Does Windows 8.1 still need an anti-virus software?

ship69

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Hello

I am converting a Win 7 PC into Win 8.1 by doing a fresh install.

I was told that on Win7 that Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) + Malwarebytes Premium is a good combination
Should I upgrade to Win 8 or re-install Win 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

However it now seems that MSE is built into Windows 8.1 !

ALSO I was told that running more than one anti-virus software at once is a mistake.

Does this mean that we do not need anything for anti-virus/anti-malware other than possibly Malwarebytes Premium?

thanks

J
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro (x64)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP740U3E-S04UK (Series 7 Ultra Notebook)
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 - 3337U
    Motherboard
    Intel HM76 (?)
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 System Memory at 1600MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 8570M graphics card with 1GB gDDR3 Graphic Memory (PowerExpress)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3" SuperBright+ 350nit FHD LED Display with Touch Screeen Panel
    Screen Resolution
    (1920 x 1080)
    Hard Drives
    512GB mSATA Samsung (PM841 Series MZMTD512HAGL-00000 mSATA 512GB SATA III MLC Internal SSD)
    Keyboard
    Logitech MK700
    Mouse
    Logitech M705
    Internet Speed
    4 to 15Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, MSIE, Chrome, Opera etc
    Antivirus
    AVG Cloudcare
Hi,
Here is what works for me:

1.) Built in Windows defender
2.) UAC
3.) restrictive Windows firewall by using *GROUP POLICY* ( outbound and inbound )
4.) using standard account only ( never Admin )
5.) install only signed and verified applications
6.) and the most important, be careful while surfing ( the links u click )

If you follow these steps you'll most likely never be infected and probably don't even need to scan your PC.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Enterprise
What Gamer said, plus restrict 3rd party cookies in your browsers, you do not have to turn them completely off, just set the restrictions you want/can for each browser.
Also, I do like Gamer does, except I have started using Malwarebytes Anti Exploit Free for added browser security. It doesn't slow browsing down a bit, and it hardly uses resources any it uses only 0.1% my 16gB RAM and runs as a service. Just be careful on the install, there is an offer for premium versions trial, which will revert to the free after the trial period or if you forget to untick you can always end the trial and use the free.
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Update Pro in Hyper-V/Windows 10 Pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Cliff's Black & Blue Wonder
    CPU
    Intel Core i9-9900K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero
    Memory
    32 GB Quad Kit, G.Skill Trident Z RGB Series schwarz, DDR4-3866, 18-19-19-39-2T
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS GeForce RTX 3090 ROG Strix O24G, 24576 MB GDDR6X
    Sound Card
    (1) HD Webcam C270 (2) NVIDIA High Definition Audio (3) Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    BenQ BL2711U(4K) and a hp 27vx(1080p)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 x 32 bits (4294967296 colors) @ 60 Hz
    Hard Drives
    C: Samsung 960 EVO NVMe M.2 SSD
    E: & O: Libraries & OneDrive-> Samsung 850 EVO 1TB
    D: Hyper-V VM's -> Samsung PM951 Client M.2 512Gb SSD
    G: System Images -> HDD Seagate Barracuda 2TB
    PSU
    Corsair HX1000i High Performance ATX Power Supply 80+ Platinum
    Case
    hanteks Enthoo Pro TG
    Cooling
    Thermaltake Floe Riing RGB TT Premium-Edition 360mm and 3 Corsair blue LED fans
    Keyboard
    Trust GTX THURA
    Mouse
    Trust GTX 148
    Internet Speed
    25+/5+ (+usually faster)
    Browser
    Edge; Chrome; IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender of course & Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit as a
    Other Info
    Router: FRITZ!Box 7590 AX V2
    Sound system: SHARP HT-SBW460 Dolby Atmos Soundbar
    Webcam: Logitech BRIO ULTRA HD PRO WEBCAM 4K webcam with HDR
1. Yes, Windows Defender is OK. It is not the best AV program under the sun but it does the job if you are careful on the web. No AV program is perfect. Best is to go on the web with a virtual Linux system.

2. Running 2 AV programs is not recommended. But you can run a scanner like Mbam.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Windows Defender is enough if you won't download and install programs that you not trusted. You can also get a good on-demand anti malware like MBAM free.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit, Windows 10 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Windows Defender is enough if you won't download and install programs that you not trusted.

Wait - what happens if I download and install programs that are not 100% trusted?

This issue sounds like it may be contentious... but what are the best recommendations of advanced users in this community?

(For example
1. I installed a little utility called "Network Activity Indicator" because the id**ts at Microsoft have decided that we customers will only get confused if we have some way of seeing whether our computers are actually downloading/uploading anything an any given moment in time.

