Anti Virus Avast ALT

Toasty92 · May 6, 2024

i have been posting alot tonight but i have many questions which my fellow "IT Geeks" i know just cant answer so i use this place as i always get solid answers

i have heard Avast Free is getting a little slugdey so to speak and have kind of noticed :/ , many have said Win Defender is alot better than it used to be.
i once apon a time used AVG untill they went mad on the UI and really slowed down my rig at the time so moved to avast an never noticed it until it shouted at me for somthing that tried to get in.

what im curious to is i know there is some solid AV free software out there and i dont do sensitive stuff like banking or the like but the UI on every update they keep moving things so i keep having to re-learn where things are an its become a joke.

does anyone have any recomandations to a AV that has a UI that you dont need a PHD everytime it updates its software?

antspants · May 6, 2024

There are many, many members in here that just use defender and swear by it. Some use Malwarebytes free with it. There are also members in here that don’t like Avast.

You can get a program add-on for defender that makes managing it easier but I am drawing a blank as to what it is called.

Also, an old post of mine:

What does Windows Defender lack, what can’t it do?

Halo. I have a friend that has no money and cannot renew their antivirus Software. (Norton 360) Normally I would just buy it for him as I buy software for other friends but this person is broke due to a fetish with tattoos and as a result his family goes without. I will not invest in his...

www.elevenforum.com

glasskuter · May 6, 2024

There have been many threads here about this. Here's just one

antivirus needed on Windows 11?

Wondering if Windows 11 needs an antivirus suite like other windows versions did? I am primarily a Mac user, since I have an ipad and iphone and mac mini, but being in charge of a severe weather storm chase team and ham radio operator, need windows for some applications, so picked up a Dell...

www.elevenforum.com

Fabler2 · May 6, 2024

antspants said:
There are many, many members in here that just use defender and swear by it. Some use Malwarebytes free with it. There are also members in here that don’t like Avast.

You can get a program add-on for defender that makes managing it easier but I am drawing a blank as to what it is called.

Also, an old post of mine:

What does Windows Defender lack, what can’t it do?

Halo. I have a friend that has no money and cannot renew their antivirus Software. (Norton 360) Normally I would just buy it for him as I buy software for other friends but this person is broke due to a fetish with tattoos and as a result his family goes without. I will not invest in his...

www.elevenforum.com

Hi @antspants ,it's DefenderUI.

antspants · May 6, 2024

Fabler2 said:
Hi @antspants ,it's DefenderUI.

View attachment 95449

Thanks, Fabler

Toasty92 · May 6, 2024

bye bye avast, thank you for this :)

antspants · May 6, 2024

Toasty92 said:
bye bye avast, thank you for this :)

Some things in Windows have by way of many opinions, changed for the worse. Some for the better, Defender certainly seems to be one of the latter. When I said many members in here swear by it, I am referring to many members who by far know what they are doing.

Best of all, no upgrade or freeware nags, just protection.

antspants · May 6, 2024

Toasty92 said:
i have been posting alot tonight but i have many questions

It’s not like you’re asking us our favourite colour or anything useless. Every post you make and question you ask has the potential to show up in a search online by someone who needs the same question answered. You’re doing the forum a favour. Good job

Ghot · May 6, 2024

Toasty92 said:
does anyone have any recomandations to a AV that has a UI that you dont need a PHD everytime it updates its software?

Zonealarm AV/firewall (free)

But as other have no doubt said... just use Windows Defender.

And I gave you ten cookies, just for filling out your computer specs.

Toasty92 · May 6, 2024

Ghot said:
Zonealarm AV/firewall (free)

But as other have no doubt said... just use Windows Defender.

And I gave you ten cookies, just for filling out your computer specs.

i really appriciate that everything that everyone has done for me this evening :) this is why i love the Win forums just excelent people helping the little guys like me

, i cant take the credit for that it was @antspants who advised me sort it out :)

Flashorn · May 6, 2024

Toasty92 said:
bye bye avast, thank you for this :)

Hi!
If you are to uninstall Avast pls use their uninstall tool.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/avast-software-uninstall-utility/

You could also use their tutorial on how to uninstall but, Bleeping Computer has the right version.
This is only if you have trouble with their uninstall tool.

Avast Removal Tool | Download Avast Clear | Avast

www.avast.com

I would recommend as well to install the Free version of MalwareBytes' as a second
opinion whenever you run scans. This is a manual scanner, not a paid for with a
scheduled scanner.

Free Antivirus 2023 | Download Free Antivirus & Virus Scan | 100% Free & Easy Install

Download free antivirus: easy install for all devices. Remove unwanted malware like viruses, ransomware, spyware & more.

www.malwarebytes.com

Toasty92 · May 6, 2024

Flashorn said:
Hi!
If you are to uninstall Avast pls use their uninstall tool.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/avast-software-uninstall-utility/

You could also use their tutorial on how to uninstall but, Bleeping Computer has the right version.
This is only if you have trouble with their uninstall tool.

