Salute

I hate my MS sucurity, but I'm too chaep to buy software. Any ideas as to which to use??

danke

Why do you hate Microsoft Security Essentials?

I use Microsoft Security Essentials and to be honest I don't want any other Anti-Virus (at least for now)!
It's FREE, it's reliable and effective, it's extremely light (in terms of computing resources), it's not intrusive, it's good against Malwares. Well resuming: It's everything that I want and like in an Anti-Virus.

Avast ?
I use it on several comps for more than 5 years without problems (without infection):
Avast Free Antivirus

Yes AVG is what I use (now) and it seems to be working well.
Used MSSE for a lot of years with XP/W7 but, oddly, it is apparently not compatable with W10.

I used AVG for a long time, but I got tired of the constant requests to upgrade to the paid version. So, after some research I found 360 Total Security and it is totally free. The whole package is free and it got good reviews so I made the switch and it appears to be working as well as AVG. I haven't noticed any problems with WOFF.

The old Windows 7 MSSE morphed into Windows 8 and Windows 10 Defender (same thing, different name).

Maybe once I do a "clean install" I will try it again.
Got a lot of WOFF stutters that may (or may not) be related to Windows Defender. Did multiple things before they went away.

Yes, indeed.
Windows Defender is the name for the Microsoft Security Essentials version for Windows 8 and 10 (which is already included in these two later Operating System). Both are the same thing.

For some reason I assumed that the OP has Windows 7 (and assumption which can obviously be wrong).

DIH:
You have to "exempt" all the OBD folders (basically the main OBDSoftware and OBD_Games folders) to stop Defender or most other Anti-viruses from constantly scanning it while you are playing WOFF and causing stutters.

Ahh very good.
Obviously I never realized that - or that you could do that.
Always something new to learn. Thank you sir.

I also like to know before forcing you into a direction.

Be Aware that if thinking because MSE is bad of the Virusscan ranking at sites like AV-TEST
These sites are today so important for selecting Virusscan software, that I suspect: today's Virusscan Software is made to pass these tests with good results.

In practice A good virusscan software is mostly a matter of:
Before check/uncheck on the fly, read all the adjustments and what they do.
Upload the latest virus database before doing a scan
Do a COMPLETE/FULL virusscan on regular base



If leaving MSE then stick to the [free version] of the 3A's [Avast/AVG/Avira] and use what is in your personal taste.

Edit: running Virussoftware and WoFF is never a good choice. So disable your internet connection and shut down your Virusscan software.

I did use Microsoft's firewall until recently, cause it seemed to be very good.
But maybe too good?

Cause, since I used it, I could never meet any other human flyers on an own server
for online co-ops with RoF anymore. Instead of ringing an alarm bell and asking me
how to decide for any problem it saw, it never told me that it took measures here;
I could open up a server and fly there, and my friends also could - but we never
could see each other.

Since I switched the MS firewall off, online co-ops work again for me.
I now use the firewall wich is part of my KASPERSKY INTERNET SECURITY.

I guess there might be a way to set up the MS firewall to allow "port forwarding"
and everything needed for the online co-ops - but that was beyond my limits.

Some tools may be too good for mediocre users like me...

why I'm looking...because I run the free malbytes once and a while and it finds viruses that ms security didn't. Plus it seems that MS even sujests that its better to look somewhere else (paid software probebly)...and mostly, I'm not updating my W7 because of this dumb W10 downloads.

I used MSSE for many years and found it to be a good AV.
I was quite ticked when W10 said it was no longer "compatable" but PR said in this thread (and it makes sense) that Windows Defender is the successor. MSSE was quite subtle whereas Defender is more in your face leaving you no doubt it is on your system. Kind of gave me a "Skynet" feel at first blush.
Going to do a clean install of W10 today or tomorrow and I will give Defender another try with WOFF.

Personally I never had to do anything like that.
I have my MSE always active and I play WOFF without any problems or stutters.

At least with Windows 7 and the MSE version for it.





My personal experience is that no anti-virus or at least no free anti-virus is very effective against malware (or they aren't just as effective against malwares as they are against viruses).
Most (if not all) free anti-virus are somehow limited against malware but even so and to me MSE seems to be "less limited" or at least "slightly better" than other free anti-virus such as AVG, Avira or even Avast and others...

On top of this, I found MSE to be the less intrusive and among the lightest anti-virus in terms of computing resources (which IMO is extremely important when playing games).


Finally, having a good anti-virus is always important to have but nothing beats in terms of security the fact that you should be careful when "surfing" the web (being careful about opening certain type of webpages) and opening E-mail attachments. There's nothing in terms of security that beats having a careful behaviour while on the internet.
Computer virus are just like the real life crime and police, virus are always one step ahead of anti-virus (doesn't matter if you have the best anti-virus on the market).

For maleware you have the free MS free Malware removal tool

and also from MS and very handy is EMET


Info about what security defender or MSE can be found on MIcrosoft

Try to download the last JAVA and flashplayer because they are prone to leaking garbage.

Stil I think that defender and MSE are one of the best free virusscan tools. Light and easy to operate and without notifications for expering of the free to use period or advertisements for buying the pay version.

My two children use also these MS tools without any problems and they are on sites and downloads where even the famous Mban is geting manipulated. So yeah that is very exsteme infected.
Other tools I have installed are Superantispyware and IBM thuster.

Avast fights with WOFF by the way. I have used AVG free for years and it works well. According to a report I read on all AV programs AVG is now even better than ESET and for a free AV software that is pretty good. Personally the less Micro$oft software I have on my computer the better - even though I never pay for any of it. I am prepared to pay for other software but never to give to Bill Gates who tried his best to destroy the whole computer business for his own pocket.

I can not agree - I use Avast with WOFF without any problem.

As an aside my "clean install" of W10 did not go well using the thumb drive method.
Granted I had about 5 things going at once but I had one eye on the clean install process and I got stuck in some "back and forth" install loop that netted me nothing.
Guess I'll give the other method (direct download IIRC) this weekend. Or perhaps give the thumb drive method my full attention - perhaps I was messing up.

I had trouble with Avast and WOFF (or maybe it was OFF in those days). IIRC the 'Official' FAQ pdf file specifically warns against AVAST. Anyway I'm now on AVG pro with no problems (or virii either )