the one and only legit FREE antivirus for WINDOWS
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@urfausto ReactOS is a fun little toy that I've been monitoring since around 2004 or 2005, but as @Catweazle has already pointed-out, its functionality has been stuck at "approximately Windows XP" since the days of Windows XP. Additionally, that functionality is incomplete. You can get a few programs such as LibreOffice and Firefox to work in it, but many of your Windows programs, and hardware drivers simply won't work. I have only got it to successfully boot on very old hardware or a virtual machine.
Regarding "being too lazy to install Linux", I'd just like to ask where you've been for the last 15 years? I am actually too lazy to persist with Microsoft Windows! I spend what feels like hours not getting work done every time I boot it up because of all the time it spends updating or breaking something. I don't have the time to keep fixing Windows every time it breaks, and additionally keep closing all the telemetry holes every time new ones open or re-open. With a particularly friendly distribution such as Linux Mint, I just install it, forget-about it, and then and get on with my work. Of course, I'm aware that not everybody can ditch the Windows ecosystem just like that, but my point is that you needn't let mere laziness stop you!
Seriously, Windows 7 is still adequate for now - but as of January 14, 2020, your only safe and responsible options are Windows 10 (with lots of tweaks and the use of O&O Shutup10) or some flavour of GNU/Linux. You have about 2 months to either:
-ditch Windows completely, or
-learn to like Windows 10 (and its relentless forced-updates, long boot-times, repeated fixing when updates break something, and spying).If you're really desperate to stay in the Microsoft world, you can partially mitigate some of those Windows-10 symptoms, with a little effort. There even used to be a tool (I don't know if it's still available) called Classic Start, which can give you a start menu just like earlier versions of Windows. I always personally opted for the Windows 95/NT4 style start menu, which was used right up to Windows ME/2000, and remained an option in XP (it requires the least mouse-clicks of any option I've tried) - but most people used it to get a Win7-style start menu.
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Hi, it is getting a bit off topic now but like to add some cents to @jamesbeardmore ´s post.
Windows update system bothers me for years now but it is getting better with latest Windows 10 updates. If you use Windows on a daily base it need some 2-5 Minutes to get a working system usually but bigger updates need still 20-30 Minutes and several restarts.
If you don´t use your system for a week or more you need sometimes one to several hours to get it done and the system is nearly blocked during that time.
As a long term Linux user I would smile about but not in front of a "Please don´t shutdown, we updating for you" and then "Please wait we are up ..." for 20 minutes.
Check one of the Linux distributions as live image or install as dual boot system.
It is so easy today. Problems I only aware of is brand new or exotic hardware.
By the way security problems are mostly the software not the OS you run:https://www.zdnet.com/article/chrome-edge-safari-hacked-at-elite-chinese-hacking-contest/
Cheers, mib
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@jamesbeardmore said in the one and only legit FREE antivirus for WINDOWS:
@urfausto ReactOS is a fun little toy that I've been monitoring since around 2004 or 2005, but as @Catweazle has already pointed-out, its functionality has been stuck at "approximately Windows XP" since the days of Windows XP. Additionally, that functionality is incomplete. You can get a few programs such as LibreOffice and Firefox to work in it, but many of your Windows programs, and hardware drivers simply won't work. I have only got it to successfully boot on very old hardware or a virtual machine.
Regarding "being too lazy to install Linux", I'd just like to ask where you've been for the last 15 years? I am actually too lazy to persist with Microsoft Windows! I spend what feels like hours not getting work done every time I boot it up because of all the time it spends updating or breaking something. I don't have the time to keep fixing Windows every time it breaks, and additionally keep closing all the telemetry holes every time new ones open or re-open. With a particularly friendly distribution such as Linux Mint, I just install it, forget-about it, and then and get on with my work. Of course, I'm aware that not everybody can ditch the Windows ecosystem just like that, but my point is that you needn't let mere laziness stop you!
Seriously, Windows 7 is still adequate for now - but as of January 14, 2020, your only safe and responsible options are Windows 10 (with lots of tweaks and the use of O&O Shutup10) or some flavour of GNU/Linux. You have about 2 months to either:
-ditch Windows completely, or
-learn to like Windows 10 (and its relentless forced-updates, long boot-times, repeated fixing when updates break something, and spying).If you're really desperate to stay in the Microsoft world, you can partially mitigate some of those Windows-10 symptoms, with a little effort. There even used to be a tool (I don't know if it's still available) called Classic Start, which can give you a start menu just like earlier versions of Windows. I always personally opted for the Windows 95/NT4 style start menu, which was used right up to Windows ME/2000, and remained an option in XP (it requires the least mouse-clicks of any option I've tried) - but most people used it to get a Win7-style start menu.
