Do antivirus programs still suck donkey dick? -

[Pee Cola]

Stock Windows Defender has always worked great for me. I never found a free anti-malware program I liked, but then again I also haven't needed an anti-malware program ever since I started using adblockers. Its really amazing just how much shit that tries to fuck with your computer comes out of ads and badly scripted pages.

Fuckin' A.

Even a relatively cucked adblocker (such as AdBlock Plus) will do a half-decent job of stopping the nastiest shit before the user sees it. A good adblocking solution that's well set up can make it almost impossible to accidentally get malware unless the user does something really retarded like downloading sketchy software and not unchecking all the boxes wrt to bundled crapware. By "good adblocking solution", I mean something like uBlock Origin at browser level or Pi-hole at network level (ideally both, especially if you use your machine away from home).

 

[dreamworks face]

I just roll with windows defender now - norton, mcafee. cause a lot more problems than they fix (they all install dlls that do crazy shit to your computer and inject themselves into every process.) If you use Chrome and Adblock and you don't pirate software there's practically no reason to ever run the non-ms avs.

 

[Overly Serious]

FWIW @AmpleApricots, I looked into network namespaces following your advice. I'm now set up with one that sees my regular network interface, one that sees the VPN, and a default one that sees nothing but a loopback interface. I assumed this set up would get in the way and piss me off pretty quickly, but I've been happy with it.

Do you or @Overly Serious have any opinions on firejail?

I'd love to offer some helpful insights but in fact, you've actually introduced me to firejail. It looks pretty neat, actually. And I like the look of their virtualized networks. These days I've fallen into just running up different VMs for different purposes. Using RDP or some other remote desktop tool I basically have as many computers as I want all running side by side and can just toggle between them at will. It's a stupidly heavy approach but virtualization these days is so advanced that everything runs just fine, passed through from the guest to the metal with the host OS barely having to lift a finger. Compared to the early days when everything was emulation, it's infinitely more viable. Something like firejail looks like it would be less work, though - definitely worth a try.

That said, when Windows 8 came out I went from being an exclusively GNU/Linux person who'd never even used Windows outside of work (and I wasn't a programmer, it was just Excel, Word, etc.) to a Windows evangelist almost overnight. I retain enough GNU/Linux knowledge to get by and to annoy Linux fanatics who aren't used to the Windows users they criticize knowing their own dirty laundry. But I'm rusty and my GNU/Linux days are probably behind me unless we enter open totalitarianism and I simply can't trust Windows any longer.

GNU/Linux is still an amazing achievement, though. I am tempted to reinstall Gentoo or maybe try Arch. But sadly I just don't have the time. My OS these days, is mainly a tool and Windows does that well.

I just roll with windows defender now - norton, mcafee. cause a lot more problems than they fix (they all install dlls that do crazy shit to your computer and inject themselves into every process.) If you use Chrome and Adblock and you don't pirate software there's practically no reason to ever run the non-ms avs.

Never install McAfee. You literally cannot uninstall it without downloading a special program from the Internet to do so. And they make it really hard to find. Least that was true last time I used it which was about 8 years ago. Doubt it got better. I think nobody voluntarily chooses it these days. Their entire business model is paying OEMs to pre-install it on your PC and then badgering people to enter their credit card to buy a plan.

And Norton - I once saw it pop up a whole series of messages about how its firewall had just protected me, it had blocked a virus, etc. when it literally had no network connection. Norton lies. Don't touch it.

 

[ArnoldPalmer]

Quit going to sketchy porn sites, ya mook. Knowing what you're doing on the internet is a better antivirus than anything you can download and install.

 

[Shroom King]

And Norton - I once saw it pop up a whole series of messages about how its firewall had just protected me, it had blocked a virus, etc. when it literally had no network connection. Norton lies. Don't touch it.

The last time I used Norton (15 years ago) it was a massive resource hog.

 

[serious n00b]

AV block said site from installing a trojan or some other shitty malware

that's not how that works

 

[Nobue]

Never really bought this argument. I can visit seemingly harmless sites with zero intention of downloading anything and still have AV block said site from installing a trojan or some other shitty malware. It isn't even ad related as I use adblock. I know you don't download shit you don't understand, dont open emai, from that Nigerian prince or the bank you never signed up for, but I think there are legit reasons to use AV.
It's not even a matter of noticing weird shit. Why would a virus in current year install some kind of blatant popup BS, when it's much more useful for a hacker to either install some cryptominer or keylogger? Atleast the crypto you may notice increased PC usage, but spyware wouldn't draw much attention. I have to wonder how much AV free people would find on their machines if they used an AV scan just because you don't have redirects doesn't mean you arent infected.

