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Best free antivirus

Dave Farquhar security September 9, 2016September 7, 20161990s, antivirus, antivirus software, AV, Free Antivirus, google, malware, microsoft, microsoft security, Microsoft Security Essentials, scanner, security essentials, Task Manager, Windows 10, windows 7 3 Comments

What’s the best free antivirus? I have an answer that may surprise you. I also have a supplement that may surprise you. And I have a third supplement you already have but probably never heard of.

Keep something in mind. I don’t like using words like “good” and “best” in the same sentence as antivirus software. Imagine a college graduating class whose valedictorian is Chris Farley’s character from the movie Tommy Boy. What you want from your antivirus software is something that doesn’t do a lot of damage.

Microsoft Security Essentials alerts – don’t call “Microsoft”

Dave Farquhar scams, security May 16, 2016August 22, 2017Fraud, microsoft, microsoft security, Microsoft Security Essentials, phone, security essentials, web page

Last Tuesday night my oldest son came into the room and told me he thought one of our computers was being hacked. So I kicked into incident response mode and walked into the other room to be greeted with a computer loudly telling me that Microsoft Security Essentials was unable to clean a virus and to immediately call Microsoft.

Instead I immediately shut down the computer. Here’s why.

Simple tips to prevent ransomware

Dave Farquhar security March 8, 2016April 23, 2017adobe, antivirus, EMET, Exploit, Free Antivirus, internet explorer, java, malware, malwarebytes, Malwarebytes Anti Exploit, microsoft, microsoft security, Microsoft Security Essentials, oracle, PDF, proxy, Proxy server, psi, secunia, security essentials, server, vector, Windows 10, windows 7

Last week at work, I noticed some odd events in an event log, and when I investigated them, I found they were part of a failed ransomware attack. This got me thinking about how to prevent ransomware at home.

Ransomware, if you aren’t familiar, is an attack that encrypts your data and demands a ransom, usually around $300, in bitcoins, and you get a short deadline until it destroys your files. More often than not, paying the ransom is the only way to get the files back, so it’s much better to prevent it.

Windows Vista’s market share is growing. After seeing 8.1, I know why

Dave Farquhar Software, Windows August 13, 2014April 15, 2017acer, amazon, citrix, COA, compaq, dell, EMET, hard drive, hp, microsoft, microsoft security, Microsoft Security Essentials, OEM, PC, security essentials, Service Pack, upgrade, vista, VPN, windows 7, windows 8, Windows Vista

I installed Windows Vista last week. I need a legal copy of a supported version of Windows to use to VPN in to work and run the corporate Citrix client. Vista fit the bill. It’s better than 8.1, and it’s supported until April 2017. I always hated Vista, but 8 and 8.1 made me realize it could have been a lot worse, and on recent hardware Vista does OK. It still prompts you for admin rights too much and too slowly and makes you work too hard to click yes, but at least you can find stuff. Read more

Things to do for your relatives’ computers this Christmas

Dave Farquhar security December 5, 2013April 17, 20172 gb, acrobat, adobe, antivirus, antivirus scanner, antivirus software, christmas, Classic Shell, CPU, Cryptolocker, EMET, firewall, Firmware, GB, hard drive, hosts, java, linux, microsoft, microsoft security, Microsoft Security Essentials, motherboard, MSE, new hardware, New Year, oracle, psi, RAM, religion, router, routers, Run Windows Update, scanner, secunia, security essentials, ssd, windows 7, windows 8, Windows Update, Windows XP, WRT

I wish I’d posted this last week, since many of us see one set of relatives at Thanksgiving and a different set at Christmas (and perhaps New Year’s). Here are things you can do as preventative maintenance for relatives whose computers could use a little help. Read more

Give your antivirus software a workout

Dave Farquhar security June 4, 2013antivirus, antivirus software, executable file, microsoft, microsoft security, Microsoft Security Essentials, PC, pc magazine, security essentials

Via PC Magazine, I found the AMTSO website, which is designed to test your antivirus software for proper operation. I think this is good for two reasons. One, it gives you a chance to see if antivirus software is operating properly. Two, it gives you a chance to see how your browser and antivirus software behave when something bad is going on. Read more

