Do you utilize a dedicated AV like Bitdefender when sailing? Or do you still trust Windows Defender to take care of the higher risk while doing this?

I’ve been solely trusting windows defender for years now. Honestly, the main way I prevent myself from getting compromised is by sticking to trusted sources whenever possible. If the torrent is provided by someone who’s only ever uploaded one thing, there’s no way in hell I’m trusting it. Beyond that, it’s a balancing act.

Not using Windows kinda solves this problem. It also solves many other problems lol

I don’t (generally) sail the high seas, but I’m surprised that people don’t use SysInternals tooling on windows. Of note:

• ProcExp - A way better process explorer and has a built-in VirusTotal scanner for all running processes. 100 times better than standard process explorer. This in combination with windows defender is nearly always enough.

• AutoRuns - A tool to see what automatically runs on your system. Included image hijacks and such. This is for handling potential post-infection scenarios.

I upload any suspicious files to virustotal.com.

I set my VPN to Russia. Russian viruses are known to not infect their homeland, by design. They promised they wouldn’t, so you know it’s good. I then run the program, and sometimes my CPU starts heating up and slowing down my computer a bit. It happens anytime I turn on my computer now that I think about it. Computer is always running slow. I guess that’s the CPU checking if the viruses are Russian and then rejecting their requests. I can verify this because when I open Task Manager, I don’t see anything showing high CPU usage. It’s probably my imagination since the thing is doing what it’s supposed to be doing and stopping the viruses.

Only downside is I occasionally get a random command prompt pop up that disappears immediately before I can read it. Plus, my identity has been stolen several times and I’ve had to get ahold of Macrosoft Support (they built Windows so I trust them) and buy their premium $500 virus total scam defender package that I pay for monthly, but I don’t think those are related.

I trust that windows viruses won't work on Linux. Plus I don't pirate software, unless I can crack it myself using binaries provided by the software. I just see pirating software as supporting a company I hate instead of supporting an open source project I like

…do you still trust Windows…

lol, not since 2004, and I’ve never looked back!

Q: How do you know that you don't have a virus without AV?

A: How do you know that you don't have a virus WITH AV?

I use linux. But yeah, windows defender is fine. Do rgular scans with it, keep it updated and you should be fine.

Windows Defender has been really good. I haven’t had a 3rd party AV installed for nearly 10 years.

Defender is sufficient when using common sense and being rightfully suspicious.
My toolbox also contains virustotal for suspicious executables/files.

If you actually want good protection, you'd need tiowatch at a solution that has behavior real time analysis. But that would also interfere with a lot of programs if they employ weird/shady programming (like trainers, mod menus etc.)

I pirate on Linux and don't use that device for anything else. And I don't pirate software or games where you are installing stuff.

I don't even have antivirus on my computer. I almost exclusively use private trackers and download music/shows/movies.

Defender all the way. Not a single virus since Windows 7. The thing some people don't realize is that in order for third party AV to work it has to modify the lowest layers of the OS which actually exposes it more to attacks. You have to trust the AV to do its job perfectly or you're screwed.

My source? Just crap I heard online before. Probably bunk. But I stand by my personal anecdote.

I sandbox stuff, using firejail or VM’s. coming from a cybersecurity perspective, AV’s are ok but they also aren’t stoping 0-days or malware that has been coded well by a good hacker.

I use Windows defender, MBAM, and Rkill.

Haven't had any issues yet, but I also choose my moorings well.

Format c:/

I sail naked AF.

Pretty sure Windows Defender is fine now and not markedly worse than something like Bitdefender. I gave up on Bitdefender when they ended the free version with no advance warning

The best antivirus is common sense. Use trusted sources, read comments, take regular backups, and use a dedicated server instead of your everyday driver. You can rely on Windows Defender or run another OS like Linux or even MacOS.

If you must download a suspicious file, check out sandbox options like Windows Sandbox.

I use ESET NOD32. Such a reliable, low resource, and professional interface. Never had a problem

If I download a file from a questionable source: scan it (with clamscan) If I run an executable I don't trust: use a locked-down (with firejail)

No matter the antivirus, if you keep downloading and running questionable files, you run the risk of viruses. I would say that browsing patterns are more important than any antivirus.

No and no. I use arch btw

I remember seeing a comparison between defenders and windows defender was on top. I see no reason to pay because of this. Either way I clean boot my pc every 4 months to keep it running very smooth.

Windows Defender is fine. The only anti-virus good enough at what it does to be worth buying instead of just using WD is Emisisoft, and that has its own set of issues.

I still end up using programs/services such as malwarebytes and virustotal on my desktop since defender isn't perfect. I have had a few instances where a game that I download outside of places like Steam had files that are actually clean and safe given false positives. Same with any key gens I've used.

With malwarebytes and virustotal, I've had less false positives in legally obtained games I know are clean. Moreso with malwarebytes since there's seemingly almost always one engine on VT saying the file is bad regardless of what it is.

I always find that having a 3rd party check a file is better than just having defender do all the work. What one engine might claim is bad might be safe to another.

My current solution to prevent getting a virus is to:

1. Go to archlinux.org
2. Download the ISO and follow the install instructions
3. Check suspicious-looking files on virustotal

Takes a few hours to initially set everything up, but has the added benefit of not using a shit operating system.

I do use BitDefender. It's free and reputable (last time I checked)

I switched back to Windows recently. Windows defender is really good, but I also use ClamAV when I need a deep scan offline that reports with a log. I only need it when I connect other people's USB drives to my computer, though. Windows Defender catches things really well and doesn't interfere with software installation, just like ClamAV. I'd say if you are looking for something free and advanced, ClamAV is what you need if you need to scan something. I hate Windows Defender's offline deep scan because it does not produce a log you can access. ClamAV does this.

I don't trust Windows Defender at all. I use BitchDefender all of the time. I tried Windows Defender for a year and it didn't fill me with confidence.

I also upload to virus total anything from an unknown source. I tried to use Intezer as well but I had many problems with my account that I have up on them. For some reason their server didn't like my account. A brand new account got closed the following day for being inactive for too long. A week later I can reset the password but I can't log in.

Seriously? This is an actual question?

Exhibit 1:

Check for yourself: https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/

If "Protection" is not the highest score, its shit. The other two (perf/use) are not so important generally, but I would say a score of 6,6,6 is far superior to anything 5.5,X,Y. Probably also means the company isn't a rolling rock gathering moss. ("We make AV, and we keep it up to date" as opposed to "we are a megacorp, and profits overrule everything else").