What's Your Antivirus Recommendation?

[necrevistonnezr]

@humptydumpty said in What's Your Antivirus Recommendation?:

Kaspersky is/has Russian ties.

In Germany, you use it anymore in a business context due to the offical warning of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), as such use against a warning would not be considered "state of the art".
https://www.heise.de/en/news/BSI-Warning-against-Kaspersky-products-still-valid-after-US-sanctions-9777484.html

[IniBudi]

@timconsidine said in What's Your Antivirus Recommendation?:

@IniBudi I took Sophos as a personal but multi device plan. Years ago. Seems to have rolled on.

I use Mac and iOS so no viruses there (ha ha ha).
But I need to review.

Don’t generally use android but just got new tablet, so need to review for that.

Haha, thank you.

I got a new insight here. I don't recognize that Mac and iOS are better than Windows and Android in terms of malware infection.

One day, I need to switch to iOS. Currently, I'm using Windows 11 (office laptop), and my personal devices are Mac and Android.

@humptydumpty said in What's Your Antivirus Recommendation?:

@IniBudi said in What's Your Antivirus Recommendation?:

Bitdefender, Kaspersky, or Norton. WDYT?

It's all about resource usage as some will noticeably slow down your device. Avoid Norton at all costs. Bitdefender is good. Kaspersky is/has Russian ties. Eset was my favorite back in the day due to how lightweight it was and pricing fit my student budget. Malwarebytes free is what I use nowadays, but if you're looking for real-time protection then get one of their premium plans. If I wasn't tied to Windows due to my CAD software requirements, I would have switched to Linux or Mac. Like Tim, I also have an iPhone so I'm covered on that end. I don't use any AV on my CR servers. There are some discussions about this on the forum if you're interested.

Thank you for the recommendation and your valuable insight! I read these reports, and your statement is similar to these reports:

• https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/summary-report-2025/
• https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/
• https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/

@necrevistonnezr said in What's Your Antivirus Recommendation?:

@humptydumpty said in What's Your Antivirus Recommendation?:

Kaspersky is/has Russian ties.

In Germany, you use it anymore in a business context due to the offical warning of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), as such use against a warning would not be considered "state of the art".
https://www.heise.de/en/news/BSI-Warning-against-Kaspersky-products-still-valid-after-US-sanctions-9777484.html

Ah, I see, it's not only about product benefit, but it's more than that, I mean, it's talking about compliance risk.

[timconsidine]

@IniBudi said in What's Your Antivirus Recommendation?:

I got a new insight here. I don't recognize that Mac and iOS are better than Windows and Android in terms of malware infection.

Well Mac and iOS are not immune - best approach is AV is still needed - but I think it is fair to say that they are less targeted and more robust.

My 'ha ha ha' comment was not intended as gloating, but scepticism. Hope I did not give the wrong impression.

[IniBudi]

@timconsidine said in What's Your Antivirus Recommendation?:

@IniBudi said in What's Your Antivirus Recommendation?:

I got a new insight here. I don't recognize that Mac and iOS are better than Windows and Android in terms of malware infection.

Well Mac and iOS are not immune - best approach is AV is still needed - but I think it is fair to say that they are less targeted and more robust.

My 'ha ha ha' comment was not intended as gloating, but scepticism. Hope I did not give the wrong impression.

Thank you, yes I got your points.

I ask this question because I believe you and other members here are more experience and expert than me.

So every comments will be good insight for me non tech guys.

[humptydumpty]

You gotta follow some basic online safety rules like:

• don't open emails that you don't recognize the sender
• if something seems too good to be true, it MOST DEFINITELY is nowadays (forget about deals because of tarriffs, inflation, ai-flation, yada yada)
• learn how to read email headers (it'll tell you who sent it, to whom, and more crucial info) to verify authenticity
• NEVER open attachments in emails unless you're expecting that message, can verify the sender from the header, then have it scanned by malwarebytes.
• NEVER click on shortened/masked URLs (e.g. https://tinyurl.com/cutecatz7255)
• learn how to view the URL link embedded in text (e.g. free sh1t
• scan everything you download online
• run periodic scans using malwarebytes
• grab a hot beverage and look up onion cyber security

More advanced protection but inconvenient to most users:

• encrypt your files using cryptomator
• keep +1 non-encrypted copies in cold storage at different locations and keep it synced/up-to-date regularly
• use a basic PC for browsing/downloading (e.g. old laptop with NOTHING on it, ready to be formatted once infected using a restore point if on windows)
• better yet, use a linux distro launched from a usb drive
• use a password manager like vaultwarden
• use a yubikey to secure vaultwarden (get two keys; one to act as a backup that's sitting in cold storage)
• set up a physical firewall using OPNsense or similar
• use an app firewall like glasswire or portmaster
• disable wifi when not in use
• install a mobile app called FING to see who's on your network and make sure you recognize all listed devices
• wear a tin foil hat proudly and be prepared to tell the naysayers "told you so"

[jdaviescoates]

I've basically not worried about viruses since ditching Bindow$ decades ago and moving to Linux. I don't use anything on my Android phone either. I realise it is possible to get viruses on both platforms, but still nothing like has always been the case with Windows. I do occasionally have to interact with Windows machines though and IMHO most antivirus apps are themselves bloated malware.

[robi]

@humptydumpty said:

• wear a tin foil hat proudly and be prepared to tell the naysayers "told you so"

Hmm and I own that toldyouso domain

[robi]

@jdaviescoates nod.. if you know what you click on, there is no fear.

[humptydumpty]

@robi You weren't kidding! I just noticed the link in your signature.

@robi said in What's Your Antivirus Recommendation?:

if you know what you click on, there is no fear.

Sometimes you can't avoid the bundled ones from legit/unexpected sources like through video games and their related downloads (mods, trainers/cheats, etc).

[robi]

@humptydumpty Nope, not kidding.

You can if you boycot the business packaging that includes the bloat. When I used to game long ago, the games were way more stable and space efficient from 3rd party repacks who ripped out all the bloat making it playable on older hardware too.