The combination of Windows Defender and (paid) Malwarebytes has served me well for years. (Windows 10 currently, not upping to 11 until it’s been tremendously improved.)
I usually update right away, but my current computer will not work with Windows 11, so I’m putting that off until I can tell myself I need a new computer, rather than want a new one. AFAIK, everything I use will still work/have support on 10 for the foreseeable future.
I’ll check out defender I have windows 10 iirc. I do banking and checking in with the brokerage site and other financial institutions so I’d like a secure connection and no ads.
My iPhone/ & tablet I use for recreational web surfing.
Thanks all for suggestions/comments.
I have BitDefender free, Malwarebytes free, and Windows Defender.
BitDefender’s free version is extremely limited, but very hands-off. There are almost no options, but you don’t really need any. It mostly just runs in the background and you never see it unless there’s an issue. It occasionally bugs me to upgrade to the paid version, but those little reminders are not super excessive.
Malwarebytes’ free version is really just for removal once you’ve detected something.
I let my kaspersky subscription on my windows 10 laptop expire this month. Despite their renewal offers
Now I want to uninstall it but a permission box username “KLAdmin” pops up and I don’t know the password. I’m SOL wrt retrieving the password. Imagine that, of course I have no recollection of assigning a password. It’s not any password I can recall.
I cannot turn on Defender while KL is in charge. KL gave notice I have 2 days coverage until all protection is lost.
My account(s) are active I don’t dare delete them until I’ve gotten this figured out. I found a KL tutorial explaining how to batch extract it and rename it after a reboot in safe mode. Out of my comfort zone.
I haven’t completed the action yet, and I have to reread what is supposed to happen next. Rename it and delete it I supppose. I’m sure there’s more hoops they’ll make me trip over.
I had a feeling this was going to get complicated, any suggestions, advice, I’d appreciate it!
AV apps are deliberately made hard to fully uninstall, as some malware tries to do that.
You can use the free utilities Ccleaner and Revo Uninstaller to make sure Kaspersky is completely gone. Or there’s a Windows Reset in your near future!
Good to know!
A reset might be a hassle? I imagine it’s like going down into the void starting over with updates and driver installs and verifying identities. Last resort for sure.
What is and always has been the best defense against cyber intrusion is an intelligent and judicious user. Windows Defender has been flawless for me, and it is free. I just can’t see paying for that kind of software at this point in time. Defender is updated daily. In fact, it is often updated multiple times a day.
Success! I followed the uninstall tutorial and it was finished but not over until I answered their exit survey. 8/10 I always underreport my satisfaction in surveys.
Reboot didn’t take that long.
Defender is on!
I use McAfee, not because I want to, but apparently because it was bundled in with my Windows when I bought my new laptop.
To compensate for its suckiness, I also run MalwareBytes.
Does MalwareBytes cover for the flaws of McAfee? Can the two programs run simultaneously without interference?
I’m guessing Windows built-in Antivirus cannot operate alongside of either?
They should, yes, although I suspect neither developer tests that situation with the other. Note there’s a difference between monitoring .exe files and realtime scanning of folders; the latter may well cause a (temporary) problem if both are scanning the same files at the same time.
Correct, it is disabled when a commercial AV is installed.
I would classify Kaspersky as “potentially compromised” myself. Not worth the risk.
I tested several top AV products a couple years ago. Almost all were incredibly awful. I had used Malwarebytes before and went back to using them.
Same here. I do that for my mom’s computer too. I’ve got her trained to be leery of most popups and will answer any questions she has about her computer telling her stuff. I’d rather do that than choose, pay for, fight with and trust a third party security package.
This seems to be a backwards measure. There has to be some way to uninstall it. If that method is complicated and seems risky, then that’ll stop legitimate uninstalls from humans like @chela, but it won’t stop illegitimate uninstalls from computer programs.