This “Computer Maintenance Department” sure doesn’t know much about computer maintenance

Dave Farquhar scams, security May 22, 2013June 7, 20141990s, AMMYY, antivirus, antivirus software, avast, business relationship, caller id, cissp, Computer Maintenance Department, computer security, Credit card, desktop support, ethernet, ethernet cable, Event Viewer, farquhar, FBI, Free Antivirus, FTC, google, microsoft, microsoft security, Microsoft Security Essentials, Missouri, PC, phone, power button, Run Windows Update, Safe Mode, scammer, security essentials, security job, servers, state attorney general, technical support, troubleshooting, wikipedia, Windows Update

“Peggy” from “Computer Maintenance Department” (1-645-781-2458 on my caller ID) called again. Lots of people are aware of these phone calls. They call, make vague claims about receiving a report that your computer is running slow and giving you errors, and are very careful not to say who they are or who they work for. Usually I just do whatever I can to get them off the phone.

But after having lunch with some other computer security professionals last week, a couple of them talked me into finding out how these guys operate. So I fired up a PC that turned out to have a real, legitimate issue. After resolving that issue myself, I turned the caller loose on my semi-functional PC so I could see what these scammers actually do. He had me connect to Teamviewer.com and run their remote access software. I followed his instructions, watched him connect, then slyly unplugged my network cable.

When my network connection dropped, “Peggy” quickly transferred me to a “senior technician” who used the name “Roy.” Read more

Antivirus progress

Dave Farquhar security May 14, 2013May 12, 2013antivirus, avast, bitdefender, eset nod32, Free Antivirus, ISP, microsoft, microsoft security, Microsoft Security Essentials, MSE, norton antivirus, PC, pc magazine, security essentials

When Microsoft Security Essentials first came out, it was an improvement in antivirus performance. Now, it’s middle of the pack, according to PC Magazine. That’s great. Vendors are finally taking performance seriously.

What that means is that by replacing MSE with F-Secure Anti-Virus 2013, Kaspersky Anti-Virus (2013), Sophos Anti-Virus 10.2, ESET NOD32 Antivirus 6, Norton Antivirus (2013), Avast Free Antivirus 8, or Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2013, you can speed up your computer. Considering Norton Antivirus was once bottom-of-the-barrel in the performance arena, I see this as a good thing.

Of the bunch, Avast is the only freebie. Though if your ISP offers one of the others as part of your subscription, or you don’t mind paying for antivirus, the others are an option. But maybe, just maybe, if I replace Microsoft Security Essentials with Avast, Peggy will quit calling me at dinnertime and telling me my computer is slow. But I doubt it. Read more

Some computer maintenance for the upcoming family get-togethers

Dave Farquhar security March 18, 2013March 16, 2013adobe, antivirus, Bit Defender, defense in depth, firefox, firewall, hard drive, java, Keep Firefox, microsoft, microsoft security, Microsoft Security Essentials, psi, Run Windows Update, secunia, security essentials, ssd, Vacuum Places, Windows Update

If you’re like me and do some computer maintenance for families during holiday weekends, the time to plan Easter computer maintenance is now.

Here’s some stuff I recommend doing to keep your non-computer-enthusiast relatives’ systems running smoothly. Be sure to bring your own laptop along, just in case. If a computer is too broken to get online or to get online safely, nothing beats a working system for downloading the stuff you need to fix it. Read more

The best free antivirus

Dave Farquhar security March 16, 2013December 11, 2016antivirus, AV, avast, AVG, bitdefender, defense in depth, Free Antivirus, free antivirus programs, hijacks, microsoft, microsoft security, Microsoft Security Essentials, MSE, scanner, search engine, security essentials, SHA, upgrade, Windows XP

I’ve been re-evaluating free antivirus programs in an effort to find the best free antivirus. I think Microsoft Security Essentials is adequate if you don’t engage in risky behavior, and it doesn’t nag and doesn’t expire, both of which are good things. The best detection in the world is no good to you the day after it expires.

If you want something better, the place to look is AV-Comparative’s most recent test. In that roundup, I see four serious contenders: Bitdefender, Avira, Avast, and AVG. Those are the only four programs available for free that passed all of their tests with at least one star. Read more

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