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[Closed] New Win 10 PC Incoming for Mac User - What anti virus?

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As above i've been using Macs for the last 10 years or so. We've got a Windows 10 PC incoming (for the wifes work).

I was just wondering if i need to worry about installing any antivirus/malware or are the in built Windows up to scratch these days?


 
Posted : 13/10/2020 11:53 am
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Just what Microsoft supply.


 
Posted : 13/10/2020 11:54 am
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None - just make sure you allow all the built-in Microsoft stuff to update properly (automatically)


 
Posted : 13/10/2020 11:57 am
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MS Defender is a fine choice now

https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/


 
Posted : 13/10/2020 11:59 am
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As above, the built-in one is fine for normal people who aren't being attacked by state-level hackers.


 
Posted : 13/10/2020 12:08 pm
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We’ve got a Windows 10 PC incoming (for the wifes work).
shouldn't the work IT department take care of everything? Unless it's her own business, in which case presumably you are the IT department, so you should've got a Mac 😂


 
Posted : 13/10/2020 12:11 pm
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If it's an off-the-shelf PC, uninstall whatever "free trial" foisterware AV has been installed. Defender should then kick in.


 
Posted : 13/10/2020 12:42 pm
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Thanks all. Good to hear MS Defender should do the job.

@zilog6128 No, she connects to her work PC remotely via a personal computer (currently ageing mac mini but soon to be Lenovo desktop PC). As a result protecting the personal pc is our responsibility.


 
Posted : 13/10/2020 1:17 pm
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Raspberry Pi (or any other Linux machine) would do that cheaper & safer I'd have thought!


 
Posted : 13/10/2020 1:29 pm
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Hahaha nerd.


 
Posted : 13/10/2020 1:33 pm
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Yep, an 8gb Pi4 running Ubuntu stuck on the back of a monitor would be pretty cool, cheap and - yes - possibly safer.

Maybe.


 
Posted : 13/10/2020 8:06 pm
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For an alternative recommendation I have used Bullguard for many years. Doesn't appear to slow things down unlike my experience with Norton/AVG. Reasonable price (i buy a new product each year and just provide the code as its cheaper than the renewal) and I've had good support for the one issue I had to contact tech support for. I've never used windows defender on it's own.


 
Posted : 14/10/2020 9:49 am
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For an alternative recommendation I have used Bullguard for many years. Doesn’t appear to slow things down unlike my experience with Norton/AVG. Reasonable price

The built in Windows Defender is free and plenty good enough for everyday users.


 
Posted : 14/10/2020 10:19 am
 Del
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Lol @ the Linux suggestions.


 
Posted : 14/10/2020 10:25 am
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Lol @ the Linux suggestions

Other than the fact that the OP has a Windows pc on the way, could you explain why this is lol-worthy?


 
Posted : 14/10/2020 6:54 pm
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Other than the fact that the OP has a Windows pc on the way, could you explain why this is lol-worthy?

The lolz is strong with this one.


 
Posted : 14/10/2020 7:06 pm
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Other than the fact that the OP has a Windows pc on the way, could you explain why this is lol-worthy?

I've used Linux as a daily workstation*. There's no way on earth I'd recommend it to anyone who didn't specifically want it. Even if you're lucky enough for it to work perfectly OOB you're going to end up failing to be able to use software or devices you want to use at some point. Or you'll not know how to do something and you'll get totally stuck and no-one will be able to help you. Or you'll have to call tech support cos your broadband's not working and they'll go 'ooh no we can't help you on Linux' or something.

Really really not worth the hassle. Just so many caveats.

* the reason I eventually put Windows back on (after spending weeks trying to get the build the way I wanted it) was because whenever I had some kind of problem, people I was working with always assumed that it was because I was being awkward and using Linux, even if it wasn't. I had to use Open Office, this totally screwed up document formatting and I had to reformat everything. Then another time I had lots of blue screens it was caused by faulty ram slots, but I still got blamed.


 
Posted : 14/10/2020 8:20 pm
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I’ve used Linux as a daily workstation*. There’s no way on earth I’d recommend it
100% agree, though no-one has actually suggested doing this so not sure why you’ve brought it up 😂


 
Posted : 14/10/2020 9:05 pm
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zilog6128

100% agree, though no-one has actually suggested doing this so not sure why you’ve brought it up 😂

zilog6128

Raspberry Pi (or any other Linux machine) would do that cheaper & safer I’d have thought!

(-:


 
Posted : 14/10/2020 9:12 pm
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The only use-case mentioned has been connecting to a remote PC desktop, a minimal Linux install is absolutely perfect, very easy to maintain (nothing is going to suddenly “break” lol) and there is way less to go wrong than with a Windows installation. No suggestion from OP of installing Office software or needing it for any other tasks!


