Java Question

[Richard Sinkler]

Every week, my McAffe AV shows a window with programs it found that needs updating. It always has Firefox, which I check, and it's the current version.

Then another is Java that needs to be updated and listed as a critical update. I have uninstalled Java, and there is no Java present on the list of programs in control panel. So, I never allow McAfee to do any updates. Actually, I never let it update anything but itself. Any idea what is going on?

[Dave Potter]

Wiz tells me I'm living on the ragged edge using the Windows built-in anti-virus app. I get it. But, I'll just say that it was all that kind of extraneous BS I saw using those 3rd-party products that finally pushed me to dump them. Life's too short.

And, I'm still alive to tell the tale. Who'da thunk it?

YMMV.

[Richard Sinkler]

Is the built-in AV good? I may just dump 3rd party programs.

[Dave Potter]

Is the built-in AV good? I may just dump 3rd party programs.

Richard, check out the other discussion "Anti-Virus Protection", we had here a few days ago. There's good info there.

The short answer is [edited] maybe not "the best" - it came in last in a recent analysis done by some apparently respected testing outfit I hadn't heard of. But I use it, and I'm not having issues with virus infections, that I know of. It does offer some protection. But as I said earlier, I tolerated the 3rd party goat-rope as long as I could stand it, years ago, and finally threw in the towel on Avast/McAfee/AVG/Norton - et al.

I'm not inclined any more to just knee-jerk and jump on whatever comes in at the top of the latest "tests", so I just acquiesce and go with what's free, available, and handy, and so far, it's done the job, I think. These are personal judgement calls all of us make. This one is mine. Microsoft Security Essentials gets updated fairly often, and that, along with the Windows firewall, my NAT router, which makes my PC invisible on the net, and a little "Southern windage" in terms of what I click and what I don't, and avoiding obviously malicious sites, seems to be working for me. Again, YMMV.

[Jack Stoner]

I've used the Windows Defender (and previous names) and have not had any Virus infections. However, I don't visit many sites.

I also use the Microsoft Defender as its "non intrusive" with my recording studio software. Some AV's can conflict but Defender does not.

I see various testing reports on AV programs and most do not rate it very high, however I have also seen those that rate it very good. Take the rating sites with a grain of salt as they can make the results skew whatever way they want.

[Dave Potter]

I also use the Microsoft Defender as its "non intrusive" with my recording studio software. Some AV's can conflict but Defender does not.

I see various testing reports on AV programs and most do not rate it very high, however I have also seen those that rate it very good. Take the rating sites with a grain of salt as they can make the results skew whatever way they want.

I tend to agree, Jack. One thing that I recall vividly about all the 3rd-party stuff I used is that they're very pervasive and intrusive. They get everywhere in your system, and some are pretty hard to totally get rid of - simple "uninstalls" still leave remnants lots of places on the system. That's one of the things I use JV16 Power Tools for, but, ... I know, I know.

And ratings are somewhat similar to political "polls" we're being inundated with nowadays. Results depend a lot on what questions are asked, and how they're asked. Most aren't that good at predicting outcomes.

[Jon Light (deceased)]

FWIW I ditched Norton (let it expire) around 4 weeks ago and have been using Defender and Malwarebytes.

Observations: some system things run a lot faster. Because of less bloat or because it is less comprehensive?
I run Defender manually whenever I remember to, as opposed to Norton's virtually continuous scanning & updating. I am uncertain whether Defender will initiate a scan automatically or is strictly a manual program.

Bottom line---so far so good, I think. I feel like I've downgraded my protection but I've saved $$ and system resources. Time will tell whether that's a fool's bargain or not.

[Dave Potter]

I run Defender manually whenever I remember to, as opposed to Norton's virtually continuous scanning & updating. I am uncertain whether Defender will initiate a scan automatically or is strictly a manual program.

I feel sure that scheduling runs is an option with Defender. However...

My impression had been that Microsoft Security Essentials was appropriate for Windows 7 anti-virus protection, but here, Defender's been mentioned a lot, and I started to wonder if I had it right. I do see that Windows Defender, the app, is on my system, although it's disabled. So, I Googled MSE vs Defender, and learned that Defender is available in Win7, but only as anti-SPYware, not anti-virus. Just thought I'd throw that in, in case any windows 7 users had a similar question.

[Jon Light (deceased)]

And to keep things specific, I'll add that I'm on win10. I'll look for a scheduling option although a cursory search a while ago got me nothing.

