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General discussionFree Windows 7 antivirus that can be disabled?(31 posts)(31 posts)
(31 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted November 25, 2020
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timppu: Also, is MS still providing updates for it in Windows 7, and for how long? Considering MS doesn't support Windows 7 otherwise anymore, right?
Apparently they will release definition updates for Windows 7 until 2023 but not update the actual programme - sorry I've lost the source link - so it should be good for a bit longer yet :)
Posted November 25, 2020
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timppu: snip
I keep using W7 only with MSE enabled - MS still provides virus definitions on daily basis so with up to date browser I assume it's safe to do web browsing on it. You could also add additional layer of security and use Sandboxie while browsing.

But when I used to use Avira on XP - at certain moment I had to lower startup time because on frequent basis it interrupted windows booting and caused OS to hang.
Still - I think Avira was one of the best AV software I've ever used.
Post edited November 25, 2020 by tburger
Posted November 25, 2020
https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-july-october-2020/
Posted November 25, 2020
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idbeholdME: Back when I used an antivirus, I think it was Avast (it definitely had a free version that didn't need registration or anything).
I had been using Avast until just a couple of days ago but had to go to great trouble uninstalling it after it decided to install Avast's own browser on my system, set it to default, and make it open automatically on startup without me consenting to any of it. Then the dumbass uninstall program didn't work, so I had to go to trouble of manually deleting all their bullshit from my registry and manually deleting anything saying Avast from my files.

I'll give the default a try, but the whole reason I went with a third party one to begin with was that the Windows Defender for some reason was killing my system performance with disk and CPU usage. So far, so good, though...
Post edited November 25, 2020 by andysheets1975
Posted November 26, 2020
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andysheets1975: I had been using Avast until just a couple of days ago but had to go to great trouble uninstalling it after it decided to install Avast's own browser on my system, set it to default, and make it open automatically on startup without me consenting to any of it. Then the dumbass uninstall program didn't work, so I had to go to trouble of manually deleting all their bullshit from my registry and manually deleting anything saying Avast from my files.
Can't honestly tell what they're up to these days. I used it on my last Windows 7 PC, so like 4 years back.

But they usually try to hide these things in the update installers and such and are checked on by default (encountered it with many programs). I just recently updated my Windows Media Player Codec Pack and it silently installed Chromium on my PC. These shady practices are sadly the norm these days.
Post edited November 26, 2020 by idbeholdME
Posted November 26, 2020
I second the use of builtin Windows Defender, and just disable the "real-time protection" which constantly scans EXEs and such. Then you can add entire folder to "exclusion list" that way if there are false-positives it won't quarantine them behind your back.
Post edited November 26, 2020 by ormax3
Posted November 26, 2020
Wish I had an answer for you... Same situation. Using W7 too. Fed up with free Avira initializing in an infinite loop before disappearing from the task tray! It used to be good, but now it's too bloatware and too invasive for my taste.

I'm gonna test out Kaspersky, Bitdefender and Nod32. See how they perform on W7. May consider purchasing, but annual subscriptions for antivirus are a tad outside of my budget at this time. :\

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Themken: I, again, suggest everyone makes a new (offline) Windows admin account and make your normal one a restricted non-admin account. That limits the damage any malware that gets through can do.
^ Most under-rated advice! Happy you mentioned it. ;) A good friend of mine who works in cybersecurity told me to always log on as a restricted non-admin user on my pc and when an app tries to install something, it will present me with the option to log in as admin for further permission. It serves as a layer of protection.
Post edited November 26, 2020 by matterbandit
Posted November 26, 2020
I use avast from like three years now, initially it was sleek and non intrusive but later on has somewhat got worse: it's not tlike it's slowing down my PC but it needs to update itself fairly frequently which is annoying if you have an always on machine or hybernate / don't restart it.

To be clear and fair it basically needs a restart to update itself and until you don't allow that it marks its icon with a blue dot and sometimes it opens a pop-up window remanding you that the update has been dowloaded and needs a restart to be installed.

