Antivirus suggestions

[ArtJ]

I have used N----n for many years.
Unfortunately, it has changed and not for the better. I am hounded by constant popups to add feature after feature at more cost.
Even file and registry cleanup tools are now requesting an additional fee.
I don't think you can any longer get live help with laptop problems.
Does anyone have suggestions for a more professional antivirus vendor?
Ever since they joined up with" L------Lk" it has become worse
I am running windows 11 on my laptop

Suggestions Appreciated

Thanks
Best

Art

[msmith10]

There's no need to spend a nickel on this. Use Microsoft's antivirus that's built into Windows. Free, updates automatically, operates transparently in the background.

[joe_db]

Get MalwareBytes. Between that and the built-in Windows anti-virus you will be good to go.

[ArtJ]

Thanks for the info guys.


Does Microsoft antivirus have to be initiated? How is it updated?
On th advice of an IT person,

Last summer I installed free Malwarebytes and even paid for a upgrade
He had me first install and run a free CCcleaner.

I had already norton 36o installed which I paid for when comcast stopped
supplying it.
What I found as a result that having all these programs running slowed
the computer glacially. In fact, ccleaner took it on itself to install
its own brower which I did not ask for so I removed it.

The last time I ran Norton it seemed to disable Malwarebytes
I used ccleaner last week to clean up the registry.
Magically, Norton told be I had need for yet another registry cleaner yesterday
and wanted to charge me for a upgrade. I cleaned it with
free ccleaner. The pc runs faster than it has for months.
The problem with just using Windows is that it never reported anything
and has no cleanup tools?

[W2ET]

Whatever you choose to use, don't use two concurrrently.

Bill

[joe_db]

Whatever you choose to use, don't use two concurrrently.

Bill

I have no issue with Windows antivirus and Malwarebytes.

[W2ET]

I think they do two different things. Are both running in the background?

Do a Google search on the subject and the conflicts which arise with competing antivirus programs.

[joe_db]

I think they do two different things. Are both running in the background?

Do a Google search on the subject and the conflicts which arise with competing antivirus programs.

Malwarebytes is not anti-virus. Actually the old school virus threat vector is hardly active anymore, malware is by far the biggest issue.

[msmith10]

It sounds like you may benefit from a clean reinstall of everything. To keep your computer running fast and safe it pays to periodically wipe the hard drive and reinstall your software. I do that every couple of years. The various registry "cleaners" and "optimizers" can cause problems that you'll never fix.
To use the windows antivirus, just open Windows Security in your settings

[scratchee]

I think the built-in Microsoft anti-virus is on by default in recent years. For a very basic test, right-click on any file, and one of the menu choices that pops up should/might be "Scan with Microsoft Defender." If you select that choice, you can not only scan that file but also go through the other global settings (scheduled scans, etc).

Also, any time any software tells me that I "need" something for my computer, I assume it is a lie until I see factual evidence to the contrary.

[ArtJ]

Thanks Guys

I right clicked on a file and only saw "scan with Malwarebytes"


Best Art

[msmith10]

Go into "settings" then "Privacy and security" then "windows security". Your windows security may be disabled by your previous antivirus or other installed software. You may also have to uninstall previous security software, but try that first

[ArtJ]

I checked and I have windows 10 home edition.
I think I remember that the hp pavillion g6 I have was not upgradable to windows 11
I have 21H1 Build 19043.1526

I looked up and the very latest of windows 10home is 21H1 bUILD 19044

i AM NOT SURE HOW OR IF i can still upgrade to the above version
Thanks


Best Art

[ArtJ]

after just checking version I m suddenly getting "adobe Connect" logo on
everything. Never used this or seen before and don't want it.

I looked in my programs and there is a number of adobe programs.

I clicked uninstall. the listing disppeared from apps, but it is still
showing up on everything. All I was doing was looking at windows 10 updates
and it appeared then

Does anyone know how to stop this Adobe Connect from appearing?

Help suggestions appreciated

Thanks Art

[scratchee]

Does anyone know how to stop this Adobe Connect from appearing?

I'm not sure exactly what you mean, but if you're talking about file listings that have an Adobe icon next to many of the files, that's caused by the "file association." For example, if you told your computer to always use the Paint program to open .jpg files, every .jpg file would have a little Paint icon next to it. Unfortunately, it's a very common practice for newly installed software to try to associate itself with as many types of files as possible.

If what I'm describing is what you're seeing, and there aren't too many types of files affected, you can fix one filetype at a time by right-clicking a file of that type, select "Open With" (not just "Open"), and pick the application that you'd like to use instead of Adobe Connect, THEN (important) -- also check the box that says "always use this program to open this type of file".