 
Posted : 14/10/2020 9:29 pm
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I’ve used Linux as a daily workstation*. There’s no way on earth I’d recommend it to anyone who didn’t specifically want it.

The OP's wife is simply using a box to connect to her work PC (so probs using TeamViewer or RDP) - no open office or anything else being used or required.
Simples.

Edit: beaten to it!

I've got 2 Ubuntu (20) installations and they're remarkably stable and absolutely worked out of the box even on older hardware.


 
Posted : 14/10/2020 9:32 pm
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It'd end in tears. Guaranteed.


 
Posted : 14/10/2020 9:56 pm
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Only if they use you for tech support 😂


 
Posted : 14/10/2020 10:18 pm
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The only use-case mentioned has been connecting to a remote PC desktop, a minimal Linux install is absolutely perfect

Could be. Depends how "connect" is defined really.


 
Posted : 14/10/2020 11:06 pm
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You can do better than Defender and still have it free - look for free "home/personal" versions of paid-for AV as they're often very similar to the pro version under the hood.

See if you can get anti-ransomware protection with it, some do it (though yes you *should* sort out backups properly too).

Use a non-admin account for day to day stuff to limit what bad stuff can be done by anything you run accidentally that isn't blocked.

Keep everything patched / updated and learn how to right-click on a downloaded exe and check its digital signature is valid.

That said, if it's for work, work might well have it managed by their own IT dept and install & manage AV, lock down accounts etc anyway. In which case just go with "don't download stuff / open sus emails / go to dodgy websites / in general think first" 🙂


 
Posted : 15/10/2020 7:40 am
 Rio
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Strange thread that started well and then went all over the place. The first few posters had it right - take off any free/trial AV and let the Microsoft stuff do it's stuff, including Windows update.


 
Posted : 15/10/2020 9:06 am
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The OP’s wife is simply using a box to connect to her work PC (so probs using TeamViewer or RDP) – no open office or anything else being used or required.

Bit of an assumption.

I missed a day in the 100 day exercise to Christmas challenge yesterday because I spent the evening trying to share our non-networked printer on my Arch Linux desktop. Wasted my time trying Samba sharing, only to get CUPS IPP nearly working. Took me a couple of hours, but eventually got Win10 to see it. Just can't print yet 😂

I'd feel like I sold my soul to the devil though if I installed Windows as the main OS on my personal PC. Got it in a VM.

I manage my parents PC (which I donated to them) running Linux so they can browse the internet. It's fine for that use as well as long as there's someone to do sys admin for them.


 
Posted : 15/10/2020 9:28 am
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Bit of an assumption.
you literally could not be more wrong if you tried 😂. That is the ONLY thing OP has said they want to do with it. Saying that they want to do ANYTHING else is the "assumption".

Strange thread that started well and then went all over the place.
you must be new here! The official guided tour starts in the Brexit thread at noon.


 
Posted : 15/10/2020 10:35 am
 Del
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you literally could not be more wrong if you tried 😂

Says the man who answered the question 'what AV do I need?' with 'raspberry pi' 😄


 
Posted : 15/10/2020 1:17 pm
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This thread has taken a turn for the very, very weird. And that's in the context of two days ago we were trying to help someone who was complaining that they couldn't get access to static routing tables when they wanted to install 18-year old vector graphics software to draw logos.

If an employer requires you to access resources from home then they should be providing the means to facilitate that. Is there a compelling reason why the work PC even has to be at work rather than on her desk at home?


 
Posted : 15/10/2020 1:47 pm
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https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1315779528376025088


 
Posted : 15/10/2020 1:53 pm
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Says the man who answered the question ‘what AV do I need?’ with ‘raspberry pi’ 😄
tbf it is the STW way to answer an entirely different question to that which was asked 😂


 
Posted : 15/10/2020 1:53 pm
 Del
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Fair point well made sir.


 
Posted : 15/10/2020 2:29 pm
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Del

Says the man who answered the question ‘what AV do I need?’ with ‘raspberry pi’ 😄
Posted 1 hour ago

Quite, clearly the answer is for the op to get a mac.


 
Posted : 15/10/2020 2:55 pm
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@OP the thing you need is something compatible with whatever the remote access / get-to-work-PC system is that your Mrs' work uses. Ask them what is compatible with the assumptive close of 'Is a Mac compatible?'. If they say yes - you're good, if not but the cheapest Windows 10 PC you can find, ditch the crapware, ensure Defender is turned on, enable updates and don't use it for anything much else than a bit of bored conf-call web browsing. You could use Linux, you could use other niche stuff but you're the sysadmin, so choose something you have the least likely chance of screwing up.


 
Posted : 15/10/2020 3:17 pm

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