version that you can get if you sign up on their forums.
https://www.malwarebytes.com/antiexploit/

It's a very good piece of software, I've tested it myself with metasploit and multiple exploits.

Ah, I also got Malwarebytes premium, which I forgot to mention. It has a real time scanner so I think I should be fine with:

-Avira free AV (2016 Best AV according to AV-Comparatives)
-Windows Firewall
-My Router firewall
-Malware Bytes premium (which I have no problem paying for every year)

You'd even be fine doing away with Avira imo.

And use Bitdefender free AV? I'm running avira full scan now and it has found over 100 things so far

How many of those 100 things are cookies?

MBAM is basically antivirus as it uses file signature based detection, in addition to the exploit protection you get with Anti-Exploit built in to the premium version. You'd be just fine with the last three things alone on your list imo, but you're fine with all four as well.

Interested in the answer to the previous question however.

Avira is known for its false positives.

Windows firewall + any AV + don't do dumb **** = plenty of security

Gabethebabe re cookies do you use ccleaner?

I use ccleaner to now and then clean up ****, yes

I somehow got on a newer version of BitDefender, which inexplicably shuts off and won't update randomly. No clue why. Looked into uninstalling and their site says it requires a special program to do.

So, kinda done with them.

Put Avira on after checking av-test.org for win10 programs. Not entirely sure if the free version is the same as the version listed on the site, it's kinda confusing. The free version does show popups every 2 days with no easy way to disable it. I guess it's possible on Win7 to do, but I cbf to figure it out on 10.

Curious what other good, tested free AV there is out there, or if I should just trust Chrome to keep me safe like many recent articles are suggesting?

Going from BD to Avira - confirmed Noodle move.

Bitdefender Free version installs its own root certificate.

You can turn it off with the paid version, but for the free version it is automatic. Sigh. I liked the interface and it is light on resources.