Avast vs Windows Defender

Non-Avast security products
81

While I Tried Defender for a while on my Household systems, decided to stick with Avast Free in the end, as scan time is so much shorter if I run manual scans once in a while, possibly Avast Self Protection is a bit better than Defenders is.

Though I maybe safe with just using Defender, as I make sure to delete any emails that I even think maybe a scam, clean my email box weekly, including junk folder, Make sure to manually check for updates daily, or if I forget a day, then I immediately check soon as I remember for all apps on system, including Windows UWP Apps, I do have a tendacy to fall for folks saying Defender is all I need in other forums when I post on other forums with totally unrelated PC problems that aren’t even related to Antivirus or system security, I must stop falling for that type of stuff and switching programs so much, always been an issue with me

Back in 2005 I was a tester for Windows Live One Care, I know now I made mistakes then, getting virus samples, and attempting to run them, and some got right past Windows Live One Care then, (Bios root kits, MBR Rootkits, system was so bad, PC shop had to rebuild the entire system with new hardware, lesser hardware than the original system, but at the time I just finally wanted a working system. Switched back after that to using Symantec Norton Antivirus, til someone in January 2006, recommened Avast, and I switched immediately to Avast, and now if I can stop falling for those other peoples comments, and forums i’ll now keep Avast installed like that past on All systems

Hardware wise back then

Went from a AMD Athlon 2500+, Abit NF7-s (nforce chipset) Max amount of ram allowed, Creative Xi-fi Soundcard, Radeon 9600XT, and 120gb Hard drive, and 320GB Maxtor think was then

Replacement Hardware
Socket 754 Sempron (forget exact model)
Radeon 9800Xt
4GB of Ram
Western Digital blue IDE hard drive
Seagate 80gb or something it was as slave drive back then

So yeah I probably went from a fairly good build, to a really low end build for a few years, til received a Socket 939 AMD 64 3500+ for a few more years

82

Yeah - I regret to inform you - that tech shop hosed you. (It wasn’t GeekSquad was it?)

All rootkits can be removed, may take some time, but it can be done. MBR tables can be destroyed, BIOS systems reinstalled outright (flashing, which your board support FYI). They may not have had the knowledge, but it can be done.

83

Former Local Place that went out of business not too long after that little incident back then in 2005. Never used GeekSquad for any repairs thankfully lol. That was only local shop I could afford at the time to try and get it repaired

Anyways these days much more careful when I download, and do online now

lately solve my own issues if I can or ask in online forums if an issue I can’t figure out

But not gonna mess up my Intel I7 based systems (my first ever I7 based systems, and first Intel based Systems since 2003)

Nowadays I only open email from trusted sources, delete if I think it’s spam, or go directly to said companies site and login there

Update all programs on every system soon as an update comes out

bios updates have gone smoothly on current systems

full virus scan and Malwarebytes scan done weekly

weekly backup, system images done with Macrium reflect free

so think pretty safe these days I hope

84

Windows Defender vs Ransomware: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXtTgP8JkSk

85

Very interesting. Wish there was a comparison on a system with the free version of Avast.

86

from the same author: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km4aKjA2T_c
Altough it’s not just ransomware related

87

Thanks :slight_smile:

88

We have a Windows 10 laptop and we use the built-in Windows Defender (or whatever they’re calling it this week ;). Used in conjunction with Chrome browser, Lastpass password manager, and the occasional just-to-be-sure MalwareBytes scan (which we do no matter which anti-virus is installed), there’s never been an infection or other problem with the laptop. I’ve had Windows Defender block a website from opening now and then as does Chrome sometimes, too.

With similar internet usage on our slightly older Windows 8.1 Pro laptop, Avast performs similarly well, i.e. the occasional alert or blocked website, etc. While I appreciate that the scope of Avast features and protection is beyond the core function of Windows Defender it is only fair to note that Defender does its job effectively.

89

Much of this also depends on the user. As shown in the first video, effective protection isn’t always sufficient.
Your computer, your choice.

90

Defender is always up in the top tier group for protection, simple and effective :slight_smile: the cream on top is no deceptive nagware/advertising.

91

I have no objections to an occasional request to use the paid product.
I hate the scary popups like you’re using a basic firewall, etc. (I happen to prefer the basic firewall I’m using)

92

Windows 10: Defender skips elements during scan
https://borncity.com/win/2020/03/21/windows-10-defender-skips-elements-during-scan/
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/windows-defender-bug-in-windows-10-skips-files-during-scans/

93

Let’s hope the files skipped were not infected files. :slight_smile:

94

If this bug/flaw is known (not its been published it is) to malware writers.

This could also result in harmful files being put into any area/folder if this flaw/bug extended to folders also. But nothing to stop malicious files being crafted with that file type in the hope, the file name/type is the only check to determine if it should be scanned or not.

95

From what I read, these were random files not a specific type.

96

Still using Defender here on a few machines, problem is i always seen that message as i do have some exclusions as a few games require the game to be excluded in Antivirus program, so i didn’t really think much of it

System scans clean with Malwarebytes Free still though, so happy there

97

Malwarebytes isn’t an AV. :slight_smile:

98

I know that, but still showed clean, and also scanned with Eset online scanner—both clean, so thinks going well despite the possible issue with Defender, that i’d never notice as already have exclusions for the one game

99

Fix for the skipped items issue if affected in Win10, enable Network Scanning https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/windows-defender-fix-for-windows-10-enable-network-scanning/

100

Microsoft Silently Fixes Bug Causing Windows Defender to Skip Files During Scans, update KB4052623 released for Windows Defender on March 24

https://news.softpedia.com/news/microsoft-silently-fixes-bug-causing-windows-defender-to-skip-files-during-scans-529555.shtml