2. I installed FileZilla which I thought was open source and which I have used to good effect for many years. But now, suddenly it turns out that they have added some kind of malware.)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro (x64)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung NP740U3E-S04UK (Series 7 Ultra Notebook)
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 - 3337U
    Motherboard
    Intel HM76 (?)
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 System Memory at 1600MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 8570M graphics card with 1GB gDDR3 Graphic Memory (PowerExpress)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3" SuperBright+ 350nit FHD LED Display with Touch Screeen Panel
    Screen Resolution
    (1920 x 1080)
    Hard Drives
    512GB mSATA Samsung (PM841 Series MZMTD512HAGL-00000 mSATA 512GB SATA III MLC Internal SSD)
    Keyboard
    Logitech MK700
    Mouse
    Logitech M705
    Internet Speed
    4 to 15Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox, MSIE, Chrome, Opera etc
    Antivirus
    AVG Cloudcare
Where did you get Filezilla? Most places like Softonic and Cnet add things to the installer.
Try and get things from the developer webpages.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 64bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 500-223
    Memory
    8 gig
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SAmsung SyncMaster 2033
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Mouse
    Logitech G500S
    Browser
    Firefox
[
2. I installed FileZilla which I thought was open source and which I have used to good effect for many years. But now, suddenly it turns out that they have added some kind of malware.)

The malware isn't actually in Filezilla itself, but in one of the installers that comes from Sourceforge. If you click on the big download button on Filezilla's home page, then you'll get that installer. You need to go to Filezilla's download page and then click on the "recommended" link, which'll link to a link that ends with "nowrap" . This indicates that the link supplies the non-infected version of the Sourceforge installer (still, be cautious).

Saying that, if you want a non-infected version for sure, then why not install the one supplied by PortableApps (once you have installed PortableApps). The PortableApps project is open source, it's been around for years, and is very safe. They supply portable versions of programs, which you'd usually install on USB drives or the like to bring with you and use on machines on the go (hence why they're called portable), but there is no reason why you can't install them on your desktop machine, etc. They work fine and well there; the apps are even upgraded via the platform.

Saying all that, due to the shenanigans pulled by the Filezilla crew in actually using that infected installer and then glibly evading responsibility when questioned about it, I refuse to use their software (a pity, but there you go). I went for WinSCP instead (you can also get a PortableApps version). No problems with that and it works well.

Ultimately, the only safe way to install things is to search about and check up on them beforehand (reviews, forums, blogs, etc). When installing, ensure that you read all that's being said by the installer, and ensure you click on the right buttons (or don't click on the wrong ones). Just don't click and pray.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
Wait - what happens if I download and install programs that are not 100% trusted?

2. I installed FileZilla which I thought was open source and which I have used to good effect for many years. But now, suddenly it turns out that they have added some kind of malware.)

That's why there is a thing called compiler, you review source code and compile it on your own.
or install software signed by trusted publisher.

Also process monitor is your best bet if you're very sceptic, or want to be sure what programs do on runtime.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Enterprise
Wait - what happens if I download and install programs that are not 100% trusted?
I always check, if the software is listed on Softpedia or I check software and webpage at Virustotal.
[FONT=museo_sans_cond]Softpedia guarantees that ... [/FONT][FONT=museo_sans_cond]is [/FONT][FONT=museo_sans_cond]100% Free[/FONT][FONT=museo_sans_cond], which means it does not contain any form of malware, including but not limited to: spyware, viruses, trojans and backdoors.[/FONT]

Does this mean that we do not need anything for anti-virus/anti-malware
Since Vista people do not need any AV, not even Windows Defender.
Granted, UAC at max and sadboxed browser like Chrome is recommended.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo E525
    CPU
    AMD A4-3300M @ 2,0GHz
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 1333MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 6480G 512MB shared
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    WD 465GB
    Cooling
    Fusion Tweaker
    Keyboard
    Logitech K360
    Mouse
    Logitech M705
    Internet Speed
    50/50 MBps
    Browser
    Yandex
    Antivirus
    No AV & No Firewall
    Other Info
    Headphones: Sennheiser RS170
I have started using Malwarebytes Anti Exploit Free for added browser security. It doesn't slow browsing down a bit, and it hardly uses resources any it uses only 0.1% my 16gB RAM and runs as a service. Just be careful on the install, there is an offer for premium versions trial, which will revert to the free after the trial period or if you forget to untick you can always end the trial and use the free.

I also recommend Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy 17t j000 Quad Edition
    CPU
    Intel Haswell i7-4700MQ
    Memory
    12GB (4x3) 1600MHz Kingston HyperX CL9
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidea Geforce 740M / Intel HD 4600
    Sound Card
    IDT HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3"
    Screen Resolution
    1080p Matte
    Hard Drives
    BOOT: Intel 520 SSD 240GB
    STORAGE: OEM HGST 1TB
    BACKUP: WD My Passport 2TB USB 3.0 x2
    BACKUP3: WD MyBook 4TB USB 3.0
    Cooling
    Dual Fans
    Keyboard
    Backlit
    Mouse
    MS Wireless Mobile 4000
    Internet Speed
    119.06 MBs/ 37.37 MB/s
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Non MS solution
    Other Info
    Edimax EW-7822UAC
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