Best Antivirus Protections?

Phyllis, just A/V isn't enough these days. Thousands of new variants of malware are released weekly, so it is impossible for vendors to keep up. You would be unhappy with any solution you install. Also Malwarebytes is intended to augment your security solution. It does not replace AVG or other A/V program. Companies have to use a layered security approach and home users need to do so also.

That said, don't pay for anti-malware software. Use one of the free ones, like AVG, MS Defender, or other one. Run Malewarebytes free once a week. Use Bluecoat K9 (http://www1.k9webprotection.com/) and/or OpenDNS (https://www.opendns.com/) to dynamically block know malware and phishing sites.

Uninstall the "malware magnets", JAVA, Flash Player, and the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Most of us don't need JAVA. I haven't had it on any machines for over a year. Some still need Flash, if you find you do make sure to keep it updated. And the Adobe Reader can be replaced with more secure free alternatives like the PDF XChange Viewer (http://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-viewer).

Malewarebytes is only free for one week now, Chuck.....it's not picking up my problem either..I wonder if premium is better.....???

Marlene make sure you download the Free version and not the Premium. Premium gives you a trial period. The Free version never expires. https://www.malwarebytes.org/

As far as catching malware, they are both the same database and engine.

Marlene perhaps tell us what problem you have that you cannot fix?

Free AVG is good, but need to keep the definitions updated. Also be careful what you install and how you install it. Many things come with added junk. I always do a "custom" install if it's provided. Yes it says for Advance Users, but I find that as a scare tactic to deter one from unchecking added junk that they want you not to do. Like not having a program run at start up or tool bars you don't need/want, etc.

I use a group of freebies:

Avast Free Virus Protection
http://www.avast.com/en-us/index

Windows 7 Firewall Control
http://windows7-firewall-control.en.softonic.com/

Zemana Anti-logger
http://www.zemana.com/product/antilogger-free/overview/

The above all run themselves, automatically. Plus I run Malwarebytes as part of my regular, weekly, maintenance and system clean-up.
https://www.malwarebytes.org/

Like Charly, I always choose Custom setup!

http://www.avast.com/en-us/index I find is great.

So the freebies are good enough? Well I have been wasting my money obviously! These programs, do they actually block a virus or malware attack or just give you the tools to remove it after the fact?

All I can say is that Norton and McAfee are not worth the money or the headache they give you. I use MS Defender and Malwarebyttes. You really have to watch Adobe which keeps trying to install McAfee on your machine.

@Phyllis... hi.. just make sure you understand the value of free advice ;O)

I don't have all the answers. But, I was in the computer business for 30 years, for what that's worth.

IMHO Norton, Symantec, AVG, McAfee etc are no longer very effective and not worth the hassle. I don't use any of them. Windows 8.1 has Defender built in, which is of some value, although it's not even as effective as the commercial products.

I run MalwareBytes every now and then.

Mainly, I don't visit any dodgy web sites, download any "free" cr@p, and don't bite on phishing scams. And while I could get nailed tomorrow, it hasn't happened in years.

Chuck, I did download the free version last week and it expires Wednesday. My computer is dragging....on the rare ocassion that i have to use IE, other searches pop up...I clean them out, they return.
Malwarebytes tells me everything is fine but I know better.

"My computer is dragging....on the rare ocassion that i have to use IE, other searches pop up...I clean them out, they return."

What do you mean by 'searches pop up'? Do you know what they're called or related to?
What size is your hard drive and how much free space do you have?
What OS are you running?
Have you done regular maintenance? i.e. dump cache, history, temp files, defrag, etc?
When in Task Manager how many programs are running at start up?
How much RAM do you have?

Answers to these questions could help us assist you. There are many variables involved and the more info you can provide the better.

~ Charly

Thanks Charly,
I maintain daily..a little ocd about it.....something grabbed onto google and IE ( particularly) and when I do a search, new windows pop up taking me to urls I didn't search for....can't think of the names right now but I remove them regularly. Right now, all I have is Astromenda and all the directions I've read do not work...it is not listed as a program...I don't know what other names it is using.

