Home Computer - What AV?

[FN-GM]

Hello,

 

I am just wondering what folks use for AV on their home computers please? I'm not upto date in the area!

 

I am looking for something that:

1. Doesn't use up loads of resources
   
2. Doesn't keep pestering me with popups etc. Just stays in the background until it needs attention etc.
   

 

 

Anything suggestions would be great

[MrKJLS]

Windows defender (built into Windows 10). Just runs on the background. As it's built into Windows, you don't even know it's running, it just works and you don't even know it's running.

 

It's ace [emoji108]

[DrCheese]

Sophos Home - It's brilliant & free.

[6Foot2]

Windows 10 has its own AV:

 

 

Is there any reason you don't want to use that?

Edited September 19, 2016 by 6Foot2

[MrKJLS]

Windows 19 has its own AV:

 

 

Is there any reason you don't want to use that?

Wow, I haven't seen windows 19 on the insider ring yet

Edited September 19, 2016 by MrKJLS

[6Foot2]

Wow, I haven't seen windows 19 on the insider rig yet

 

Yeah, spotted that typo after creating the post.

 

[mikeprice]

I use AVAST - don't - it nags a lot

[FN-GM]

Windows 10 has its own AV:

 

 

Is there any reason you don't want to use that?

 

Totally forgot about that!

 

Thanks to those who have posted.

[Sylv3r]

Yeah, we get asked at least once per week for AV recommendations from staff and just point them at Windows Defender.

[Liam]

Yup same here.. formally essentials in earlier versions but Iv always used it

[Liam]

Also got a home utm appliance though running on a vm

[X-13]

I use AVAST - don't - it nags a lot

 

Yup, I use it too...

 

You CAN remove the popups... If you pay.

 

 

I may uninstall and just use Defender, but I'm not sute if I'm brave enough.

[Duke5A]

Another user of Essentials on pre-Win10 computers and Defender on anything Win10 in the house.

[mikeyd101]

Avast free here, after 3 years of popups i've become immune to them.

[Cache]

I got annoyed with the avast popups, switched to Sophos home.

[Guest obsidianpillar]

I run Sophos Endpoint Security and Control (UTM Version) on all computers. I run a virtual instance of UTM 9 in Hyper-V and have 25 licenses for endpoint devices. Works exactly the same as the corporate version, you can even configure it to work with Endpoint Management Console.

 

You can apply for a license online. I find it has the edge over Windows 10's built-in AV, purely based off a trust element - most business' use and trust Sophos. I can't see why I'd look to re-invent the wheel at home and use something different, especially when there's a free option available.

[sonofsanta]

Been using the Windows one in various forms (i.e. Defender in 10, Microsoft Security Essentials in 7, Endpoint Protection in work) for 4 or 5 years now and it has been the least faff AV I've ever used. No dodgy updates marking system32 files as viruses or borking the update mechanism or breaking my browsers or...

 

Honestly no point in bothering with anything else these days, IMHO.

[mrwoberts]

BitDefender! Free Antivirus Software - Download Bitdefender UK Free Edition

 

It's possibly the most no-nonsense AV I've come across in a long while. Very light on resources, and their AV engine is usually in the top three for best protection (Internet Security).

Needs you to assign an email account after 30 days, but I give them my junk address and they've only ever sent one email offering a discount for the full product.

 

Here are some helpful sites that perform various test using these products...

AV-Comparatives - Independent Tests of Anti-Virus Software - Real World Protection Test Overview

https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/windows-10/

[MatthewL]

Security Essentials or what ever its called in each version. Does me fine.

[mrwoberts]

Looking at those two AV comparisons sites linked above, Security Essentials doesn't fair too well in terms of protection; in fact it is possibly one of the worst.

That said, if you've not had any problems then clearly it works well for some folks.

 

I went through a period a while back of just using the built-in Defender then I used Security Essentials, but I experienced a 'hesitation' on the system when I opened certain folders on my PC, which I no longer experience no I use BitDefender.