What anti-virus software do you use? - 2014 edition

[Ziggy]

So we all know Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, but I've been reading about Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/antiexploit/

The free version auto protects IE, FireFox, Chrome and Java along with any add-on run under them. The Premium version will also auto protect PDF readers, MS Office, media players, and allow you to make custom shields (shield any process that MBAE doesn't auto shield, like a mail client or whatever).

Apparently the way it works is unique. It doesn't rely on definitions like AV software does (it doesn't need to constantly update - just program updates every so often). It somehow (don't ask me to explain it!) protects these processes from being exploited. So it works were every other AV falls flat on its face: Zero day attacks. With typical definition based AV software, you're only protected against an exploit if the vulnerability has been discovered, patched, and your AV software is up to date. Sure, AV software might detect bad stuff happening, even without specific definitions, but some of the scariest malware these days (IMO) is the kind you get from exploits and drive by downloads.

For the third time this year, a Flash Player drive by download exploit has been found in the wild.

https://blog.malwarebytes.org/exploits- ... ayer-0day/

http://community.norton.com/en/blogs/no ... rtisements

http://community.norton.com/en/blogs/no ... discovered

These are the scariest ways to get malware in my opinion. You can be browsing TRUSTED sites and get into trouble. The worst part is it'll all happen in half a second, you wont even know.

Well, apparently with MB Anti-Exploit you were already protected from these recent Flash exploits.

Since it works differently from AV software, it's said that it should be compatible with most AV software. The free version will protect you while using any of the top 3 browsers. The real question would be why NOT have it? It almost sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?

[ExedExes]

So we all know Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, but I've been reading about Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit.

Free browser protection from MB -- I'm on it! I'll also be using this for other people's computers I come across (I do a lot of anti-malware/toolbar/PUP removal as it is!)

I'm also trying Webroot SecureAnywhere. It got an Editors' Choice award this year from pcmag.com, it's completely web based so it's always updated (no definition files needed!), and the initial download is less than 1MB. It also uses way less memory than any AV I've ever seen. Light, fast, powerful, and it's also $30 cheaper per year for an annual subscription than Norton.

[Ziggy]

Free browser protection from MB -- I'm on it! I'll also be using this for other people's computers I come across (I do a lot of anti-malware/toolbar/PUP removal as it is!)

Yeah, I was gonna mention, I'm definitely gonna use this on other people's computers. I'll just have to double check that it doesn't interfere with their AV first. I'm even considering getting the Premium version for myself.

I'm also trying Webroot SecureAnywhere. It got an Editors' Choice award this year from pcmag.com, it's completely web based so it's always updated (no definition files needed!), and the initial download is less than 1MB. It also uses way less memory than any AV I've ever seen. Light, fast, powerful, and it's also $30 cheaper per year for an annual subscription than Norton.

Yeah, another thing I didn't mention. Anti-Exploit is only a 3MB application. It shows up under Task Manager as 3740 K. It's $25 for a year on 3 PCs.

The only thing is, I wish it just could have been added into MB Anti-Malware so both could run as one application instead of two separate things. I have no idea if that wasn't feasible to do, or if it's some sort of marketing thing to have it as a separate program. If MB wanted more money for it, I wouldn't even care. MBAM costs X amount for the year, pay $25 more to add Anti-Exploit protection. At least it would be ONE program. Two just seems a little clunky.

[Ziggy]

I just had my first run in with Anti-Exploit.

Any time I went to load a page with Flash Player my browser would freeze and I'd end up having to kill the process in Task Manager. Honestly, I forgot that Anti-Exploit was down there in the system tray, so I checked everything else first lol. Made sure the browser and Flash Player plugin were up to date, then I scanned with Malwarebytes. Disabling Flash Player fixed the issue, so I remembered that I had Anti-Exploit. I stopped Anti-Exploit and pages that use Flash started working just fine. I enabled Anti-Exploit again and the problem came back. So I went to MB's website and found a new version of Anti-Exploit. I downloaded and installed it, while both my browser and Anti-Exploit still running, and now it's back to working fine.

I have no idea what caused the problem, but that keeps me from wanting to install it on other people's computers. I figured I can install it and then they'll never know it's there, and it'll add a bit of protection for them. But since this happened, I don't know.

[Exhuminator]

Bitdefender is as good as it gets these days.

[fastbilly1]

Panda Free is my go to right now for people. Easy to use, hard to screw up, and does a decent enough job. Couple that with scheduled Malware Byte runs, I have crippled my return customers business.

[ExedExes]

I just like that the new Anti Exploit now has an auto update feature. I don't see how it would cause a problem with Flash seeing how it only protects Java. I've put it on many people's computers now.

I've heard good things about Panda Free.

[Ziggy]

I just like that the new Anti Exploit now has an auto update feature. I don't see how it would cause a problem with Flash seeing how it only protects Java. I've put it on many people's computers now.

Yes, I had 1.05.x.x. I upgraded to the newest version, and noticed that it has an auto update feature now.

The free version protects the browser plus add ons. I don't know why, but it was messing up Flash Player. I didn't even bother to restart the computer, or close and restart Anti-Exploit, either could have fixed it if something just got screwed up in RAM. Or maybe there was a corrupt file? Installing the latest version, right on top of the old version, fixed the problem though.

I'm still thinking about getting the paid for version. $25/yr for 3 PCs, not a bad deal.

[marurun]

I am still doing great with AVG Free. It's not getting in the way of my gaming much at all (imposition or speed), unlike some previous free and not-so-free software I've tried.

[Ziggy]

AVG was what I used for years and I never had a problem with it. I stopped using it when it started to get bloated, but from what I've read it's gotten better recently. AV-Test.org rated it decently, but they gave Avast! a better rating. That's probably what I'll be putting on my Aunt and Uncle's new desktop, along with MB Anti-Exploit.

Does AVG Free block known malicious IPs like Malwarebytes, Norton, etc?