Help. Unwanted popups. How do we stop them?

[Flopper]

WMB free is not real time, all you can do is run a scan, you can do that with that many free software too
it also does not update as often

Msert is updated and microsoft, it has a better chance of finding a virus and removing it

The free version of Malware Bytes is completely free. It is a device scan that you imitate. Typically it will scan an entire drive looking for infections that exist on the disk drive.

The paid version like all other anti-virus programs automatically scans every file you open and optionally every disk you connect to your computers.

The disk scan version that you initiate uses the same signature file to identify malware as the automatic scan version. All antivirus programs work about same. The major difference is their signature file that they use to identify the bad stuff.

The paid version automatically updates the virus signature file as well as the program. You have to manually update the free version.

The free version of Malware Bytes will typically find malware that products like Norton and McAfee miss. I think this stuff is mostly popups and adware.

 

[egp320i]

The free version of Malware Bytes is completely free. It is a device scan that you imitate. Typically it will scan an entire drive looking for infections that exist on the disk drive.

The paid version like all other anti-virus programs automatically scans every file you open and optionally every disk you connect to your computers.

The disk scan version that you initiate uses the same signature file to identify malware as the automatic scan version. All antivirus programs work about same. The major difference is their signature file that they use to identify the bad stuff.

The paid version automatically updates the virus signature file as well as the program. You have to manually update the free version.

The free version of Malware Bytes will typically find malware that products like Norton and McAfee miss. I think this stuff is mostly popups and adware.

I know, I bought 3 lifetime keys and I have the full version that scans each time I open a website if it has bad coding, the free version does NOT do that, all you can do it run a scan for a virus, it does not "catch" it

that is why you must pay for that service

 

[Flopper]

So I check out BitDefender--I had not heard of them--and get this. Admittedly this is the cons but it could definitely turn off a possible buyer.

Bitdefender Reviews: Written By Customers

Comparing antivirus software? Read reviews and complaints about Bitdefender, including its various security solutions, performance, cost and more.

www.consumeraffairs.com

Reviewers that actually test software and use it rate Norton and Bit Defender about same as far there their ability to handle malware. I think Tom's Guide ranked Bit Defender number 1 this year and and Norton 2. Consumers report rated Bit Defender a bit better. PC Mag gave the nob this year to Norton.

The fact is all the top antivirus programs are very good at trapping malware. Some do a better job of catching popups and adware and other do better at stopping viruses and trogons. Most of the best programs such Norton an Bit Defender catch over 99% viruses.

 

[Flopper]

I know, I bought 3 lifetime keys and I have the full version that scans each time I open a website if it has bad coding, the free version does NOT do that, all you can do it run a scan for a virus, it does not "catch" it

that is why you must pay for that service

As I remember, when Malware Bytes scans a disk and finds malware, it quarantines it by isolating it in a quarantine folder. I think Norton as well most products do the same thins.

 

[Foxfyre]

Reviewers that actually test software and use it rate Norton and Bit Defender about same as far there their ability to handle malware. I think Tom's Guide ranked Bit Defender number 1 this year and and Norton 2. Consumers report rated Bit Defender a bit better. PC Mag gave the nob this year to Norton.

The fact is all the top antivirus programs are very good at trapping malware. Some do a better job of catching popups and adware and other do better at stopping viruses and trogons. Most of the best programs such Norton an Bit Defender catch over 99% viruses.

For sure it varies from reviewer to reviewer. But since Norton remains at or near the top in all the credible reviews--I do not trust AI reviews --and it has served us well for years now, I see no reason to change.

 

[Foxfyre]

most AV's have an auto-renew unless you just buy a key each year or you just use their free version which is neutered

You probably never heard of sophos but they are enterprise grade, they have a home version for about 40 bucks a year for 10 devices which is generous, not sure anybody at home has 10 computers unless you are running a crypto farm

I'm just going to stick with Norton that has served us well for a lot of years now. At least until it gives me reason not to.

 

[egp320i]

As I remember, when Malware Bytes scans a disk and finds malware, it quarantines it by isolating it in a quarantine folder. I think Norton as well most products do the same thins.

That is true but you either ask it to do a search or it happens every so often but the paid version is pro-active, when you open a website or a program it scans it in the background, if it clean you get nothing, if it has a virus, bad code, PUP, etc it quarantines it

 

[egp320i]

I'm just going to stick with Norton that has served us well for a lot of years now. At least until it gives me reason not to.

go with what you know, if it works for you that's all that matters, are there better out there? sure

still boils down to what you do and where you go,stay away from dark sites, shady downloads, hacked programs and you will be alright.

one of the worse even from a good source are game trainers, they are technically a game hack with and exploit but they often can have a virus inside, I know, I've downloaded a few in the day and MWB flagged it as soon as I unzipped the RAR before it even could install, doing it's job

 

[egp320i]

Reviewers that actually test software and use it rate Norton and Bit Defender about same as far there their ability to handle malware. I think Tom's Guide ranked Bit Defender number 1 this year and and Norton 2. Consumers report rated Bit Defender a bit better. PC Mag gave the nob this year to Norton.

The fact is all the top antivirus programs are very good at trapping malware. Some do a better job of catching popups and adware and other do better at stopping viruses and trogons. Most of the best programs such Norton an Bit Defender catch over 99% viruses.

