Kitz Forum
Computer Software => Windows 10 => Topic started by: maxheadroom on July 26, 2021, 08:36:28 PM
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I have probably used every free AV in the years i have been using a PC but i am tired of constant pop ups trying to get me to upgrade to the paid for versions so for the first time ever i have been looking at Windows Defender reviews (which seems to have been renamed windows security) and it would seem in windows 10 its as good as any free AV out there and better than some so my question to the many computer savvy members is is WD up to the job and do you use it?
Thanks in advance.
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Haven't used anything else since upgrading to Windows 10, but then I don't use Windows that much except for gaming.
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I used to use Avast free for years, but eventually got fed up of the crapware they would install without my permission, and of course constant pop ups and nag screens.
So Avast got uninstalled and I paid for Bitdefender, that didn't last long, we soon got fed up with the constant notifications, so that got uninstalled.
So have been using Windows Defender/security ever since, no nags, it just does its job. Only thing I would say is the user interface is a bit of a mess.
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How often do you actually use the user interface?
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Not often, but thought it worth mentioning.
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Forgot to mention, I also have a monthly clamscan on my NAS as mostly using Linux there is no real-time protection on those clients at all and my storage is centralised.
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So have been using Windows Defender/security ever since, no nags, it just does its job. Only thing I would say is the user interface is a bit of a mess.
That is good to know and i agree about the user interface it probably puts people who are used to a few more bells and whistles off Windows Defender/security even though though as you have found it does the job.
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How often do you actually use the user interface?
I always check the update every time i boot the PC its probably not necessary but i like to see it is up to date, this actually put me off Bitdefender free which has a very good reputation but no means of manually checking for updates in the free version.
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I was using Win Defender but then the real time started turning off so I gave Bitdefender Free a try for a few weeks but that started getting update errors so I swapped back to defender which seems to have fixed it self now. Seems ok.
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Thanks Banger.
One thing i have noticed is on my laptop it takes a very long time to do a full scan but on the PC which i use most of the time (its newer and is more powerful ) it only takes a few minutes, is the power of the PC making the scan faster?
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Are you doing a full scan on the PC?
Has the PC got an SSD disk?
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Are you doing a full scan on the PC?
Has the PC got an SSD disk?
Yes to both.
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I have found WD very CPU intensive when doing a full scan. SSD will help but I think it is down to the amount of files and CPU grunt.
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Does the laptop also have an SSD?
My PC with an i5 processor and a normal disk is only running about 30% CPU. I think it's the number of disk transfers not the total transfer in B/s that's the limiting factor.
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Defender if hardened is as good as most commercial AV in my opinion.
Have a look at ConfigureDefender or Hard Configurator, note with the latter, I suggest doing an image backup first before tinkering.
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One thing i have noticed is on my laptop it takes a very long time to do a full scan but on the PC which i use most of the time (its newer and is more powerful ) it only takes a few minutes, is the power of the PC making the scan faster?
To answer my own point above -
I have timed it on the SSD PC and it took 15 minutes to do a full scan, it took a lot longer on the non SSD laptop so i assume its just the extra power and faster SSD drive that is making the PC so much quicker than the laptop.