The restricted account option is not bad but because of lazy development some programs don't run properly or at all and require a full enabled account in order to.
I had it for many years and, yes, there's an added layer of control over your stuff but it can get annoying for the aforementioned reason and it's not like it can totally stop malicious software if you are not aware of it, at least that's my experience.
Posted November 26, 2020
low rated
just get win10

why do you need antivirus? did the last one found even one which was a real virus?
btw kaspersky is the best if you want one
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ormax3: I second the use of builtin Windows Defender, and just disable the "real-time protection" which constantly scans EXEs and such. Then you can add entire folder to "exclusion list" that way if there are false-positives it won't quarantine them behind your back.
that one is good too
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Judicat0r: I use avast from like three years now, initially it was sleek and non intrusive but later on has somewhat got worse: it's not tlike it's slowing down my PC but it needs to update itself fairly frequently which is annoying if you have an always on machine or hybernate / don't restart it.

To be clear and fair it basically needs a restart to update itself and until you don't allow that it marks its icon with a blue dot and sometimes it opens a pop-up window remanding you that the update has been dowloaded and needs a restart to be installed.

The restricted account option is not bad but because of lazy development some programs don't run properly or at all and require a full enabled account in order to.
I had it for many years and, yes, there's an added layer of control over your stuff but it can get annoying for the aforementioned reason and it's not like it can totally stop malicious software if you are not aware of it, at least that's my experience.
agree that restricted access is pointless , it is more annoying than what extra def it would give
Post edited November 26, 2020 by Orkhepaj
Posted November 26, 2020
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ormax3: I second the use of builtin Windows Defender, and just disable the "real-time protection" which constantly scans EXEs and such. Then you can add entire folder to "exclusion list" that way if there are false-positives it won't quarantine them behind your back.
You don't need to disable "real-time protection" to achieve that, and I seriously advise you don't. Just add files or folders to your exclusion list.
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timppu: I don't remember, but can you disable it completely?

Also, is MS still providing updates for it in Windows 7, and for how long? Considering MS doesn't support Windows 7 otherwise anymore, right?
Yes they are still providing updates. Possibly the same updates that newer versions of Windows get, but as has been said, not an update to the program itself, just the database.

You can of course disable "real-time protection" but I don't really recommend you do that. Just better to set your quarantine rules and just make exemptions for specific folders and or files. In addition to that, just check the History tab now and then to see if anything has been quarantined that you did not cater for (restore and exclude if so).

P.S. Unless I know the file that has been quarantined, I check it online with VirusTotal before doing any restore and exclude.
Post edited November 26, 2020 by Timboli
Posted November 26, 2020
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matterbandit: ^ Most under-rated advice! Happy you mentioned it. ;) A good friend of mine who works in cybersecurity told me to always log on as a restricted non-admin user on my pc and when an app tries to install something, it will present me with the option to log in as admin for further permission. It serves as a layer of protection.
I mean, this is literally just what Sudo does. At this point, why bother keeping the leaky boat around?
Posted November 26, 2020
And now there's one more thread that will be endlessly necroed by spam bots replying to one another across the years until the forums are shut down.
Posted November 28, 2020
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HunchBluntley: And now there's one more thread that will be endlessly necroed by spam bots replying to one another across the years until the forums are shut down.
wdym, this thread was opened merely two days ago..
Posted November 28, 2020
From personal experience using both paid as well as free suite I recommend Comodo Their free product offers the best firewall/AV/malware/locker protection you can get.
Post edited November 28, 2020 by Mori_Yuki
Posted November 28, 2020
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HunchBluntley: And now there's one more thread that will be endlessly necroed by spam bots replying to one another across the years until the forums are shut down.
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ormax3: wdym, this thread was opened merely two days ago..
Numerous past threads with "antivirus" and "free" (and/or other popular AV-spam keywords) in the title have been repeatedly resurrected by bots and other spam-posters, sometimes after years of a given thread being inactive.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionFree Windows 7 antivirus that can be disabled?(31 posts)(31 posts)
(31 posts)