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Patch reliability is unclear, but widespread attacks make patching prudent. Go ahead and patch, but watch out for potential problems. |
I’ve just moved from Windows 7 to a new Windows 10 (home version 1809) laptop. I understand that the pre-installed Windows Defender is very good, but do I need another package as well like I did with Win 7? I feel a bit ‘exposed’ relying purely on Defender in Win 10.
Appreciate any advice here.
GeoffB
I’ve used Bitdefender for a number of years, and currently use Bitdefender Total Security on my 7 devices. You can see how each security software is rated by looking at http://www.av-test.org and http://www.av-comparatives.org.
I’ve just moved from Windows 7 to a new Windows 10 (home version 1809) laptop. I understand that the pre-installed Windows Defender is very good, but do I need another package as well like I did with Win 7? I feel a bit ‘exposed’ relying purely on Defender in Win 10.
Appreciate any advice here.
GeoffB
As a second opinion scanner and gatekeeper HitmanPro and/or MalwarebytesAntimalware do a great job.
My choices as well. I also recommend using the Premier paid version of MB. It supposedly covers a lot more that malware.
In addition to Windows Defender, I run a full scan using Malwarebytes free version monthly. Then at least every two months (usually more frequently than that) I also randomly choose and use one of the free online scanners available from various reputable third-party vendors.
--Joe
A monthly scan is ok if you visit the same 3 or4 dozen websites all the time. I’m a blog writer and Google searches and alerts can take me far afield. It’s very simple to set Malwarebytes for a daily scan which will be done in the background. Also, I strongly recommend the paid Premier version of MB. Its protection goes beyond malware.
Geoff,
Security is a moving target and depends a lot on what type of computer user you are and where you go in the Web!
All of the advice above is good but I’d like to add a few suggestions:
HTH 😎
Geoff,
Sorry I forgot to mention that I use Defender along with MalwareBytes Premium. 😎
Geoff, the Defender that protects Windows8.1 and Windows10 is not the same defender that you were warned against so strongly years ago with Windows7. The Defender for Win10 is a good product and has the advantage of support by the manufacturer of the operating system. That may be viewed with disdain by some, I find it an advantage.
Good security means trust but verify. This is why many are suggesting scanners for the occasional sanity check. Because it is counterproductive to have two active protections running live at the same time. These checks are important, but I would also ask how many times Defender has failed, and the preferred scanner succeeded with a true find rather than a false positive.
(self-replying with additional link)
Geoff, I went back and found AskWoody Newsletter 16.32.0, 9 September 2019, https://www.askwoody.com/newsletter/where-were-headed-with-askwoody-plus-an-update (more newsletters archived can be found with the |Newsletters/Alerts| button at top of these pages). Scroll down to the last article – SECURITY, How to block malware with Windows’ built-in security, by Lance Whitney.
Defender. No other a/v plays nice nice with updates. A/V is reactionary. Your own paranoia and not clicking is the best a/v.
Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher
Geoff,
Sorry I forgot to mention that I use Defender along with MalwareBytes Premium. 😎
I use Malwarebytes Antimalware Premium (=bought licence) here for years too, goes perfectly together with Windows Defender or Comodo (and Microsoft AV & Firewall switched off naturally).
I still don’t trust a manufacturer who inspects and assesses his own products, and with Microsoft it’s all about money, nothing else. The common user is left in the dark by them.
(no offence ment mrs Susan Bradley)
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Using Bitdefender Total Security for 15 devices. Switched from ESET, but that was now years ago. My favorite Bitdefender tool is the firewall. It’s super easy and quick to block apps that phone home every time you run them. It’s also just as easy to quickly unblock apps to allow internet access for a moment to check for updates or other short tasks. Hitman Pro and Malwarebytes have been handy, too.
Desktop Asus TUF X299 Mark 1, CPU: Intel Core i7-7820X Skylake-X 8-Core 3.6 GHz, RAM: 32GB, GPU: Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti 4GB. Display: Four 27" 1080p screens 2 over 2 quad.
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