We are looking for a new security software package.
We had trend micro but they put the price up, wanted $200 pa as we had an autorenew set up. I cancelled it .
Now on their site it is $55 pa or a free bitdefender .
Any suggestions?

Sprintcyclist wrote on Dec 4^th, 2023 at 11:46am:

We are looking for a new security software package. We had trend micro but they put the price up, wanted $200 pa as we had an autorenew set up. I cancelled it . Now on their site it is $55 pa or a free bitdefender . Any suggestions?

I use the free version of AVG Sprint.    Why not download it and see what you think before buying?  You can get a 30 day free trial as well.    I have found the free version is fine for me on my Mac and Windows machines

I'm not trying to be smart here, but my suggestion is to use the Chrome OS.

i.e. buy a Chromebook.

I haven't used Windows for years, and I couldn't be happier.

When I did have Windows computers, I always used AVG - never had a problem.

I have used Kaspersky for over 10 years computers still run as fast as first day. Never had any problems.
It doesn't slow your computer down like others do.

I was buying it from MSY Computers last time i found a shop in Melbourne on special  3 computers for 2 years $21.

In the current landscape, you are your own best protection.

Windows Defender, the one that is built-in to Windows, including the firewall, is all you need.

If you click every link sent to you, click on every popup ad, pirate software or install everything you're told to on popups from Porn sites, you're going down no matter what you have installed.

You don't need to spend any money on anything else, Windows defender is enough.

At most, you can install Malwarebytes to do a spot check and then uninstall it.

Good security practice is the most important thing.

I agree with SadKangaroo 100%

I've only ever used Windows Defender (or Windows Security as it is now known) and the inbuilt firewall in Windows 10 and I've never had a problem.


Quote:

Good security practice is the most important thing.

Yes, it definitely is.

That said, when my grandfather was still alive, I locked down his computer and used a bunch of 3rd party tools to protect him from himself.

There is a place for these tools, but it starts with the user, young or old.

SadKangaroo wrote on Dec 4^th, 2023 at 1:12pm:

In the current landscape, you are your own best protection. Windows Defender, the one that is built-in to Windows, including the firewall, is all you need. If you click every link sent to you, click on every popup ad, pirate software or install everything you're told to on popups from Porn sites, you're going down no matter what you have installed. You don't need to spend any money on anything else, Windows defender is enough. At most, you can install Malwarebytes to do a spot check and then uninstall it. Good security practice is the most important thing.

Having discovered the hard way with teenage kids none of that free stuff works.

Quite happy paying for Kaspersky 3 computers for 2 years $21 is stuff all.

Baronvonrort wrote on Dec 4^th, 2023 at 4:01pm:

SadKangaroo wrote on Dec 4th, 2023 at 1:12pm: In the current landscape, you are your own best protection. Windows Defender, the one that is built-in to Windows, including the firewall, is all you need. If you click every link sent to you, click on every popup ad, pirate software or install everything you're told to on popups from Porn sites, you're going down no matter what you have installed. You don't need to spend any money on anything else, Windows defender is enough. At most, you can install Malwarebytes to do a spot check and then uninstall it. Good security practice is the most important thing. Having discovered the hard way with teenage kids none of that free stuff works. Quite happy paying for Kaspersky 3 computers for 2 years $21 is stuff all.

That would be one of the examples where a tool like that is useful.

But it still means trying to keep their devices isolated, but for the average home user this might be too much to ask for.

All my IOT devices are on a segmented network that can only communicate with the internet and the home automation server.

Same with the kids devices, they could access the internet and only certain network traffic could access the media server or NAS, and even on those devices the access to their accounts was limited.

I have a QR code for their friends to scan for access to the guest wifi network that is Internet only.

Their devices take daily backups and are locked down with tools that control their access times and content.

But then, given my trade, if I can over-engineer a solution for fun, that's exactly what I'm going to do...

Thanks all.
The next laptop is on my horizon, so may well try a chromebook. Never heard of them before, but knew there were 'other' things.

have heard the standard one is quite ok, as long as you are not silly.
Will try AVG or Bitdefender are pretty good too.
Both free.
Thanks very much

Sprintcyclist wrote on Dec 4^th, 2023 at 4:57pm:

Thanks all. The next laptop is on my horizon, so may well try a chromebook. Never heard of them before, but knew there were 'other' things. have heard the standard one is quite ok, as long as you are not silly. Will try AVG or Bitdefender are pretty good too. Both free. Thanks very much

Chromebooks run on their own operating system.

No need for Windows, thus, no viruses.

They start up in seconds, and are fast and reliable.

You'll get the most out of them if you have a Gmail or Google account.

greggerypeccary wrote on Dec 4^th, 2023 at 6:00pm:

Sprintcyclist wrote on Dec 4th, 2023 at 4:57pm: Thanks all. The next laptop is on my horizon, so may well try a chromebook. Never heard of them before, but knew there were 'other' things. have heard the standard one is quite ok, as long as you are not silly. Will try AVG or Bitdefender are pretty good too. Both free. Thanks very much Chromebooks run on their own operating system. No need for Windows, thus, no viruses. They start up in seconds, and are fast and reliable. You'll get the most out of them if you have a Gmail or Google account.

Wow, terrific, thanks.

SadKangaroo wrote on Dec 4^th, 2023 at 1:12pm:

Windows Defender, the one that is built-in to Windows, including the firewall, is all you need...

Agree totally.

Plus daily use of CCleaner free version.

Just do loads of backups.

AusGeoff wrote on Dec 4^th, 2023 at 7:59pm:

SadKangaroo wrote on Dec 4th, 2023 at 1:12pm: Windows Defender, the one that is built-in to Windows, including the firewall, is all you need... Agree totally. Plus daily use of CCleaner free version.

I use Ccleaner for the registry clean up, it's good

Thanks, I got Bitdefender. $75 for 5 devices, 1 year. They want $150 for next year.
Trend Micro was $200

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