Where do I go?

I had Avast Internet Security and I had to uninstall it. Now I need an anti-virus program/Internet protection suite that won't hijack my computer and display its own adware, free or not, and I don't know where to go (which forum)

 

What version of Windows are you running? It helps if when you ask for suggestions, you either mention the OS or have the info in your signature so it would be showing with each post.

 

I'm sorry I'm new at this. My OS is WIN7x64 Home Premium. I share a cable modem with a LAN, No one else Ever uses this mabhine, and I've had very few problems with malware in the past and every time I run sfc I get a clean bill of health.

pythagoras (WIN7x64 Home Premium)

 

I can't stand Avast constantly butting in either. Get Microsoft Security Essentials and get your peace of mind back

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/security/pc-security/mse.aspx

 

I'm running Qihu's 360 Internet Security. I was running Comodo but, 360 is much less obtrusive and resource hungry. It was also only 1 of 2 that protected XP from all 54 exploits that target XP specifically and it's free.

 

The biggest problem, for me, is that there are so many security programs, it's mind-boggling

pythagoras (WIN7x64 Home Premium)

 

Read through this http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=44525
starting at item 2.
If you don''t see it listed in that lengthly post, avoid it.

Personally on our Windows 7 computers (we have four in the house) I use Windows 7 built in firewall, MS Security Essentials for an antivirus, and Malwarebytes Pro to guard against malware and bad sites. (There is a free version but it doesn't offer real time protection).
I also run a passive program, SpywareBlaster, to protect installed browsers from spyware.

 

It's interesting that chaslang mentions Comodo but not Qihu. It was info that I read on MG's that lead me to Qihu.

 

Plodr's link to ChasLang's post is a great start for reference. I have used many on the list over the years on Win 98, XP, and now 7. They performed their objectives well. Many started as single function software; e.g. Zonealarm was just a firewall and AVIRA was just an anti-virus. Then came competition and bloat. They started adding in other functions and created their "suites", which was going to cost us. Typically the additional stuff was downloaded along with what you had been using. So, if you bit on the "try for 30 day free" bait, it was already on your system to run with a mouse click. Download/update times got longer and disk space usage increased, whether you wanted it or not. Overall, operating got somewhat sluggish on my comp and I got away from the all-in-one stuff.

I prefer freestuff and created my own selection (suite) to get things done. My one and only realtime anti-virus is MS Security Essentials. Being a gamer, I dont want much running in the background, but I did run the free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium. It ran fine along with MSEE, and is the only second realtime process I would trust to not be a conflict. I do use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Free) for scanning, along with the MSEE scanning feature. My third scanner is SpyBot-Search & Destroy. It also provides site protection, similar to SpywareBlaster, which I use. So, plodr and I are fairly close on what we run.

I depart from plodr for my firewall. Since April, when I left XP for 7.1, I have been trying out Privatefirewall 7.0, and so far, Its easy to use, and have had no problems. Previously, I used Sygate, which is no longer supported and incompatible with 7.1(64).

The bottom line for me is these are all light on resources, especially since the only ones running all the time are MSEE and Privatefirewall. I am sure there are a myriad of other combinations to be found from ChasLang's list. GL

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/microsoft_security_essentials_for_windows.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/malwarebytes_anti_malware.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/spybot_search_destroy_2_12_final.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/spywareblaster.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/privatefirewall.html

 

I spent a few hours going through product comparisons and was prepared to go with the Bitdefender Total Security 2014 because editors were swooning over it and it's half-price, then I decided to go with AVG Antivirus Free and TinyWall, then I decided that I was too impulsive and that I'd think about it for a few weeks. I'll get the MBAM in some configuration.

pythagoras (WIN7x64 Home Premium)

 

Good move. Install this and you can decide about the other items at your own pace.