More proof that Microsoft Windows Defender / MSE suck badly

Currently installed Bitdefender while running before that Windows Defender and my first thought on it is that Windows Defender isn't bad. Bitdefender is not finding any virus or problems inside my computer. And I'm using it for months already.

So people who do use Windows Defender or MSE are safe..

 

Honestly I used to install AV just to shut Windows up, a user who knows what they are doing won't install the toolbar + animated cursor trojans.

I didn't want to just disable the warning.

As far as a government/powerful organization trying to hack you with a zero day, you are probably owned either way.

 

I only use it because it is on Windows 8 by default, I know what to look for and scan almost all files I download, so I don't worry too much.

 

I have little to no faith in these test results.

They rank AVG quite high up the list, and I know this to be obviously untrue. Years ago when AVG came out, yes, it was the dogs dangly bits. But now, every time I come across it, the pc it's on either has viruses or has crawled to a snail's pace. AVG is total crap, and for them to list it above many others is complete balls to me.

Having worked in computer repair doing virus removals all day, I can tell you the only PC's that come in with viruses on them (where the AV is still turned on and active) are webroot, AVG, McAffee, and Norton. They are the absolute worst offenders and any 'review' trying to tell me otherwise can take a funny walk.

I've only ever come across 1 laptop that had MSE and malware, and a quick MBAM scan sorted that out. I've seen MSE detect a live threat more than once on various people's computers, so I have no doubt as to it's ability. And every single time that I deal with files that are less than legit, MSE has quarantined them because I forgot to shut MSE down first.

 

I didn't use any AV apps installed. If I really need, I just download the latest Free Cure It from FreeDrWeb and that's it! On the other hand I've an old 486 running the Free Smoothwall Express as Hardware Firewall between the Modem (WAN) and Network (LAN) which is configured to let only packages come in to specific machine and on specific ports. I also have an older Pentium 4 configured as DMZ to which everything goes which isn't allowed to reach my normal network. In Smoothwall I could configure as many NIC Card as possible/Slots I've so that P4 has it's own NIC which is separated from my LAN.

Don't need anything more. All defenders and Firewalls in all Windows machines are switched of which has free quite a lot resources with the effect that Windows is just running better and more smooth! At my home, where am I now, I had the last Virus more than 3 years ago (before Smoothwall) and in My office nearly 2 years and that was an infection coming from an customers laptop.

 

I used MSE since it first was released, it served me well but finally ditched it last month for Avast 8 which I'm liking a lot more

 

Hm, I've always liked NIS (though pre 2009 versions raped your PC for resources), but AVG sucks and McAffe is the most worthless crap of AV I am aware of.

How do you feel about ESET Smart Security?

 

You need proof that they suck ?

Thought it was common knowledge

 

I've sold, installed, tried to uninstall all the following... I'll list next to them what I think.

Norton - Oh god no... get it off the PC. It is all round crap. Slows pc's down, doesn't detect malware, and most of the time will say its up to date when its months and months since any sort of update (this is with a live and up to date subscription, which makes it even worse). Will 100% leave files on pc after removal.
McAfee - Same as Norton, but doesn't slow down the PC as badly. Still very crap.
Webroot - The AV part is not as bad as the two above (although still below average), but the software firewall included is diabolical.
AVG - years ago, it used to be really good. I used it for years. Now it slows the pc (not as bad as norton) and the detection rates aren't great. Also very intrusive to every day use of PC. Worse than Norton in that when you run the installer, 90% of the time it won't do anything. You'll 'uninstall' it, but at next reboot, there it is. It's so bad that AVG provide a tool on their website just to remove it from your PC.
Trend - Not bad at all. Never seen a PC with malware on it while this is installed. Easy to remove, doesn't slow the PC down, but the always online aspect of it... the 'cloud' antivirus kinda strikes me as a scam from the way the Trend Rep explained it. I haven't really looked into it tho, and people I worked with said it was great.
Kaspersky - Best paid all in one package for the general consumer I've come across. Can be a little intrusive when installed on XP, but I doubt there's anything it won't detect.
Avira - Reasonable protection, but it's so user unfriendly with it's constant popups. It just gets on your tits after about a day.
Avast - I've had bad experiences with this. Not too user friendly interface, and I've seen it let malware through. Would avoid.
PC Tools - Hahahahahahahaha, you're kidding right?
MBAM - Best Antimalware I've ever seen. Would never be without it.
MSE - Reasonable detection rate, but as said above, I've also seen situations where something got through. More cases of it detecting and fixing the problem than not. Very light on resources, very easy to use, easy to get rid of.
Eset - Similar to Kaspersky. Good all rounder, but more expensive than kaspersky in general.

I know there are a bunch of other AV's out there, but I don't have personal experience with them, so would not like to comment.

 

I am sure you would have tried Bit-defender. Kaspersky sucked the life of my system, shifted to ESET, costed my kidney. Now running Bit-defender.

 

You know if it didn't test so horrendous and at least get certification I would probably use it, I used it when it first came and I got hit with a drive by virus that MSE let skip right on through to my system without any notification whatsoever, I had to tear the hair out of my head removing this thing with 3rd party tools.

Another thing is that it's virus/trojan/malware removal score is well below some of the worst free antivirus softwares, who in the hell wants an antivirus that is oing to tell you "hey dude, I found something nasty on your system but I can't remove it" and have to use 3rd party tools to get rid of the simplest of malware or viruses....... not me, no thanks.

Now since MSE cannot bring their software to even get certified I will not even consider it, because no mater how safe you surf "things happen", we all know and have experienced it.

I know that there are those here that will swear by MSE but just because you surf, download etc. and your MSE comes up with nothing DOES NOT MEAN it's doing it's job.

Right now, using ANYTHING ELSE but MSE would be better, using MSE is almost as bad as surfing with nothing at all.

 

I think he meant that Eset COSTED him a kidney, while Eset Nod 32 or any other of Eset's products are some of the best, they are NOT cheap. It's a good security solution to have but not every home user can afford it's cost.

 

I have been using Kaspersky internet security for about 4 years now and it works good for me and its cheap enough if you know where to get it from
if you buy it from walmart or bestbuy it costs between $60 to 90 usd but if you get it from Costco online its $19.95 3 putters for 1 year so it pays to shop around when looking for a good buy

 

How is it (Bitdefender)? I noticed it is consistently near the top in test, but I never ran into a PC with it.

 

I tried Bitdefender Windows 8 Secuiry. It was ok but I had problems enabling exclusion on a folder because it kept detecting it and also sometimes I could not restore a file from quarantine because it re quarantines it after clicking restore.

But they are fast to remove any FP after reporting it on their forums.

Maybe it is better to use another AV that has bitdefender engine + some other engine for even better detection rate.