computer securuty

[desmo11225]

Hello Everyone
My security programmer McAfee has e.mailed me about my automatic renewal coming up next month, its £88.97 for another year. Now as you know I'm not all that expert with these computers , I do'nt have a mobile phone, or all the extras that are available since I started with the computer , my usage is pretty basic I would have thought.
My question is do I really need to spend £90.00 on my security, mind you I do'nt want to skimp and cause myself a lot of hassle and I know a lot of you are pretty expert now.
Some advice please, All the Best desmo11225

 

[cumbriasteve]

If you are using Windows they have their own free protection, that's what I use coupled with a free version of malwarebytes, never have any problems.

There are though loads out there for free so hang on for more answers.

 

[steveo3002]

my computer expert mate says the free ones are enough protection , and never open email attachments from random emails

 

[macandmoss]

just google internet security offers , I do it every year , Norton sends me a renual and its always expensive so I just search for best offer and put new code in , got Norton full security for £30 which covers up to 10 devices

 

[Dodge20]

I've used AVG free for years now and never had any problems.

 

[HMB]

Mac no worries

 

[pedrobedro]

Use the McAfee Consumer Products removal tool to get rid of it. I've done it on a few and it works. Run a registry cleaner after it as well.

 

[pedrobedro]

Just edited the post but I'll add here, run a registry clean after it as well, Ccleaner is a good one.

 

[MCKDAVID]

our local guy recommended avast, as the better of the "free" ones. I've always been a bit skeptical of them, I'm not used to getting something for nothing, and wasn't sure how good they could expect to be, so in the end we went with bitdefender. works for me.. think we were 90 euros for three years for 5 pcs / phones etc. thought that was pretty reasonable. will check tonight exactly how much it was, but around about that.

 

[Robotstar5]

Many years ago I used a new credit card for the first time to renew MacAffee and the card was cloned not really a good advert for an internet security company.

 

[daleyd]

Many years ago I used a new credit card for the first time to renew MacAffee and the card was cloned not really a good advert for an internet security company.

 

[Keith 66]

I used to run avast until the day my computer got a bad virus. I now run Eset av, its about £40 a year for three but is excellent.

 

[gaz1]

I've used AVG free for years now and never had any problems.

avg used to be good but no longer for years and its only an antivirus

windows firewall and anti virus is just basic no protection really also don't run 2 firewalls or anti viruses at same it cancels each other out

if your going to pay go for eset

ive got eset business and its been good for years enough for me to buy the software or the keys for 3 machines

the difference is that its a firewall and anti virus as well

if you want free

http://www.techradar.com/news/the-best-free-firewall

comodo is just as good stay well away from Norton that ones really rubbish and a swine to get rid of

 

[norlander]

if your going to pay go for eset

thats what we use over here,seems sound .

I used to run avast

I used to run amok but I'm too old now, hmm dunno though...................... avast must be for Jacks computers?

 

[tlovatt]

Some banks also give out free anti virus, Barclays customers for online banking can have a free copy of Kaspersky internet security for multiple machines

 

[MoreWellie]

+1 for Eset Internet Security, less than half the price but much better than mcafee or norton in my opinion

if you have more than one PC then look at buying more than one license at the same time as the second, third and fourth licenses are very cheap

 

[Brummie]

I was told that the free versions are always a few weeks behind their patches in comparison to their paid for versions. I don't know if that is true but on some levels it sounds feasible.
Prevention is better than a cure, so I use linux which is less prone to viruses.

 

[skotl]

I wouldn't have an issue with any of the options on this list;

http://uk.pcmag.com/antivirus-reviews/142/guide/the-best-free-antivirus-protection-of-2017

Have a look at the features of each and pick the one that matches what you're looking for. Personally, I'm running Avast free on some of my home PCs and AVG on others.
I find Avast is slightly less obtrusive / annoying compared to AVG.

Here's the thing, though - with pretty much all modern mail solutions (Yahoo, Hotmail, BT, Virgin, anything with a name you've heard of) they have spent far more money that you and I and will pretty much filter out all emails with any viruses on them.
So the most likely way to get malware or a virus is not because something sent you something malicious but because you actively downloaded it! Downloading software that appears to be too good to be true (cracked version of Office or Call of Duty, or software from "free movies" sites) likely accounts for 99.999% of any home computer infections / issues.

Much of that software won't even get detected by antivirus software (either because they don't exhibit the traits of viruses / malware, or because the versions in use mutate often so that AV tools don't identify them). So the two safest and cheapest ways to protect yourself is to use one of the free tools in the list but, mostly, to use common sense and don't download too-good-to-be-true applications from sites that you don't know and trust.

Edit: Crossed with this post;

I was told that the free versions are always a few weeks behind their patches in comparison to their paid for versions. I don't know if that is true but on some levels it sounds feasible.
Prevention is better than a cure, so I use linux which is less prone to viruses.

That's not necessarily true but, for the reasons above, that's not where you're in most danger. The days of actual "computer viruses", that spread like wildfire before AV vendors update their patches are thankfully behind us.

 

[mfletch]

Windows defender and the paid for version of Malwarebytes

 

[Mee]

Good luck getting rid of McAfee though, the way that

From memory, many people had this problem.

I use malwarebytes and have no problems at home, for work they have something included in some package free which also seems to work.