Solved Anti Virus/ Anti-Malware for Windows 8.1

xTheOlahx

New Member
Messages
14
Location
Cleveland, Ohio
Recently I have had some BSOD problems with my computer. After posting to the forums my crash dumps, I was recommended to try uninstalling AVG as it could be the culprit. So far so good and I have not had any blue screens.

Upon uninstalling AVG I have been using Microsoft Security Essentials. I have also heard really good things about Malwarebytes and have being using that as well just the free version though. My question being, is running MSE and Malwarebytes enough protection or should I be using some other type of protection? Should I upgrade to the pro version of Malwarebytes to get the realtime protection? I have heard mixed things about MSE so thats why I asked.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    CPU
    FX 8350
    Motherboard
    Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0
    Memory
    2-4GB Corsair XMS3 1333
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus 7870 DC2 2GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BenQ 2420TE, HP 2211x
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 Pro 128GB
    Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB
    PSU
    Corsair TX850M
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF X
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Trigger-Cherry MX Blue
    Mouse
    CM Storm Havoc
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2014
I had the same problem myself, everything from blue screens to system freezing and / or taking big performance hits when I used other antivirus products. I have tried most if not all the better known antivirus solutions and every one of them messes with 8.1 in one way or another. The thing is once you uninstall them the system runs fine, kind of makes you wonder if Microsoft has done this on purpose to push their own security software.

From what I understand Windows Defender is not the same as Microsoft Security Essentials, I have been told it is kind of a step up and works better, this remains to be seen as I have had no alerts from it as of yet.
If you can afford it I would go with Malwarebytes Pro, if not for nothing else for the real time protection, I have it and it has saved my butt more than one.

One more thing you want to consider is with all the Cryptographic Ransom viruses in the wild these days is Crypto Prevent, it is supposed to block all those Cryptology ransom viruses, you can get it here : CryptoPrevent | Computer Technician - PC Repair Software |Foolish IT LLC the free version you have to update manually, the paid version will update itself.

You can also try Hitman Pro Alert beta which is basically the same thing as Crypto Prevent, you can get that here: HitmanPro.Alert CryptoGuard - SurfRight . There is no need to run both, one or the other is fine.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64 / Windows 8.1 Pro x64 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    8 gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GE Force 5200
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 2009M x's 2
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 900 x's 2
    Hard Drives
    One internal Western Digital HD 650 GB
    Three external Western Digital HD's - 1 TB each
Yeah I know. I don't think my problem was avg but I'm still waiting it out to see if I get anymore blue screens. But I am pretty cautious to links and websites that I go to and to things I download.

So do you feel that Malwarebytes/Malwarebytes pro and MSE?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    CPU
    FX 8350
    Motherboard
    Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0
    Memory
    2-4GB Corsair XMS3 1333
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus 7870 DC2 2GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BenQ 2420TE, HP 2211x
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 Pro 128GB
    Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB
    PSU
    Corsair TX850M
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF X
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Trigger-Cherry MX Blue
    Mouse
    CM Storm Havoc
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2014
I actually just dumped eset in favor of avg, and so far so good.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 Pro, Desktop Mode
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    AMD FX-8150
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-890GPA-UD3H
    Memory
    8.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 (9-9-9-28)
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6570
    Sound Card
    Creative X-Fi Titanium
    Monitor(s) Displays
    PX2710MW
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080@60Hz
    Hard Drives
    1x1TB Western Digital WDC WD1001FALS-00J7B1 ATA Device Caviar Black -

    4 x 2TB Seagate ST32000542A -
    1 x 4TB Seagate External
    Case
    Antec
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14
    Keyboard
    Logitech Illuminated Keyboard K740
    Internet Speed
    60meg cable
    Browser
    Cyberfox
    Antivirus
    AVG Security Suite
Yeah I know. I don't think my problem was avg but I'm still waiting it out to see if I get anymore blue screens. But I am pretty cautious to links and websites that I go to and to things I download.

So do you feel that Malwarebytes/Malwarebytes pro and MSE?

I would do:
Windows Defender (MSE)
Malwarebytes Pro
Cryptoprevent

I would not try the HitmanPro.Alert right now, the past couple of versions have a bug and is throwing up false positives when used in conjunction with certain other antivirus software. I had to uninstall it from my Windows 7 machine because it was not playing well with Bitdefender and kept giving me malicious program alerts every time I opened a browser even though the machine is clean.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64 / Windows 8.1 Pro x64 Dual Boot
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    Memory
    8 gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GE Force 5200
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP 2009M x's 2
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 900 x's 2
    Hard Drives
    One internal Western Digital HD 650 GB
    Three external Western Digital HD's - 1 TB each
Windows defender and malwarebytes pro and safe surfing
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    4 Windows 7 Pro Sp1- 4 Win 8 Pro, 1- xp pro sp3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 390, 380, 3 Vostro Laptops (7 computers in all)
    CPU
    desktop/laptop
    Memory
    4gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    atm randioum
    Hard Drives
    350,250
Thanks for all your help. I think I will end up getting Malwarebytes Pro and stick with Windows Defender.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    CPU
    FX 8350
    Motherboard
    Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0
    Memory
    2-4GB Corsair XMS3 1333
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus 7870 DC2 2GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BenQ 2420TE, HP 2211x
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 Pro 128GB
    Western Digital Caviar Black 500GB
    PSU
    Corsair TX850M
    Case
    Cooler Master HAF X
    Keyboard
    CM Storm Trigger-Cherry MX Blue
    Mouse
    CM Storm Havoc
    Antivirus
    AVG Internet Security 2014
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