You still get a lot of the popup stuff. People who don't know what they're doing (and idiots) fall for that stuff regularly.

 

[nippleonbonerfart]

Update: I bought a McCaffe subscription just to make the naysayers in this thread MOTI.

 

[IAmNotAlpharius]

Most of them offer substandard protection, their main purpose is selling subscriptions for features and mining data.

Not to mention most slow down your system, and not only due to scanning:

"Oh, you started your computer and want to use it? Let me just grind everything to a screeching halt and hog your bandwidth to bring you some special offers of features you can already do for free"

Avast is a cancer, it butchered CCleaner and their practices are shady as fuck.

Yeah, I had that issue with some antivirus software I got for free when I purchased s new computer. I haven’t had any issues with Malwarebytes. Basically, it was taking up a lot of my ram and was trying to get me to upgrade to a more advanced plan. If I was older I would’ve freaked out and assumed I had a virus. I don’t remember if it was macafee or something else, but it was a couple years ago and I was pissed.

 

[serious n00b]

Yeah, I had that issue with some antivirus software I got for free when I purchased s new computer. I haven’t had any issues with Malwarebytes. Basically, it was taking up a lot of my ram and was trying to get me to upgrade to a more advanced plan. If I was older I would’ve freaked out and assumed I had a virus. I don’t remember if it was macafee or something else, but it was a couple years ago and I was pissed.

Whenever you get a new computer you should (probably) reinstall the OS to remove all the bloatware

 

[garakfan69]

Update: I bought a McCaffe subscription just to make the naysayers in this thread MOTI.

That's like cutting off your dick to own the transphobes.

 

[serious n00b]

That's like cutting off your dick to own the transphobes.

Meh, he sure got us guuuud though.

 

[nippleonbonerfart]

That's like cutting off your dick to own the transphobes.

I am not a poor I can afford as many transition surgeries as I want.

 

[Overly Serious]

Whenever you get a new computer you should (probably) reinstall the OS to remove all the bloatware

Unironically, I recommend the Surface line of computers. No bloatware whatsoever unless you include an easily deleted shortcut to let you buy MS office. Decent hardware and as basic an install of Windows as you could wish for outside of rolling your own images.

 

[serious n00b]

Unironically, I recommend the Surface line of computers. No bloatware whatsoever unless you include an easily deleted shortcut to let you buy MS office. Decent hardware and as basic an install of Windows as you could wish for outside of rolling your own images.

I haven't looked at them in a while, but the last time I did you couldn't even open up the thing which puts users in tight cuffs imo

 

[Overly Serious]

I haven't looked at them in a while, but the last time I did you couldn't even open up the thing which puts users in tight cuffs imo

This is true. They're pretty much non-serviceable. That truth is going to matter different amounts to different people. They're good devices, they're not good hobby devices.

 

[Pee Cola]

Unironically, I recommend the Surface line of computers. No bloatware whatsoever unless you include an easily deleted shortcut to let you buy MS office. Decent hardware and as basic an install of Windows as you could wish for outside of rolling your own images.

In my experience, the Surface has one especially convincing use case: a tablet that is actually capable of doing real work. Sure, the Surface is either expensive (Pro series) or a bit slow (Go)... but they're surprisingly good at doing office tasks when on the road, as well as the usual entertainment stuff during one's downtime. IMHO the Surface makes Android tablets and the iPad look like toys.

I wouldn't be without my Surface Go when travelling (remember that?). I can't speak for the Pro, but the Go's biggest party piece is that I can charge it with the same USB-C charger that I use for my phone.

 

[serious n00b]

They're good devices, they're not good hobby devices.

Hobby device / tinker toy =\= Being able to fix your own shit

 

[nippleonbonerfart]

Mcaffee subscription day 12 trip report for the doomers and qoomers:

- My computer was broadcasting an IP address but Mcafee found out and fixed it.

5/5 would broadcast again

 

[Just Dont]

Win Defender is the best, hands down.

A solid antivirus that works because it blocks access to critical parts of the OS, so even if you have a trojan or malware, chances are they aren't active enough as to do serious harm.

I also use spybot for malware and common sense.

And lastly try not to pirate games right now, the hacking scene is at war m and most of the releases by hacking groups like Steampunks, IGG and even FitGirl come with Trojans of variant degrees of harm.