antivirus Antivirus for Windows 8 Release Preview?

[theyarecomingforyou]

what are you folks doing on your computers that makes you feel "MSE doesn't perform well"? :/

In independent reviews it doesn't score as highly for removal or detection as paid-for products like Kaspersky or Bitdefender. There's nothing worse than ineffective security as it gives you a false sense of security.

Does anybody have any experience with Bitdefender? The recent comparisons I've seen seem to rank it as one of the best, though I'm always wary as there are so many fake comparison sites designed to get you to buy a particular product.

[Quillz]

So what do people use?

You don't need to use anti-virus software at all. You'd be amazed how far a little common sense when it comes to computers can go in preventing viruses. Frankly, I've never used anti-virus software on Windows at all outside of MSE (now built into Win8) and I've never had a virus or any major issues at all.

[pjak]

"In independent reviews it doesn't score as highly for removal or detection as paid-for products"..."comparison sites designed to get you to buy a particular product"

I think you answered your own question - MSE is free so there isn't much of an incentive to review it...

[theyarecomingforyou]

I think you answered your own question - MSE is free so there isn't much of an incentive to review it...

That simply isn't true. Most of the comprehensive anti-virus tests include the free ones. The lack of reviews isn't the issue.

You don't need to use anti-virus software at all. You'd be amazed how far a little common sense when it comes to computers can go in preventing viruses. Frankly, I've never used anti-virus software on Windows at all outside of MSE (now built into Win8) and I've never had a virus or any major issues at all.

What a ridiculous statement. You say that you don't need any anti-virus software and then go on to say you use MSE. Further, even with good computing practices there are still plenty of vectors for malicious software. There have been plenty of high profile websites that were hacked and ended up distributing malware and viruses to users. There is no doubt that good computer practices can help reduce your chance of infection but that is completely different to suggesting you don't need anti-virus software, which is simply terrible advice.

[Rickkins]

Eset smart security, both firewall and av seem to work fine.

[Sekyal]

I checked and in the Security Center it shows Windows Defender for A/V and spyware so I haven't added a separate a/v program, though usually recommend MSE. I haven't had a virus in several years though.

[UncleSpellbinder]

...I looked at the AV threw the Action Center and found it 45 days out of date. i have to manual update, (after a fresh install) is the normal or should AV updating automatic.

+1

[Detection]

What a ridiculous statement. You say that you don't need any anti-virus software and then go on to say you use MSE. Further, even with good computing practices there are still plenty of vectors for malicious software. There have been plenty of high profile websites that were hacked and ended up distributing malware and viruses to users. There is no doubt that good computer practices can help reduce your chance of infection but that is completely different to suggesting you don't need anti-virus software, which is simply terrible advice.

+1

Not using an AV and claiming common sense are two contradictory statements

[Matthew_Thepc]

That simply isn't true. Most of the comprehensive anti-virus tests include the free ones. The lack of reviews isn't the issue.

by incentive I think he was trying to say that since Microsoft's not making money off of MSE they're most likely not paying any company to review it highly as he's implying other AV companies do. Or, at least, that's how I read it :p

[Quillz]

What a ridiculous statement. You say that you don't need any anti-virus software and then go on to say you use MSE.

Well, it's true. You don't technically need anti-virus software at all. I would recommend it in most cases, and I also feel that MSE/Defender is more than adequate for my needs. But, for as long as I have been using Windows, even with very little anti-virus protection on my computer, I have never once had a major virus, worm or malware. Obviously, your mileage may vary.

EDIT: I certainly see your point, though. There have been a number of websites and what not that distributed malware.

[Astrum]

Well, it's true. You don't technically need anti-virus software at all. I would recommend it in most cases, and I also feel that MSE/Defender is more than adequate for my needs. But, for as long as I have been using Windows, even with very little anti-virus protection on my computer, I have never once had a major virus, worm or malware. Obviously, your mileage may vary.

Microsoft is definitely putting consumer focus out of AV-functions in Win8, in the direction you are talking about. I'm kinda that way of thinking as well. To my big surprise couple of weeks ago I got infected in Win7-x64 with updated MSE on board. Thanks God I did noticed, as viruses these days tend to stay in a shadow. Used few tools to remove it, but good-old "nuke from orbit" move returned my peace of mind.

I would say anyone must use good protection with Windows OS, which is probably someting more than just default setup. Because you never know.

[Wakers]

The thing is, if another program has a security flaw (Flash, Java) that is bad and allows a pretty comprehensive, then pretty much no AV will be able to catch it unless it's been around long enough for the definitions to be updated to catch every possible variation of the virus.

There is no av out there that will protect you from every virus.

[ViperAFK]

The thing is, if another program has a security flaw (Flash, Java) that is bad and allows a pretty comprehensive, then pretty much no AV will be able to catch it unless it's been around long enough for the definitions to be updated to catch every possible variation of the virus.

There is no av out there that will protect you from every virus.

Yep, I clean viruses off people's computers all the time, and most of the infected machines have a fully updated av.

[er0n]

I checked and in the Security Center it shows Windows Defender for A/V and spyware so I haven't added a separate a/v program, though usually recommend MSE. I haven't had a virus in several years though.

Ever heard of short-lived infections?

You think you haven't had a virus for several years. In fact, it's very likely that you have had several infections during this period. They just sat their silently for a few seconds, minutes or hours, collected your data and then deleted themselves. By the time you had downloaded your signatures to detect the infections, they had already deleted themselves and your resume is being sold to identity thieves on IRC for $1.

Any AV solution that needs to download updates is always out-of-date, leaving you exposed to infections. Do a Google search for software vulnerabilities or legitimate web-sites carrying infections if you're wondering how you could have been infected.

[theyarecomingforyou]

Personally I'm looking forward to updated anti-virus solutions for Metro, as they'll be able to make use of the new notification system. In fact I wish that Microsoft had simply moved tooltips from the system tray to the new notification area that appears in the top-right as such functionality should be centralised.

[grayscale]

May I ask:

I'm used to having the right click -> scan by ESET and other AVs. How do I do a quick scan on Windows Defender?

[mduren2445]

Panda Cloud antivirus seems to work ok

[Vandalsquad]

+1

Not using an AV and claiming common sense are two contradictory statements

Haven't used an AV since Xp Sp2. 5 years or longer now, never been infected.

So yes Commonsense 2012 is fine if your capable of installing a preview of Windows 8 and have half an idea about what you're doing..

[Wakers]

Can I just say; If you haven't been using an AV for several years, and then follow that up with the term "never been infected" you're talking ********.

Mostly because if you don't have an AV, you will not know if you've been infected or not. Not every virus makes it obvious that it's there - infact most try to hide themselves as thoroughly as possible.

So you may not be wrong, but you have absolutely 0% way of knowing either way.

[neo1911]

Avast free edition is working fine.

[butilikethecookie]

Just use MSE. I've been using it since I got W7. Seams to work really well. I use it with Spybot S&D just to make sure....