One more Anti Virus Question, How is Bit Defender?

[BearZDefect]

My experience with Bit Defender reflects the negative reviews above from Jimmy9190 and Rand, so I never recommend it.

But my experience is from a few years ago, so maybe they fixed some of the problems.

 

[JustinH]

Still disagree with you guys.

In the enterprise environment we were running symantec endpoint, it is not very good. It is also hugely bloated. 1.5 GB in size.

We are now running ESET endpoint that is marginally better.

I think at home you want something not bloated and intrusive.

If you think a few percentage points of "testing" from one company to another is going to save your computer, you are wrong.

The most important thing for users is to change your habits and don't go clicking all kinds of unknown file installers.

That, or run your browsers in a sandboxed environment and just blast the computer back to stock with a snapshot. This way you don't have to run an AV client and you don't care.

The enterprise is going away from desktop computers all together, it will be VDI endpoints that we present a VM to, and we can put it back to stock in two seconds.

Anyone with a decent computer can run a linux VM on Oracle Virtualbox for free, and keep your windows PC pretty darn safe.

You guys can stick with your registry cleaners, and your defender that and this, keeping the OS sterile is the real answer.

 

[Mystic]

Originally Posted By: JustinH
Still disagree with you guys.

In the enterprise environment we were running symantec endpoint, it is not very good. It is also hugely bloated. 1.5 GB in size.

We are now running ESET endpoint that is marginally better.

I think at home you want something not bloated and intrusive.

If you think a few percentage points of "testing" from one company to another is going to save your computer, you are wrong.

The most important thing for users is to change your habits and don't go clicking all kinds of unknown file installers.

That, or run your browsers in a sandboxed environment and just blast the computer back to stock with a snapshot. This way you don't have to run an AV client and you don't care.

The enterprise is going away from desktop computers all together, it will be VDI endpoints that we present a VM to, and we can put it back to stock in two seconds.

Anyone with a decent computer can run a linux VM on Oracle Virtualbox for free, and keep your windows PC pretty darn safe.

You guys can stick with your registry cleaners, and your defender that and this, keeping the OS sterile is the real answer.


JustinH, I try to stay away from the Computer Section because it is controlled by the Linux fans, but I can't resist commenting here and asking you some questions if you do not mind.

The post is about BitDefender and I always had problems with BitDefender. It always seemed buggy to me.

Anyway, Windows 10 will be out in about a month and a half and I can get it for free. What do you think about the security of Windows 10? I will probably use Windows Defender at first in Windows 10, until the AV companies catch up and their products are compatible. After they do become compatible, I will probably run ESET NOD32.

I don't know if device control will be available immediately and maybe it will not be available anyway to just ordinary users.

I was thinking about whitelisting of programs, device control if I can get it, bitlocker encryption, and Windows Defender if it is good enough and otherwise eventually ESET. I do not have experience running virtual machines but I understand that will be easier to do in Windows 10. Some malware can detect if they are in a virtual machine. I also like Malwarebytes Anti-malware (free version) and HitmanPro to back up Windows Defender. It is no longer necessary in Windows 10 to have to burn Windows Defender Offline to a CD. Only a few megabytes need to be downloaded. Windows Defender in Windows 10 will have much faster detection of zero day malware then in the past because of much quicker detection and analysis in the cloud.

Of course everything can be deep-sixthed by users who download junk. I will stick to known programs like Microsoft Office, Photoshop, Lightroom, Photodex Pro Show Gold (a Texas product by the way), Perfectly Clear plug in, possibly DXO Optic Pro, and the software and drivers for my Epson Photo printer and Epson scanner. After all of these programs are compatible with Windows 10 I will whitelist them if I can.

I am also considering fingerprint identification and perhaps facial identification for login. This is for a home computer.

Actually I should have put this in a PM and I will do so from now on.

 

[punisher]

This thread illustrates the difference in our experiences, and the difference in end users. Corporate/multi-user admins deal with adults (for the most part) and can implement white lists, user restrictions, etc. Maybe Defender can play a role.
My experience is with....everybody. Fourteen year old boys discovering new porn....check. Six year olds clicking every "Hello Kitty" or "My Happy Barbie" or "Pokémon" page and installing whatever cute program strikes their fancy. Mom, mom likes installing every coupon/shopping program available and it's accompanying toolbars and browser helpers. Grand dad and granny still download programs to fix non existent problems whenever a fake malware popup appears.