I have 288 GBfree space. Intel Core i3, 4 gigs
Running windows 7....all drivers are up to date,
I do have lots of programs for start up...but I've added nothign recently and the speed just punked out on me with these searches popping up.....

I will agree with all those who posted AVAST! I worked in IT for our county government at one time and none of the others seemed to detect or keep the viruses away. I tried out many of them. Some with similar names to the real product and found that they were virus programs that you could not get rid of. AVAST is now on all of my computers. Couple things people don't know about AVAST, the free version does almost everything the full version does. They just don't want you to know that. Shhhhhhhhhhhh!

Here's what I'd suggest trying:

1. Go into preferences/settings of all programs that don't need to run at start up (i.e. programs you rarely use or don't need running all the time) and uncheck the box for start up or run at start up. Programs running that you don't need at start up are a huge hit on your resources and nowadays 4GB of RAM isn't much especially if you're using editing software. RAM is cheap and I'd recommend everyone using close to the max their computer will run according to manufacturer specifications

2. Remove/uninstall any programs you don't use in Control Panel (be cautious as some programs need to be removed differently then just "remove" from Add/Remove" in Control Panel i.e. Norton A/V some years back needed a special tool; maybe different now. So it's best to look it up to be sure or you might have leftover stuff)

3. (bare with me here, don't have PC near by) Go into IE tools > internet and delete all cookies, cache, history, temp files, etc. Also be sure that it can only use 50MB or a bit less of memory and keeps history for a day or two (Personally I have refused to use IE under any circumstance for the past 12 or so yrs. FireFox is my browser of choice)

4. Shut down computer, unplug it, remove battery if laptop, wait 10 min. or longer. Then plug it back in, put battery in if laptop and start it up.

Just maybe you'll catch what's causing the issue following this since you don't have any names. One malware that is really a bugger is Next.me Just last week I fixed a friend's PC with it. And there are many others of course, since idiots think it's fun messing with people's computers via bad chit :(

Honestly, I got so tired of messing with PC's, I bought a Mac that I haven't messed with once in over 5 yrs. :)

~ Charly

Thx Charly.
I'm sure it's Astromenda.

You're welcome Marlene

If that's the case, I looked this over and seems to be a good source to follow. Caveat: I don't install things that are recommended to help remove malware, cuz 9 times out of 10 they are NOT free. Thus you can't remove anything unless you pay :(

Remove Astromenda Search

I'd still suggest doing what I previously posted if you haven't done so in awhile to get your start up count lower

Good Luck!

~ Charly

@Phyllis -- Visit the links I posted and read about what each program has to offer.

I'm a computer and network tech and software specialist (no longer in the corporate world), who regularly downloads, installs, tests, and deletes 'stuff' on my system. Even with that risky behavior, it's been several years (at least) since I've had more than a minor problem.

I agree with Jim that the big name companies -- Norton, etc. -- are no longer the cat's meow. There are many reliable, well-tested and highly-reviewed options out there. Avast has been my preference for five or six years now. But, any anti-virus program (app) is most effective as part of a protection 'team'.

http://download.cnet.com/1770-20_4-0.html?query=avast&platform=Windows&searchtype=downloads

Phyllis,

A couple of people have recommended Avast, those folks know what they are talking about.

I use Avast for free as well. The reviews on C-Net might help you.

Dave

I thought using multiple antivirus programs was a no no and negated one another. Do you just install all of them after turning off the firewall?

I have gone back to Microsoft free antivirus software with my windows7 and so far no problems that I know of, in fact the antivirus programs McAfee, Norton caused problems, which seem to be fixed now. I also started using Firefox exclusively. I started cleaning my computer (Microsoft cleaner, so far it appears to do a great job) almost daily and has improved the speed of my computer.

Thank you everyone, I appreciate your time and knowledge!

Thanks everyone for the links and advice. I will look into each one and decide. Marlene, hope that your problem is solved.

Marlene: get rid of IE. There is really no reason to use it at all now. It is the source of those issues. I have uninstalled it on my laptop and desktop. It is the least secure and attracts every malware and virus out there. Firefox/Mozilla is pretty secure and has Ad Block plugins. Google Chrome is good as well.

