Help Software Recommendations

Bg260 · Sep 27, 2016

Unfortunately,

I need to invest in some Windows software. I am in need of a good anti-virus/malware detector. I wouldn't mind having something to tidy up the registry as well. I have been using IOBit's Driver Booster for my rehab projects and I'm actually quite happy with it. It does what it says. They offer a full package of cleaners and Security software as well, but I am not sure if they work. Is IOBit a trusted source? I stumbled across them, more or less, and don't know much about them.

I'm willing to spend the money but I want it to go towards something that will,
1. Do what it says.
2. Not in itself be Malware.
3. Not bug me for more money every time I open the damn thing!

I've looked at Avast, Malware Bytes and CCCleaner but I don't know enough about any of them. Please throw some opinions my way.
Thanks.

Dngrsone · Sep 28, 2016

I've used all three of the named products and have had satisfactory results. My preference would be Malware Bytes, as is it is my go-to for anything that the Microsoft Defender app can't handle.

I stopped using Avast (or was that AVG?) some time ago because it seemed to have gotten a tad bloated, and I've only used CCleaner when handling specific problems my friends/family managed to infect their machines with.

I prefer handling most of my protection off the machine with a firewall appliance, though...

michaelkenward · Sep 28, 2016

Bg260 said:
I wouldn't mind having something to tidy up the registry as well.

Do you have any evidence that this is a sensible thing to do?

Registry rot was a Windows 9X disease. Microsoft has comer a long way since then. Computer experts I respect warn against things like registry cleaners because they can do more harm than good. I have also seen too many reports of systems wrecked by injudicious use of these tools.

As to the bigger picture, Microsoft's own tools and careful practices are good enough for most people. Here too I have seen regular reports of AV software getting in the way of smooth computing.

Bg260 · Sep 28, 2016

michaelkenward said:
Do you have any evidence that this is a sensible thing to do?

Registry rot was a Windows 9X disease. Microsoft has comer a long way since then. Computer experts I respect warn against things like registry cleaners because they can do more harm than good. I have also seen too many reports of systems wrecked by injudicious use of these tools.

As to the bigger picture, Microsoft's own tools and careful practices are good enough for most people. Here too I have seen regular reports of AV software getting in the way of smooth computing.

I got a nasty virus the other day. I used the stock uninstall feature but it seemed many of the registry entries remained.
I do not use any AV on my Android devices.
This was not exactly a mistake, more of a test for Windows Defender. The solution for me was simple, write over the entire disk with zeros and start over. I have no qualms about that.
It seems Windows thinks everything is a virus and it can sometimes be a little "boy who cried wolf". I really wanted that gadget though.

Thanks for the reply.

svim · Sep 28, 2016

Here's a thread on a similar discussion:
http://androidforums.com/threads/anti-virus-2016.1006094/#post-7238098

As for Registry cleanup utilities, I wouldn't disregard all of them, that's a bit reactionary. Even though there were several that proved to be horribly hazardous to use, using that kind of logic (or lack of) to disregard all is a bit too close-minded as some were effective and useful. Generally things like Registry utilities seemed like a necessity in the Win98 days, less so as WinXP matured, and after Win7 the Registry, while continuing to be glaring weak spot in Windows backbone, has become less fragile. Did you try to see if the previous Restore point was still 'clean'?

AZgl1500 · Sep 28, 2016

Dngrsone said:
My preference would be Malware Bytes, as is it is my go-to for anything that the Microsoft Defender app can't handle.

I stopped using AVG? some time ago because it seemed to have gotten a tad bloated, and I've only used CCleaner when handling specific problems my friends/family managed to infect their machines with.

I prefer handling most of my protection off the machine with a firewall appliance, though...

MalwareBytes to the Rescue, Avast and CCleaner just about takes care of all you need, and the cost is a big Fat ZERO!

you can unload everything else you mentioned, you don't need it.

Bg260 · Sep 28, 2016

svim said:
Did you try to see if the previous Restore point was still 'clean'?

Yes, multiple times. Went back a week even.
When the desktop first boots there is half-second glimpse of a command Window. As if something was starting up. It even added a browser extension that was difficult to get rid of. The gentleman who wrote the program is the lowest form of life on the planet, IMO.

This was just a small part of it.
Good thing is I know exactly where it came from.
Thanks for the reply.

This is how I got rid of the extension.
https://www.pcrisk.com/removal-guides/7049-remove-safe-search-redirect-toolbar

Bg260 · Sep 28, 2016

AZgl1500 said:
MalwareBytes to the Rescue, Avast and CCleaner just about takes care of all you need, and the cost is a big Fat ZERO!

you can unload everything else you mentioned, you don't need it.

I've used the free CCCleaner. I don't like the constant prodding for upgrade. That and if it is something I like and is effective, I don't mind giving the developer a little money.

Also, if I uninstall a program and it opens my browser and asks me why, wouldn't that be considered Malware. I mean I didn't tell it to do that. I don't think Windows as a whole is all that bad, it's the culture that has grown around it. $39.99 for a 1 year software subscription. Come on!

svim · Sep 28, 2016

An alternative to CCleaner you might want to give a spin is the Open Source utility, BleachBit. I don't use it often, maybe annually, but have relied on for many years now.
https://www.bleachbit.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BleachBit

AZgl1500 · Sep 28, 2016

I forgot to mention "Revo Uninstaller Pro" for which I have bought a license.
this program is so totally awesome, it rolls up the Windows Uninstaller, and CCleaner all in one package.

if you tell it Max or Aggressive, it will totally seek out any piece of an old program and remove it from the hard drive, and from the registry. In one fell swoop, it can remove Symantec's junk w/o even sweating hard. even better than Symantec's "own uninstaller" which leaves all of the program code/files on the hard drive.... they just unhook the links to make it look like it is gone.... but it is NOT.

You just need to remember to click the Top Most box so that it Selects All and hit Delete

Bg260 · Sep 28, 2016

svim said:
An alternative to CCleaner you might want to give a spin is the Open Source utility, BleachBit. I don't use it often, maybe annually, but have relied on for many years now.
https://www.bleachbit.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BleachBit

Now that's what I'm talking about. I searched SourceForge for anti-virus and nothing came up, but didn't search cleaners.

AZgl1500 said:
I forgot to mention "Revo Uninstaller Pro" for which I have bought a license.
this program is so totally awesome, it rolls up the Windows Uninstaller, and CCleaner all in one package.

if you tell it Max or Aggressive, it will totally seek out any piece of an old program and remove it from the hard drive, and from the registry. In one fell swoop, it can remove Symantec's junk w/o even sweating hard. even better than Symantec's "own uninstaller" which leaves all of the program code/files on the hard drive.... they just unhook the links to make it look like it is gone.... but it is NOT.

You just need to remember to click the Top Most box so that it Selects All and hit Delete

Gonna give it a try.

mrex · Oct 1, 2016

I have been using 'Avast internet security' for years and like it alot. Sometimes i let malwarebytes to scan the computer.

I also surf in net using a user profile - not the admin profile.

Bg260 · Oct 8, 2016

mrex said:
I also surf in net using a user profile - not the admin profile.

Yes, I actually found that out early on. Even worse is browsing as root.

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