2015 anti-virus, malware, internet protection programs

[Alan Klein]

My desktop software license expires in 7 days.  It's McAfee Live Safe that came with the computer at $20.  Now they want $79.99 to renew.  I checked what it's done for me in the last 12 months: 2 viruses or threats removed or quarantined; 21 risky connections blocked and 21 spam messages blocked. 

Why so little?  is Windows and Internet Explorer and Firefox that I use also blocking most of the threats so McAfee does little more?

Getting back to upgrade, it seems like overkill plus I have iPads that it cannot be loaded in, I believe.

What software would you recommend?  I have one desktop Windows, 1 laptop (Windows), an iPad, and Android cell phone and an Iphone.
Thanks.

[kingscurate]

For your windows systems, I use Microsoft security essentials(free), Super anti spyware(paid), though there is a free version and malware bytes anti spyware(paid) and there is a free version. Multiple license versions available. Also have a look on windows seven forum for there suggestions, but i think most use the apps i have suggested. http://www.sevenforums.com/

[Robert DeCandido PhD]

Check Ebay - you can get a two-year subscription to the 2015 AVG email/internet anti-virus for $10 - for up to three computers.

You can get Lifetime Malwarebytes Pro (very good) for $30 on Ebay. There is also a free version directly from Malawarebytes...

Bitdefender is also good - I got a 2 year subscription (one computer) for free last summer (July 2014).

You just have to look around on Ebay/Amazon and you will find good deals - no need to pay lots of money

rdc

[Rhossydd]

I checked what it's done for me in the last 12 months: 2 viruses or threats removed or quarantined; 21 risky connections blocked and 21 spam messages blocked.....
Why so little? 

If you don't visit dodgy web sites and are careful how you handle unsolicited email attachments, the risks of malware and virus infection is actually very low... as you've found out.

It's still prudent to keep AV software running on a computer and modern multi core CPUs mean it has a negligible hit on performance.

I've been using Avast free for several years now and it's been no trouble and caught a few incoming nasties (most of which I wouldn't have opened anyway).

[stamper]

Recent reports in magazines about Microsoft security essentials(free) are it is lacking and shouldn't be trusted. Google will possibly confirm this.

[Ken Doo]

Microsoft Security Essentials seems "thin" on protection to me, but on the other hand, it is free---and plays well with Malwarebytes Pro.

ken

[Alan Goldhammer]

I've been happy with Bitdefender and run it on all the PCs (three) in our household.

[sandymc]

Unfortunately, anti-virus software circa 2015 is at best something like 50% effective, maybe much lower. See:

http://www.imperva.com/docs/HII_Assessing_the_Effectiveness_of_Antivirus_Solutions.pdf

http://dottech.org/157355/symantec-admits-anti-virus-software-is-no-longer-effective-at-stoping-virus-attacks/

The problem is that malware is evolving faster than the technology to catch it. So while running anti-virus software isn't necessarily useless, you should not ever rely on it...

Sandy