What anti-malware program do you use, if any?

[invictius]

I considered myself able to spot fake download buttons, email phishing attempts, etc like probably most of you are able to, but have had security breaches for the first time in 20 years. First my facebook was hijacked, now a couple of months later someone tried to buy some stuff and attempted to breach two gmail accounts in the process (I only had 2fa on one of them). Malwarebytes picked up something that supposedly sends passwords (Not a keylogger) and I'm a bit annoyed that I only found out after I chose a much more secure, and a bit hard to remember password. Am hoping that it didn't get sent in that short time but I now have 2fa on basically anything that could make more than a minor inconvenience to me if breached.

[Kappes Buur]

I've been using Kaspersky Total Security for a number of years.
Here in my region it is on sale during the back to school time (summer holidays) and usually over the Xmas period for about 40 CA$, on a yearly basis.

[Graf Zahl]

After having a bad experience with several AV solutions I reverted to Windows Defender plus occasionally running Malwarebytes. So far nothing malicious got through.
Of course, once you notice that one of your accounts got hijacked, you should change *all* passwords you have and do a thorough investigation of your computer.

[invictius]

I've been using Kaspersky Total Security for a number of years.
Here in my region it is on sale during the back to school time (summer holidays) and usually over the Xmas period for about 40 CA$, on a yearly basis.

There's a brick and mortar store here that sells annual licenses for about equal to 9CA$. I have no idea how they do it. Maybe it isn't even entirely legal for them to do it.

[Hellser]

I rely solely on Windows Defender. I used to use McAfee back in the day as it came Comcast. Then I swapped to Avast. I don't use either now, obviously. There has been a few false positives with Windows Defender - but I am more than happy to deal with that than worry that my antivirus/antimalware program isn't doing anything.

[Graf Zahl]

I am more worried with my AV being more of a threat than an asset. Especially Avast might be considered malware itself these days.

[wildweasel]

Lately, I depend on Windows Defender to catch "active" threats, and VirusTotal.com to upload files for specific analysis. I should stress, though, that I also have quite a lot of stuff blocked via uBlock Origin and (where I'm able to) my HOSTS file, so I can't imagine much is going to get past that blockade.

[Kappes Buur]

There's a brick and mortar store here that sells annual licenses for about equal to 9CA$. I have no idea how they do it. Maybe it isn't even entirely legal for them to do it.

When buying the product box it used to include a CD, but not anymore.
Now they simply give a short booklet 'Get Started' with installation instructions
and an activation code, in the form of aaaaa-bbbbb-ccccc-ddddd which you have
to type in for verification from their server.

At that time you can also set up on account with them. Once done you are
presented with a screen like this:

---

[imgur]https://i.imgur.com/jJCgQys[/imgur]

Graf Zahl mentioned some programs being more malware themselves, I can
give only one tip: Never be tempted to install Norton.

[invictius]

There's a brick and mortar store here that sells annual licenses for about equal to 9CA$. I have no idea how they do it. Maybe it isn't even entirely legal for them to do it.

When buying the product box it used to include a CD, but not anymore.
Now they simply give a short booklet 'Get Started' with installation instructions
and an activation code, in the form of aaaaa-bbbbb-ccccc-ddddd which you have
to type in for verification from their server.

At that time you can also set up on account with them. Once done you are
presented with a screen like this:

---

[imgur]https://i.imgur.com/jJCgQys[/imgur]

Graf Zahl mentioned some programs being more malware themselves, I can
give only one tip: Never be tempted to install Norton.

Not quite malware, but back in the day avg would steal focus every time it found a virus. Who on earth thought constantly stealing focus would be such a great idea?

[axredneck]

I am anti-malware program myself. (I also have uBlock Origin in both Firefox and Chromium)

[Hellser]

I am anti-malware program myself.

True words.

I am more worried with my AV being more of a threat than an asset. Especially Avast might be considered malware itself these days.

One of the main reasons why I was hesitant to install Avast.

[Scripten]

Bitdefender has been fairly noninvasive in my experience.

[electrodragon554]

>What anti-malware program do you use, if any?
I'm using Windows Defender because it's somewhat light and gets the job done. my instance is tweaked for higher than normal protection.
But my fall back AV is ESET. both are non-invasive from experience

[sinisterseed]

Especially Avast might be considered malware itself these days.

It absolutely is one.

Scans web activity fairly... interesting, compared to other alternatives, and not sure if it still does, but two years ago uninstalling Avast purposefully left a service executable on the user's machine that still sent and collected data. A post by an employee on their forums literally said they were wondering how much it'd take someone to notice it - and yes, they left it there on purpose, guy was hilariously honest about it.

Absolutely pathetic and unprofessional. Never use Avast, period. Just like AVG since they're now just reskins of each other after Avast acquired them, plus they also fare poorly in independent tests compared to other alternatives, notably Kaspersky and Bitdefender.

Just use these or Microsoft Defender. Avoid AVG/Avast and McAfee like plague - McAfee has shit ass protection and is also infamous for bricking Windows install, especially OEMs. Don't even think about those.

[NeuralStunner]

I jumped the Avast ship (heh) about the time they decided it was OK to install their little browser and whatever else, without consent, via the updater. At the same time Potentially Unwanted Programs were becoming a big deal in anti-malware. "bUt hOw iS It uNwAnTeD wHEn iT'S MoRe sEcUrE????????"