AVIRA AV - AVOID!!! It was like pulling teeth to get a refund! I had to threaten a CC chargeback!

Had the free AV, didn't want all of the other useless garbage besides the system speedup pro and added it for $8. It was garbage too. Uninstalled Avira, left multiple entries behind that were locked from ME - admin to delete, etc. This AV was literally like a VIRUS in itself.

Took me multiple support tickets that they constantly ignored and evaded my refund request and instead attempted to trouble shoot it...finally online chat got it solved after 20 minutes of telling them REFUND!

NOT RECOMMENDED. I went back to MS Defender.

fdasdas said:

Had the free AV, didn't want all of the other useless garbage besides the system speedup pro and added it for $8. It was garbage too. Uninstalled Avira, left multiple entries behind that were locked from ME - admin to delete, etc. This AV was literally like a VIRUS in itself.

Took me multiple support tickets that they constantly ignored and evaded my refund request and instead attempted to trouble shoot it...finally online chat got it solved after 20 minutes of telling them REFUND!

NOT RECOMMENDED. I went back to MS Defender.

Click to expand...

In the past few years, 2001. I have tried multiple Anti-Viruses. Norton, McAfee, AVG, etc. I had a bad PC break down and after I got it back to normal, had a friend recommend ESET. So, I tried a free trial/no credit card for 30 days. After two weeks, I was totally convinced, so bought the year for $59.95. That was 3 yrs ago. I still have and use ESET with complete satisfaction. Windows Defender is adequate, but if you don't mind spending money, I recommend ESET without reservation.

I don't think I have ever purchased PC Security!

Avira is rebranded Bitdefender, it always sucked, the new GUI is merely plastered over the old one.
You can just use Bitdefender Free and you will get the same protection, while running pretty light.

Edwin said:

I don't think I have ever purchased PC Security

Click to expand...

I have only once.. I run MWB premium alongside Defender but I got a lifetime license for MWB probably 15 years or more ago for $25. When MWB went subscription they grandfathered all the lifetime licenses. That license has been on at least half a dozen devices since then and has never failed to activate. On every other system in the house I run free MWB and manually do my scans. Running MWB in realtime alongside Defender has never caused me an issue and I have never had an infection of any kind on any computer I used it on..

Like I said. I had tried all the freebies. And paid/Norton etc. And the PC got hacked good. I had Windows Defender at that time. 3 yrs ago. And since l've had ESET, have had no problems whatsoever. And I don't have nor use any other. Not even Malwarebytes. ESET does it all. So, yes, if you don't want to pay, use Defender. But even that's not the best. And the ones rated as good, like Bitfinder and Zycarsky, etc. aren't much better.
Since I added ESET, I have done some research and viewed a lot of videos on YouTube and haven't found any negatives about ESET. All positives. So worth the money to me. $59.99 a yr is cheap when compared to the cost of a computer that has been ruined. Whether a hacker or whatever.

@TairakuOkami

You can just use Bitdefender Free and you will get the same protection, while running pretty light

Agreed. I've been using Bitdefender Free for quite some years without too much bother. There is a limit of three (3) PC's on the same IP address, then the 4th + becomes unfree.

Bitdefender Free has not given me much annoyance. A few updates have done silly things but were quickly repaired with a revamped update (which can be configured as automatic). My only caveat is that Bitdefender Free may become unfree, quite suddenly. That has happened before, where the Free/Unfree status changed around without much warning. Obviously, I hope this is not repeated.

As some other people have noted, quite a few AV's actually act as a virus, behaving exactly in the manner that one installs an AV to prevent. One quite infamous example from a well-known AV was actually collecting personal data and selling it to interested parties while ostentatiously denying this. When the publicly released evidence became too obvious for outright denial, the group blamed the contractor they themselves had hired to develop that exact sneaky module.

I really can’t understand why purchase or use free editions of third party anti-virus. Windows 11 with Windows Security is a fortress, it even has ransom ware protection. Furthermore if you have a reliable imaging system, you can be protected against any possible negative scenarios, restoring your system within minutes...

$8? Why did you even bother arguing with them over $8?

antspants said:

$8? Why did you even bother arguing with them over $8?

Click to expand...

Principle, probably, but everyone's situation is different. You never know.

glasskuter said:

I have only once.. I run MWB premium alongside Defender but I got a lifetime license for MWB probably 15 years or more ago for $25. When MWB went subscription they grandfathered all the lifetime licenses. That license has been on at least half a dozen devices since then and has never failed to activate. On every other system in the house I run free MWB and manually do my scans. Running MWB in realtime alongside Defender has never caused me an issue and I have never had an infection of any kind on any computer I used it on..

Click to expand...

Same here. Malwarebytes pro was on sale for a lifetime license a very long time ago. I snatched that up so fast. Wish I would have bought more than one. Still true to their word as well which is nice. I don't really consider it an antivirus, so I have it turned off in the windows security center so that windows defender can still run.