Current Events > Would you consider Malwarebytes to be more important or Avast?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Or if you don't use these programs, the equivalent ones to these, that you use. Any of you don't use either of these, or even an equivalent alternative?

Avast hasn't been good in over a decade and is completely supplanted by Windows Defender while Malwarebytes is bloated but still fine as a tool to clean up random crap on your PC that mostly hasn't been a relevant thing to clean up since HDD's became bigger than a TB.

ellis123 posted...

Avast hasn't been good in over a decade and is completely supplanted by Windows Defender while Malwarebytes is bloated but still fine as a tool to clean up random crap on your PC that mostly hasn't been a relevant thing to clean up since HDD's became bigger than a TB.

Oh, but, iirc windows defender is not free like avast is. Do you consider an antivirus to be more important than malwarebytes?

Smallville posted...

Oh, but, iirc windows defender is not free like avast is

Defender is included with Windows

Doesn't Windows Defender come installed on your pc?

Smallville posted...

Oh, but, iirc windows defender is not free like avast is. Do you consider an antivirus to be more important than malwarebytes?

Windows Defender is literally preinstalled on your PC if you have Windows and doesn't have any other version.

And anti-virus' are mostly useless for end users at this point. If someone is going to go make a virus they will go after a company and not some random people. And if they were going to go after random people they'll target your phone, not your PC.

Both completely irrelevant now in 2023 because of Windows Defender as well as growing awareness of VPNs, proxies, etc.

The era of dedicated antivirus software is over.

ellis123 posted...

Windows Defender is literally preinstalled on your PC if you have Windows and doesn't have any other version.

And anti-virus' are mostly useless for end users at this point. If someone is going to go make a virus they will go after a company and not some random people. And if they were going to go after random people they'll target your phone, not your PC.

oh, your phone? so a lot of people are getting stuff , on their phones now?

Windows Defender + uBlock Origin pretty much takes care of everything. No real need for other antivirus software.

Smallville posted...

oh, your phone? so a lot of people are getting stuff , on their phones now?

Not really a lot of people but most of the scarier viruses for normal people have been on the phone. Mostly because people don't even really believe that phones can get viruses in the same way they didn't think that Macs could.

Even then it's more about Man-in-the-Middle spoofing than actual viruses because, as I already said, if someone is going to make a virus they are going to target an actual business and not random people.

just windows defender, a VPN, and ublock origin is plenty for home PC security. The VPN may be overkill

ellis123 posted...

if someone is going to make a virus they are going to target an actual business and not random people.

I would say this is only true to an extent. They may only specifically -target- businesses, but there are still bots that just blast shit globally untargeted.

Also, plenty of businesses with poor cybersecurity allow/mandate BYOD and those devices are still at risk

Kloe_Rinz posted...

I would say this is only true to an extent. They may only specifically -target- businesses, but there are still bots that just blast shit globally untargeted.

Also, plenty of businesses with poor cybersecurity allow/mandate BYOD and those devices are still at risk

what is BYOD?

Windows defender is pretty much the only AV you need. Microsoft is the only company that has a vested interest in protecting your PC from viruses without interfering with its operation.

Smallville posted...

what is BYOD?

Bring Your Own Device. Instead of the business providing you the equipment needed to do your job they tell you to bring your own PC/Phone (this includes something as simple as using a personal phone for MFA).

Or to a lesser extent, smaller businesses without a proper IT department might just give you the money to buy your own PC off the shelf but dont control it. Thats not really BYOD from a financial stance but in terms of cybersecurity it's similar

Kloe_Rinz posted...

I would say this is only true to an extent. They may only specifically -target- businesses, but there are still bots that just blast shit globally untargeted.

Also, plenty of businesses with poor cybersecurity allow/mandate BYOD and those devices are still at risk

True but at this stage getting a virus on your PC is a bit less likely than getting hit with lightning statistically so it really is a relic to make a big deal as a normal user. For phones it is a bit more of a thing, and that's kind of double for the BYOD crowd as phones are far less likely to get a company devise (in my experience, at least).

Ooooh man there's some names I haven't heard in over a decade. Time flies

I think common sense is far more important if you ask me. Just saying.

SeamusOHassey posted...

I think common sense is far more important if you ask me. Just saying.

Only true to an extent. Unless you count running an adblocker as common sense. But if you don't run an adblocker you can get viruses even from mainstream sites like facebook or gamefaqs

Honestly you don't need that stuff anymore

Just install ublock origin on your browser like everyone else said