[Dave Potter]

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... =windows-7

[Richard Sinkler]

Dave said:

I'm not inclined any more to just knee-jerk and jump on whatever comes in at the top of the latest "tests", so I just acquiesce and go with what's free, available, and handy, and so far, it's done the job, I think.

I don't even look at ratings any more. I know who the top names are. As money is extremely tight for me, I buy what is on sale, or at least affordable at the time. I just switched to McAfee from Trend (and sorry I did) because the cost for renewing my subscription has always been more than buying it new. This time, McAfee was on sale really cheap so I had to make the move.

Why is the cost of renewing always higher than buying the software new? I don't believe they send you new software when you renew. They just set the expiration date.

[Jon Light (deceased)]

re: Defender in win10.......scheduling appears to not be an option. I've gone around & around in circles.
It purports to be a real time scanner so that it will not open files or links without sniffing them first.
System scans are left to the push of a button. Bah. I guess I can handle that.

edit----looks like I learned how to use "task scheduler" to get a daily scan happening. Shouldn't have been too difficult but I managed to make it so.

[Dave Potter]

re: Defender in Win10..scheduling appears to not be an option.

Since I'm not using it, I don't have a dog in the hunt, but the link I posted above shows an image of the Defender "Options" screen, which includes choices for scheduling automatic scans "Daily" or only certain days of the week. Is that not what you're looking for?

[Wiz Feinberg]

Dave said:

I just switched to McAfee from Trend (and sorry I did) because the cost for renewing my subscription has always been more than buying it new. This time, McAfee was on sale really cheap so I had to make the move.

Why is the cost of renewing always higher than buying the software new? I don't believe they send you new software when you renew. They just set the expiration date.

I didn't find that to be the case when my renewal came up, for Trend Micro. In fact, I upgraded from Trend Anti-Virus Plus to Internet Security for $10 more than staying with the lesser protection.

Were you not offered a special renewal rate via email? I was.

One thing I have noticed this year is that some software buy-in prices have increased over 2014-15. I believe it has something to do with the added costs of developing program features that will work with Windows 10, but not break on older versions. Somebody has to pay the pipers. So anti-virus companies and backup companies have raised the cost of new purchases this half year.

[Jon Light (deceased)]

.....the link I posted above shows an image of the Defender "Options" screen, which includes choices for scheduling automatic scans "Daily" or only certain days of the week. Is that not what you're looking for?

No--win10 no longer has this control panel. You have to go to the Windows system task scheduler. It had me a little nuts until I sorted it out. Now I've got a daily scan scheduled. Maybe.

[Dave Potter]

Dave said:

so I just acquiesce and go with what's free, available, and handy

I probably should have included that it needed to at least be somewhat useful. I don't just look for whatever's free, especially when it's that important.

[Wiz Feinberg]

No matter what, if any, anti-virus/malware programs you use, you can augment their effectiveness by magnitudes if you operate as a less privileged user. This goes for all known personal and business computer operating systems.

It is a well established fact that limited user accounts are more protected than Power/Standard user accounts, which are many times more secure than administrator level accounts, which are now just one step below System accounts.

FWIIW: I learned a way to add a true Administrator account to my Windows 7 PC. It allowed me to install, uninstall, update and move programs, directories and settings with no UAC prompts at all, at the System privileges level. I played with it for one week, then decided it was too dangerous even for me to have this power, only one password away from my Standard user account. The implications of being tricked into installing a program, driver, or update that was specifically rigged for this trickery would be much more difficult to reverse than if the same thing happened via my regular administrator/owner level account, which is one step below System.

[Richard Sinkler]

I can't remember if it was an email or a pop-up for the renewal. I just know it was higher than buying McAfee from Amazon. In the past, the cost of renewing Trend was higher than buying it new from Fry's Electronics and Amazon.

[Wiz Feinberg]

I can't remember if it was an email or a pop-up for the renewal. I just know it was higher than buying McAfee from Amazon. In the past, the cost of renewing Trend was higher than buying it new from Fry's Electronics and Amazon.

I think I paid $39.95 to upgrade to the better product at renewal time. In addition, the new license covers 3 computers, whereas the old license only covered one. I applied one to my laptop in my leather shop and one to my main home PC. When I get or build a touch screen Windows 10 computer i will apply the 3rd license to it.

[Richard Sinkler]

The Trend I had was for 3computers also.