Avast Removal Tool | Download Avast Clear | Avast

www.avast.com

I would recommend as well to install the Free version of MalwareBytes' as a second
opinion whenever you run scans. This is a manual scanner, not a paid for with a
scheduled scanner.

Free Antivirus 2023 | Download Free Antivirus & Virus Scan | 100% Free & Easy Install

Download free antivirus: easy install for all devices. Remove unwanted malware like viruses, ransomware, spyware & more.

www.malwarebytes.com

thats defo handy thanks man :) ill use that now as ive got shot of Avast now, i did once apon a time use Spybot Search and Destroy but when avast said it included malware protection i unintsalled it, i have used malware bytes in the past an i will admit i did like its simplicity and it was "quiet" few times i forgot it was there as it didnt hinder performance but thats back in the HDD days XD

Toasty92 · May 6, 2024

with Malware bytes and rolling win Defender i can say my used RAM has gone down from 9GB to 8.1GB, and my processor isnt sticking around the 10-15% mark its going 1-2% which im dead happy with, YOU GUYS ARE AWSOME!!!!!!!!

Flashorn · May 6, 2024

Toasty92 said:
with Malware bytes and rolling win Defender i can say my used RAM has gone down from 9GB to 8.1GB, and my processor isnt sticking around the 10-15% mark its going 1-2% which im dead happy with, YOU GUYS ARE AWSOME!!!!!!!!

Welcome!
You know, Defender does have a good rating and if you take care in removing unused files , you'll gain a few MBs
and keep your PC/notebook in good shape.

Toasty92 · May 6, 2024

Flashorn said:
Welcome!
You know, Defender does have a good rating and if you take care in removing unused files , you'll gain a few MBs
and keep your PC/notebook in good shape.

i have spent many hour and many times not just keeping my own rigs data clean and optimised but fellow friends stuff the same, to this day if a mate bring me a laptop or PC with a HDD as the OS i always tell them get a SSD and ill clone it for free :) mt first SSD was 10 years ago an cost me 80 pound, i use it today as a External :)

Flashorn · May 6, 2024

Toasty92 said:
i have spent many hour and many times not just keeping my own rigs data clean and optimised but fellow friends stuff the same, to this day if a mate bring me a laptop or PC with a HDD as the OS i always tell them get a SSD and ill clone it for free :) mt first SSD was 10 years ago an cost me 80 pound, i use it today as a External :)

It could also be helpful if you could teach them how to maintain their own.
It would mean less work for you and they in turn, could help themselves.

Toasty92 · May 6, 2024

Flashorn said:
It could also be helpful if you could teach them how to maintain their own.
It would mean less work for you and they in turn, could help themselves.

since i was about 19 and at the time i had been working with PCs for about 4 years, the first thing i always say to them is dont store large folders on the desktop, put the folder in documents and if you really need to then addd a shorcut to the desktop, second is defrag reguarly aslong as it was a HDD and do a disc cleanup via the windows options which i would show them,, i did get asked if you should Defrag a SSD, to which i told them no dont do that as it causes unnessary wear on the layers. im the kinda guy who will help for free an teach you what i know for basic matinience (spelling is not one of them ha)

Flashorn · May 6, 2024

Toasty92 said:
since i was about 19 and at the time i had been working with PCs for about 4 years, the first thing i always say to them is dont store large folders on the desktop, put the folder in documents and if you really need to then addd a shorcut to the desktop, second is defrag reguarly aslong as it was a HDD and do a disc cleanup via the windows options which i would show them,, i did get asked if you should Defrag a SSD, to which i told them no dont do that as it causes unnessary wear on the layers. im the kinda guy who will help for free an teach you what i know for basic matinience (spelling is not one of them ha)

Good on you. This is why we are all here. This is the only way they will know how to do this on their own
and in return, will teach others as well. If the world could only be this simple.

Toasty92 · May 6, 2024

Flashorn said:
Good on you. This is why we are all here. This is the only way they will know how to do this on their own
and in return, will teach others as well. If the world could only be this simple.

i hate my local PC world/currys charge 80 GBP for a virus removal, its discusting, i have been charging the same rates for 15 years now 3.50 a hour and NO FIX NO FEE, many dont understand that but i see it as i learn somthing and you cant put a price on that :) what i love is when they go to sombody else and they ask me to "undo" what they did, i want to laugh because im stright, if i cant do it ill tell ya then advise your best course to go, but nope many will try go cheaper an then get miffy.

Flashorn · May 6, 2024

Toasty92 said:
i hate my local PC world/currys charge 80 GBP for a virus removal

I know, when I was working, one guy would charge an arm and a leg to cleanup PCs.
Then, I would come by and tell them how to do it themselves. This guy just hated me.
If you teach them to use the right tools, they wouldn't get infected in the first place.