This slow start in win10 is not true, cold start until I am connected to the network and in this forum, it does not take even 2 minutes.
It is true that in Windows 10 it is necessary to cut back the custom of usersniffing, which is not so complicated either and with Shutup10 it is done with a few clicks.
It is even faster and more stable than 7, even with updates, which also don't take more than 1-2 minutes max. -
@jamesbeardmore haha yes. it's just that i have these few niche applications that won't run under linux and i can't afford to step them aside since i use them.
i have setup everything i need as i need it under windows, unfortunately.
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@urfausto said in the one and only legit FREE antivirus for WINDOWS:
@jamesbeardmore haha yes. it's just that i have these few niche applications that won't run under linux and i can't afford to step them aside since i use them.
i have setup everything i need as i need it under windows, unfortunately.
Well, it depends on the use, Windows has advantages over Linux, starting with the availability of software, which in Windows is infinitely greater than in Linux and often of higher quality, even in the FOSS . Linux has advantages in other aspects, due to its modularity due to its OpenSource character, which allows it to be better adapted to certain functions and needs.But as you say, you can always have both OS in dual boot. But I think MS has improved Windows a lot in recent years and it is no longer so easy to say that such or such OS is better, it is always limited to personal preferences, not by functionality.
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Updates for Win 7 will still be available until they stop making them.
Any time a security problem is bad enough they WILL push the updates to all, exactly as they have done for XP with out of bounds updates.Network admin tools will likely be the best way to keep 7 updated rather than the built-in updater.
There is also a project setup to handle releasing win7 updates
https://0patch.comWindows 10 does actually have the same config panels as Win 7 so things like the desktop icons are done exactly the same way.
Use something like Winareo tweaker to enable the win 7 GUI features you miss.
My Win 10 looks like a freakish win 7 -
@Dr-Flay said in the one and only legit FREE antivirus for WINDOWS:
Updates for Win 7 will still be available until they stop making them.
Any time a security problem is bad enough they WILL push the updates to all, exactly as they have done for XP with out of bounds updates.Network admin tools will likely be the best way to keep 7 updated rather than the built-in updater.
There is also a project setup to handle releasing win7 updates
https://0patch.comWindows 10 does actually have the same config panels as Win 7 so things like the desktop icons are done exactly the same way.
Use something like Winareo tweaker to enable the win 7 GUI features you miss.
My Win 10 looks like a freakish win 7My Win 10 looks like any SO
Screenshot of my full desktop
(taskbar autohide)
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@Dr-Flay wonderful, i will try this application right away. but however that's what i was wondering, if there are serious security flaws they will be patched regardless of the OS version...
edit: 0patch is a total scam. download free, get any patch after paying subscription (whenever they are needed or not it is not explained since you have to pay anyway)
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Yes, you are right that the only Free Anti-Virus for windows is BitDefender.But it comes with great potential to threat your Privacy and Data. However Anti-Virus can deplete these chances and can protect you from any foriegn intrusion. Relying on these Free Anti-Virus is not going to cover your protection Online.
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@joshep121 said in the one and only legit FREE antivirus for WINDOWS:
BitDefender ... comes with great potential to threat your Privacy and Data. However Anti-Virus can deplete these chances and can protect you from any foriegn intrusion. Relying on these Free Anti-Virus is not going to cover your protection Online.
Huh? What specifically is BitDefender doing that others aren't?
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I used Panda Free in the past, when Windows Defender was still the worst.Panda has never let me down and also in its free version has always been among the best, with excellent user service, both in the Panda Wiki, and in the support forum.
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@Catweazle said in the one and only legit FREE antivirus for WINDOWS:
I used Panda Free in the past, when Windows Defender was still the worst.Panda has never let me down and also in its free version has always been among the best, with excellent user service, both in the Panda Wiki, and in the support forum.
https://malwaretips.com/threads/does-panda-free-now-comes-with-firewall.93192/
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@urfausto said in the one and only legit FREE antivirus for WINDOWS:
@Catweazle said in the one and only legit FREE antivirus for WINDOWS:
I used Panda Free in the past, when Windows Defender was still the worst.Panda has never let me down and also in its free version has always been among the best, with excellent user service, both in the Panda Wiki, and in the support forum.
https://malwaretips.com/threads/does-panda-free-now-comes-with-firewall.93192/
Yes, and also a good VPN in the free versión (ok, lÃmited in data and server). Its a really good alternative to Windows Defender, very lightwight and fast. But the paid versión isn't very cheap.
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@Catweazle you should read the article first lol
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@urfausto said in the one and only legit FREE antivirus for WINDOWS:
@Catweazle you should read the article first lol
I've read it, with opinions from people who think Commodo is a good AV
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