# What is the best protection against malware and spyware? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 6, 2015, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-protection-against-malware-and-spyware/730142 "2015-09-06T02:54:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-protection-against-malware-and-spyware/730142/21 "2015-09-08T20:47:19Z")
I don’t browse without: -Adblock Plus -uBlock, Disconnect, or both -Flashblock -A sandbox like Sandboxie -Reputable antivirus like Avira Don’t click ads, don’t download free colorful or shiny things. No cursors, no emoticons, no wallpapers, no toolbars, no antispyware/antimalware/system cleaner software. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-protection-against-malware-and-spyware/730142/22 "2015-09-08T21:05:36Z")
I have: Malwarebytes Free Avast Free Antivirus Ccleaner Free That’s not too much, is it? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-protection-against-malware-and-spyware/730142/23 "2015-09-08T21:46:15Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > I have: > > Malwarebytes Free > Avast Free Antivirus > Ccleaner Free > > That’s not too much, is it? That’s what I have on my laptop at work and my old desktop at home. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-protection-against-malware-and-spyware/730142/24 "2015-09-08T21:58:29Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > I have: > > Malwarebytes Free > Avast Free Antivirus > Ccleaner Free > > That’s not too much, is it? I have those, except for Avira instead of Avast. I also have SuperAntiSpyware. But Avira antivirus is the only one that runs constantly. The others I run only as needed, or maybe once a week or so just to check. (I do check for updates on a regular basis (every few days or so). ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-protection-against-malware-and-spyware/730142/25 "2015-09-08T23:04:25Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I don’t browse without: > > -Adblock Plus > -uBlock, Disconnect, or both > -Flashblock > -A sandbox like Sandboxie > -Reputable antivirus like Avira > > Don’t click ads, don’t download free colorful or shiny things. No cursors, no emoticons, no wallpapers, no toolbars, no antispyware/antimalware/system cleaner software. I have just installed uBlock to block all viruses from this forum – should I get all these programs. ---
**Author:** ![RickG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickg/32/5174_2.png) [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-protection-against-malware-and-spyware/730142/26 "2015-09-09T21:08:37Z")
> [@Gus\_Gusterson](#): > > What I do is run Ubuntu Linux in a virtual machine running on VirtualBox. I do all of my iffy web browsing in Firefox in the virtual machine. This is a way to get the benefits that the “Get a Mac” people brag about while not having to spend a dime on new hardware. If the virtual machine becomes corrupted you can recreate it or restore a clean backup. > > The other piece of the puzzle is to browse safely. Don’t fall for clickbait (like the ads on this board). Don’t click on links in email unless you know exactly where the link is going. This can be tricky so for many people that advice should be shortened to “Don’t click on links in email”. Don’t open email attachments unless you were expecting them and know what they are. > > Sometimes it not worth trying to clean a computer if it has gotten too messed up. You may need to reinstall Windows and start over. Then don’t let it happen again but browsing in a virtual machine. I’m one of those “Get a Mac” people. Your solution is good, but a better variant would be to run Ubuntu Linux as the _ **host** _ OS, with Windows running in VirtualBox. This way, Windows is running in a bag, making it easy to drown if it becomes too troublesome. Keep a snapshot of a clean Windows virtual machine so you can revert to an uninfected state. Ubuntu’s default UI is about as close to Mac-like as desktop Linux gets. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-protection-against-malware-and-spyware/730142/27 "2015-09-10T12:40:46Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Get a Mac. I spend absolutely no time on this and have absolutely no software for it. I can’t imagine going back. Considering how many student Macs come to the helpdesk with malware on it these days, this isn’t a solution. Since Mac users think they can’t get malware, they are easy targets. You need to have Malwarebytes for the Mac available or you’re asking for trouble. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-protection-against-malware-and-spyware/730142.md?page=1)