Uninstall IE, run a restore and you should be good to go. Also, check your programs and uninstall anything that looks odd-if you have any doubts, Google whatever it is you're questioning.

Louise, my problem is my aol....I've had it for 20 years and all of my OLDER business e mails are so categorized....I can't access anything that's in a folder via another server....
I only go there for emergencies and business reasons these days, but don't know how else to manage. I've tried transferring numerous times to no avail.

Charly, thanks for the link...I've been there, last week as I recall...many of the steps do not work. ;(
I'm going nowhere these days so it doesn't matter....and once I retire fulltime, I won't need those aol files either.

Well dang it, sorry that didn't work for you. :( If you have removed/uninstalled Astromenda thru Control Panel & IE and it still shows up, then my best guess is there's a left over in your Start Up.

Going to send you an email :)

It cannot be removed via it's name because it doesn't show up as a program on my list...but it is the default search engine now and cannot be removed.

Marlene, is this any help? http://lavasoft.com/mylavasoft/company/blog/how-to-remove-astromenda-search-from-your-browser

I use AOL email as well since it's been my go-to since 1997, but it's never in IE. You can change the default easily enough to Mozilla or another browser by going to preferences under add/remove programs. If you sign into AOL via another browser, your saved files should be there regardless-if not then they aren't saved in AOL at all. They could be in Outlook, but that too is not dependent on any one browser-it's within your computer.

Louise,
My aol mail, once categorized in folders cannot be seen unless I open the full aol software.
Paul, the problem is Astromenda is not listed as a program.

Marlene, at the end of the article I posted it mentions "if you are still having problems" to edit the registry, have you deleted all entries from the registry? - create a restore point before editing the registry though :)

OMG, Paul, it worked! I am cautiously optomistic but things are purring at this end right now.....thank you and Charly and all the others who helped....the registry held the secret!

Phyllis, thank you for your patience while I got resolution to my issue....that said, I run Avast and Malwarebytes daily and neither picked up this problem....such a nasty little pest!!

Drinks on me, everyone!

Yeah! I am so happy that you are good to go Marlene...I love the help so freely given in this site.

Glad I could help, I've had problems with unwanted search bars in the past - a right pain the bum

My wife tends to pick up search bars, and seems not to realize how she's getting them. In general, ALWAYS be very careful where you download your programs from. Go to the source company whenever possible, not a "download" site.
Even at "reputable" sites, you will often find that the defaults with a download can cause havoc. For example, if you download Adobe PDF reader, or a JAVA update, Adobe and Oracle push default downloads on you, such as perhaps McAfee anti virus, AVG, the ASK browser search tool bar. Using multiple anti-virus programs can cause many conflicts and headaches. Many of the "Free Trial" software programs touted on this site's discussions may be particularly likely to bring unwanted software along for the ride.

So download stuff only when its worth the risk, and carefully read the defaults. Go slow, and uncheck optional software you don't actually need.

I can't help but refer everyone back to my post early in the discussion. I've been doing the things in my post for a long time and never get any malware. Bluecoat K9 and OpenDNS use data that is collected from their corporate customers. It's trustworthy, free, and goes much farther to block malicious sites than your AV could ever do by itself. At the very least, visit their web sites and read up on what they can do for you.

And I'm adamant about getting rid of things like JAVA and Flash Player. A recent security report I read said that JAVA is the most targeted piece of software by malware writers and that JAVA exploits are only increasing. It's why I call the Flash Player, Adobe Reader, and JAVA, malware magnets.

It's all about reducing the attack surface. And none of this requires any real technical knowledge or expertise.

Greg also gave some good advice about what to watch for when downloading stuff.

I tried switching to Linux. It was great for my son, who doesn't need much.
I thought it would be fine for my wife, but the killer was iTunes, which is not supported,
and some specialized hardware like FitBit. And I use photoshop and lightroom, which I can't live without.
So I ended up changing back to WinDoze.

But malware, etc are barely a problem in Linux. So if you use Gimp, consider a switch to Linux. Problem solved.

Linux is still far too much of a hacker/techie operating system. Unless you get a Mac. Apple has Linux down pat.

Chuck, what do you use instead of java?