That is true, most are about the same cost, it boils down to the interface and user experience.

Go on amazon and bitdefender is 4/5, many ***** about something, usually the key they bought does not work but if it's a legit key from amazon then it's likely user error

bitdefender has been criticized for having a clumsy interface for the user

this is why ms defender is good, no console, no user interaction, it just runs in the background doing it's job and it's free

most AV give you all these settings, some people might not understand them and generally just leave them all on so why have settings you can adjust? no reason you would turn off a scan, real time protection, firewall etc

with MS defender you don't need to.....that option is not an option

 

[Foxfyre]

go with what you know, if it works for you that's all that matters, are there better out there? sure

still boils down to what you do and where you go,stay away from dark sites, shady downloads, hacked programs and you will be alright.

one of the worse even from a good source are game trainers, they are technically a game hack with and exploit but they often can have a virus inside, I know, I've downloaded a few in the day and MWB flagged it as soon as I unzipped the RAR before it even could install, doing it's job

That's one thing I also love about Norton. It stops me if I'm about to log into a dangerous website.

 

[Ringel05]

Just stay away from gay midget porn and you should be okay..........

 

[Flopper]

For sure it varies from reviewer to reviewer. But since Norton remains at or near the top in all the credible reviews--I do not trust AI reviews --and it has served us well for years now, I see no reason to change.

If you are happy with Norton, then you should stick with it. Norton antivirus which is a key component of Norton 360 does an excellent job of detecting malware.

My problem is not the quality of the software but the way they market it. They market their anti tracking software by using scare tactics. They make it very easy to buy subscriptions and difficult to cancel them. They increase subscription prices often without telling their customers. They degraded their technical support which is part the every subscription in order to sell real support by real people. Yet the basic software is good, however it does require a lot of resources which can be a problem for older machines.

 

[Foxfyre]

If you are happy with Norton, then you should stick with it. Norton antivirus which is a key component of Norton 360 does an excellent job of detecting malware.

My problem is not the quality of the software but the way they market it. They market their anti tracking software by using scare tactics. They make it very easy to buy subscriptions and difficult to cancel them. They increase subscription prices often without telling their customers. They degraded their technical support which is part the every subscription in order to sell real support by real people. Yet the basic software is good, however it does require a lot of resources which can be a problem for older machines.

I haven't had any of those problems with Norton. Not any of them. But I guess everybody's experience can be different.

 

[Flopper]

That is true but you either ask it to do a search or it happens every so often but the paid version is pro-active, when you open a website or a program it scans it in the background, if it clean you get nothing, if it has a virus, bad code, PUP, etc it quarantines it

The paid version, like most antivirus programs, scans every file you open and every device that you connect. The free version scans your disk files, typically your entered disk drive whenever you initiate it.

The free version of Malware Bytes is a good companion for Windows 11 Defender which is part of Windows. It runs all the time that windows is up checking all files that are opened. Then weekly, or whatever interval you may chose, you run Malware Bytes to scan your entire C: drive. The combination of the two is a good solution for the average user who doesn't need heavy duty security software and doesn't want to pay the price.

 

[egp320i]

The paid version, like most antivirus programs, scans every file you open and every device that you connect. The free version scans your disk files, typically your entered disk drive whenever you initiate it.

The free version of Malware Bytes is a good companion for Windows 11 Defender which is part of Windows. It runs all the time that windows is up checking all files that are opened. Then weekly, or whatever interval you may chose, you run Malware Bytes to scan your entire C: drive. The combination of the two is a good solution for the average user who doesn't need heavy duty security software and doesn't want to pay the price.

mwb does more if you pay, it blocks files and websites if they are phishing re-directs, PUP, bad coding, etc

free does not do that which I said earlier, that is why you pay for that real time service

the free version DOES NOT scan every file you open, you can only ask it to do a scan, that it's

go ahead and ask gemini

free is an on demand scanner......

I've only been using it for 15+ years.......

 

[Flopper]

mwb does more if you pay, it blocks files and websites if they are phishing re-directs, PUP, bad coding, etc

free does not do that which I said earlier, that is why you pay for that real time service

the free version DOES NOT scan every file you open, you can only ask it to do a scan, that it's

go ahead and ask gemini

free is an on demand scanner......

I've only been using it for 15+ years.......

I think we both agree. The paid version looks at ever file you access plus other stuff. The paid version like most antivirus you pay for catches 99%+ of the viruses. Free version catches 70% to 80%. The free version does a disk scan and uncovers viruses in files you never access. I don't know how important that might be.

 

[egp320i]

I think we both agree. The paid version looks at ever file you access plus other stuff. The paid version like most antivirus you pay for catches 99%+ of the viruses. Free version catches 70% to 80%. The free version does a disk scan and uncovers viruses in files you never access. I don't know how important that might be.

not true, the free version is on demand, you need to tell it do a scan, it does NOT do a scan real time, for that you need the paid version which is real time

 

[hondo 50]

Whack a Mole software

 

[egp320i]

Whack a Mole software

which one? any free software is limited for a reason, you want to play you gotta pay, that's the rule

 

[hondo 50]

Well, get a good pop up blocker. I get none on this site.