Computer Anti Virus - What You Using & What's It Cost?

BT include McAfee in their broadband package, free to download on up to 7 (if memory serves) machines. I've noticed a couple of times over the years, a message pops up to say my McAfee licence is going to expire, but it never does - I guess BT getting a bit close to the wire paying their bill or distributing licences to the end user PCs.

 

Norton for me too and usually on offer at £20-25 for 5 devices.

 

I used to use Norton they used to mail me to say I had a virus. Then charge to remove it. Since I moved to windows 10 I have just used the one on the system and it works really well. Had some malware they told me to keep working while they removed it and hey presto they did. Long may it continue.
Regards
Joe.

 

Windows 10 inbuilt, and do an extra scan with malwarebytes free every now and then.

 

Glad to read people are actually using antivirus/antimalware on both Mac and PCs.
Just don't forget to backup stuff in the event of getting infected by cryptoware/ransomeware.
And don't have the backupdisk (if u are using that) connected to the PC all the time.

 

Have used Avast Free for absolutely years and never had any trouble. Did think about paying for the Premium but on investigation it just wasn't worth it.
I use this and superantispyware (free) and together it has done a great job for well over 10 years
I wouldn't pay for anti virus

 

Avast free is "free" in the same way as Facebook and instagram are "free", you pay with "donating" info about yourself that Avast then sells on to other providers.

Its the same with most "free" products.

 

Which is just one of the reasons why I use Private Internet Access VPN

 

But VPN doesn't protect or cover your identity as you are most likely logging into services and are identifying yourself.
That way most services can identify you and harvest data about you.

Not saying VPN is a bad thing if you are using a good VPN provider (that comes with a cost) and are connecting a lot from foreign networks (wifi).
Or if you are using a device that can't be tied to you as a person (as in you haven't and continually don't use any services that can identify you).

I use VPN myself but that's only for my guest network and IOT network.
VPN can be a great thing, but the way its advertised as making you "anonymous" is simply not true for most people.

The only thing you are really doing with VPN is making sure your Internet Service Provider doesn't know what you are up too. Making sure you are somewhat safer on foreign networks (public wifi) and can make it appear like you are sitting in another country.

 

I use an i-mac and use the free Avast, never had an issue.
Even when I used a PC I would only use the free services.

 

Depends on how you define "free" but Avast has seems to have done something about their ruthless datacollection of users data after getting caught.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/30/...spended-data-collection-selling-ceo-blog-post

Complete your Mac with some antimalware software and you should be fine.
I think its great that most Macusers are protecting themselfs these days and not relying on the old talk that it isn't needed.

 

There are some sites that won't give you access if you use a virtual proxy network.

A forum I administrate doesn't accept vpn's, we found they were used by spammers a lot. (trying to bypass our antispam software)

 

Just out of curiosity, was that from certain VPN services or from all of them?

To be honest I think its the right approach that forums deny access if the traffic is from a VPN provider.
If someone posts a serious threat or similar VPN can make things harder for the law enforcement to follow up on.

 

Pretty sure it was all. But, I'm not the absolute authority on that, I'm just the owner with the oily hands and the spanners, I understand the admin control panel, but not the software involved, that's what our tech guy is for!

In my alter egos words, "I only ride them, I don't know what makes them work".