10 years ago the norm was to use Avast, AVG, Norton etc, then when Windows 10 was released there was a shift and many vouched that having only Windows Defender and common sense was enough, now it seems were going back to actually installing antivirus programs again.
Do you guys use one? If so which one? Like my days of exploring obscure and weird sites are long behind but nothing is truly safe, so I was wondering what should I do.
I’m currently just using Windows Defender and try to use respectable websites, but as I said, nothings is truly safe online.
In the last decade or 15 years, two primary things have changed enough for us to not rely on 3rd party antivirus programs as much - 1) computer usage and 2) first-party protections.
we don’t use peer-to-peer random downloads as much. We also mostly download through more reliable sources like Steam or various app stores.
Aside from Windows Defender becoming immensely trustworthy, there are backend stuff going on general users tend to not notice. Google searches are pretty controlled and you don’t usually get a random page with malware unless you’re on page 15 of your google search or something. Domains with malware are taken down quicker and email protections are stronger than ever for the average user. Additionally people know enough to not go into their spam folder and click on every sweepstakes they’ve won.
A while back I re subscribed to Norton’s for 2 years. I’m now regreating it… Norton’s has become part of the problem ‘We have found a risk, to fix it, push this button’ you push the button and it’s an advert for more Norton products.
Every time I download any exe file, I upload it to VirusTotal where it is scanned by 60+ virus scanners telling me whether that executable is save to execute or not.
Wow guys, I made the post and went back to work, just got out and wasn’t expecting this many answers but clearly Windows Defender + common sense + uBlock Origin seems to be the right combo, luckily I’ve been doing exactly that these past years so I’m happy that I don’t have to add anything else to have peace of mind.
Thank you very much to all, wish you a very nice day/afternoon/evening depending where you are!
Edit: sorry if I don’t answer individually, I’m too tired, hope you understand.
It’s funny that you mention Avast, AVG, and Norton because they’re all connected to each other at this point.
Avast several years ago acquired a company called Jumpshot and later acquired AVG. Avast was gathering user data using their antivirus program along with AVGs and selling it off which basically tarnished their reputation. Jumpshot had claimed they had data on several million online users and their sources turned out to be Avast’s and AVG’s browser extensions. Avast ended up shutting everything down from Jumpshot in 2020, but at that point they had years of user information. You can thank AdBlock Plus’s creator for finding all of this stuff out btw.
You may be asking, “Where does Norton fit in this?”. Well back in November 2022 it was revealed that NortonLifeLock is acquiring Avast for ~$8 Bil.
Just stick with Defender, adblockers, common sense and maybe Malwarebytes if you really feel something is wrong.
The best anti virus is common sense. Don’t click sketchy links, easy.
Hacking into computers digitally is borderline impossible without physical intervention - ie clicking a link which downloads malware, or someone physically going to your computer.
>now it seems were going back to actually installing antivirus programs again
I must not have gotten the memo on this one. But yeah, just Defender. I use Malwarebytes too, but mostly because I have a lifetime key and it’s been in the background for the last several years.
It is important to recognize the different threat landscapes.
As a consumer with one or two systems at home, then Defender does most of the job, as you are mostly worried about direct run malware, and then you need to have some brains to not click sketchy links, etc.
For a company, ransomware is a much bigger concern, and Defender doesn’t pick that up (unless it is a known one that it can catch the executable before it launches) dynamically. Corporately you also get exposed to more threats via phishing, e-mail attachments, and B2B interactions. These are all beyond the scope of Defender.
Corporately you also get into potential active adversaries, eg: actual hackers and directed attacks. Which again, Defender isn’t good against. You also have employees who could be dumb as a sack of rocks, and need to prevent them from going to bad web sites, or even sites you don’t want them going to for HR reasons (eg: porn, alt-reich).
So summary:
For home use by a user who knows what they are doing, yes Defender is good enough.
For companies, no, it isn’t. (Microsoft even sells a higher end version, Defender ATP, just for this)