What is best for Windows 8.x

You might want to read this:

How to Protect yourself from malware!

 

Hi

As above would be my main answer and follow on will be your PC is only as secure as what you surf or download on the internet, if you torrent or download from un-safe sites then you are opening yourself to malware.

Follow the guide TimW posted and you have enough to stay safe with.

I personally run:

Free
Windows Defendor (built into Win8)
Spywareblaster
Malwarebytes Free (on demand scan)
Windows built in firewall
My tech savvy noggin
Keep al apps and Windows upto date always, lessens exploits.

Paid
None as free is good enough

 

Hi

Good on the info above

What pre-loaded security software is on these PCs as you may wish to move to other free versions and pre-loaded if an OEM (HP, DELL etc) PC the bundled software is not normally free after the 30day trial?

If the pre-loaded is Windows own built in software then you are fine, can change to Avira and run that on Win8 ok, but do look at some of the other free software mentioned in the posts above as they are small as in Spywareblaster, doesnt run but adds known bad sites etc to the exceptions list in the major browsers, they MBAM is a great secondary scan in its free version and will work with Avira fine.

 

Hi

Cheers for the update and info, just if you have not run this Mcafee Removal Tool before do so as it will remove any left over components of McAfee as anti-virus apps are notorious for leaving junk on a PC that "may" cause issues at some point.

Or this is a good junk/unwanted app remover HERE, I run it on any friends or family new PCs to get rid of clutter.