I try to help users and correct their habits, but it is essentially useless. I get complaints if I try to alter permissions, I get complaints when the antivirus blacklists a page and won't let it load. I throw on ESET or Kaspersky Internet security, or Bitdefender Free, set it up, and cross my fingers the system stays in the wild for a few months before I have to clean it up again....for another $80.

 

[JustinH]

I like Windows 10. I have been playing with the preview here for a few months.

It runs acceptably with 4gb of ram, and runs great on 8gb in a VM.

Security is going to be similar to 8.

I do like the integration of the microsoft account into the login screen. That will work well with home users and allow a password reset through the web.

At work we still run 7. There are plenty of corporate apps that don't even work on 8 yet, so we won't be going to 10 anytime soon.

Who works on your computer? If just you and others, just give them non administrator accounts, and lock your administrator account with a password.

Whitelisting of programs is Applocker, that is usually not done on home computers. Administering an applocker policy for one computer makes no sense to me.

Bitlocker drive encryption may make sense for a super sensitive laptop that goes places and you are worried about the data, but on a home PC I would not mess with it.

I encourage you to get a copy of Oracle Virtual box (free), and build out some VM's to play with on your own PC.

If you think something is going to break, take a snapshot of the VM, and when it breaks restore it to that point.

I have no idea why people mess with ten PC registry cleaners, and other nonsense. That is dated technology. If you blow something up just restore from the latest snapshot.

I never had luck with the thumb readers, we do have it built into some Dell laptops. For two factor authentication we use smart cards, which are the building security cards.

For my email I use my cell phone and a password to login to gmail, maybe microsoft will come up with a login that uses 2fa with a cellphone. That would be what I would like to see.

 

[Mystic]

Thanks JustinH. I like the looks of Windows 10. The only problem is many of my programs may not be compatible for a while. But the nice thing about Windows is that eventually with any new operating system there is great hardware and software compatibility.

I am going to have to get into VMs. I have only limited experience in that area.

I never use registry cleaners. In fact if I get a new computer I want a clean copy of Windows and no trashy software. I don't need a trashy trial copy of Norton AV or McAfee AV (I guess it will be called Intel Security now for the McAfee).

I also do not download trash programs from the internet and I wish Java would just die. I don't need it. On the new internet when it becomes reality Flash will probably be gone also.

I work on my own computer.

I will run Windows Defender at first. It is supposed to be improved in Windows 10. Eventually I will switch to ESET if necessary.

 

[JustinH]

At the office we had some departments who bought some web programs that use java, but at home I have no use for it.

Chrome browser does not need plugins, so I don't even download plugins anymore.

 

[Mystic]

Java is not needed for many programs nowadays although I think it is used somewhat in Android stuff. About the only program that I think still requires Java is the Adobe Creative Suite and I don't have the entire suite. Otherwise there is only one website I know of that still uses Java, and it is still possible to go to that website and use it without Java. And I have not been to that website in a long time.

If you have Adobe software you have to be careful because at least in the past when you update the Adobe software sometimes the AskToolBar will be included or a McAfee scan. You have to be sure to not allow the download of that stuff.

I just now heard that Microsoft is going to start blocking at least older versions of the AskToolBar

I don't need any toolbars.

You have to be careful about the Google toolbar also.

No stange software for me. I will stick mainly to Microsoft and Adobe software, Photodex, Attentech, Epson, and some anti-malware software like either ESET or Kaspersky and MBAM and HitmanPro.

 

[Noobie]

Use it with confidence. Bitdefender has been one of the most consistent AVs out there based on tests done by labs. They almost end up in the Top 3 positions along with other common names like Kaspersky.

 

[Subdued]

I've been in the business for long enough to know letter dropping certification holders really don't know a whole lot.

Signed,
A Guy with a lot of letters and certs that knows he still has a lot to learn about the things he has a lot of letters and certs for.

 

[Noobie]

Well what you said fits perfectly real life situations with people but when it comes to AntiMalware software if its not the tests done by labs then its basically impossible to see which software is the most effective at blocking/removing malware. Anything said without proof is just a wild guess.

 

[Rand]

Defender is like the kid with fingers plugging ears going nah-nah-nah while the house is burning down.

You are better off with nothing.. because you know you have nothing VS defender where you think you are protected but are not.

 

[BearZDefect]

Originally Posted By: Rand
Defender is like the kid with fingers plugging ears going nah-nah-nah while the house is burning down.

I think if you're aware of its limitations it can be helpful.

But I think the #1 defence is to be savvy about what you do, and configure your web browser to not trust most sites - limit javascript and flash, eliminate java and ActiveX and browser helper objects altogether, be wary of unfamiliar sites, etc.