Malware and virus scan

Bartjunited · Jan 19, 2024

What do you recommend to use for malware and virus scan under w11?

TraderGary · Jan 19, 2024

Windows Security (Defender). It's built-in to the operating system.

Berton · Jan 19, 2024

No problems with Windows Defender/Microsoft Security included with Windows.

Bartjunited · Jan 19, 2024

OK cool that's what I was using in w10.

So no need to use the likes of malware bytes etc

Edwin · Jan 19, 2024

TraderGary said:
Windows Security (Defender). It's built-in to the operating system.

+1

Berton said:
No problems with Windows Defender/Microsoft Security included with Windows.

+1

CannonRebel · Jan 19, 2024

I've been using Avast for over a month now. My computer runs faster in general than it did with Windows Defender.

glasskuter · Jan 19, 2024

I run Malwarebytes Premium alongside Windows Defender. Both run in realtime and play well together.
For most users, running Defender is sufficient. It's a good idea to install Malwarebytes Free which can be run manually at any time. The Free version does not run in realtime but it's a good second checker to keep available. It can also be used to scan individual files on demand.

TraderGary · Jan 19, 2024

@glasskuter You can choose an individual file in File Explorer, right-click on the file name, and one of the options is to scan the file with Defender.

glasskuter · Jan 19, 2024

TraderGary said:
ou can choose an individual file in File Explorer, right-click on the file name, and one of the options is to scan the file with Defender.

Yes, I know. I was trying to point out that using defender as realtime and manual MWB free as a second checker is good solution if a user wants to scan a file he downloads or in email, etc..

TraderGary · Jan 19, 2024

glasskuter said:
Yes, I know. I was trying to point out that using defender as realtime and manual MWB free as a second checker is good solution if a user wants to scan a file he downloads or in email, etc..

OK. I had interpreted your recommending MWB to scan individual files with the implication that scanning individual files couldn't be done with Defender. We're good.

Bartjunited · Jan 20, 2024

glasskuter said:
I run Malwarebytes Premium alongside Windows Defender. Both run in realtime and play well together.
For most users, running Defender is sufficient. It's a good idea to install Malwarebytes Free which can be run manually at any time. The Free version does not run in realtime but it's a good second checker to keep available. It can also be used to scan individual files on demand.

Thanks I thought MWB was subscription only I didn't know there was a free version that can be used manually

TairikuOkami · Jan 20, 2024

Download HitmanPro and HitmanPro.Alert Malware Removal and Protection Tools.

Download HitmanPro to remove ransomware, malware, ad trackers and spyware from your windows machines. Get HitmanPro.Alert to provide continuous scanning in real time.

www.hitmanpro.com

HitmanPro can perform a really fast scan at startup, internet is needed.
It uses scanning engines based on Emsisoft, Ikarus, and Bitdefender.

glasskuter · Jan 20, 2024

Bartjunited said:
I didn't know there was a free version t

There is now a version marked free on their site for home users. It hasn't been there very long. For years I've been installing the trial of Pro. It's free for 14 days during which you get a few popups trying to get you to buy it. After 14 days it reverts to the free version on its own or the user can open it's settings and go to account. Select End free trial. and it reverted to free version immediately.That way it stopped most of the ads.
To anyone interested the ONLY difference in Free and Pro is Pro runs in real time. Free is manual. Their scanners are identical. If anyone is going to pay for a AV, I highly recommend MWB. It's not a resource hog, it's quiet, and it does it's job.Plus you get the added benefit of it running alongside defender, which other AV doesn't do. I've used it for 20 years. AND it's an American company.