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Question

Kaspersky/BitDefender vs. Windows Defender,Malware Bytes

Aug 18, 2016 6:44PM PDT

I'm running Windows 10 Pro. I am currently running Bitdefender Internet Security (Trial) and have a free license for Kaspersky Small Business Security (I think) from my dad's work.

I was talking to a computer tech and he suggested I run Windows Defender whilst periodically running Malware Bytes and Spybot Search & Destroy manually in conjunction with Kaspersky's Rescue Disk; he told me that both Kaspersky and Bitdefender are extremely resource-intensive and would not recommend using them.

Does anyone agree, or disagree?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Here's my brew.
Aug 18, 2016 7:14PM PDT

I'm on W10 too and use only Windows Defender now that it scores well.

Kapersky lost over how they break System Restore. Also, never run more than one AV. If I want to have a second opinion scan, I use Grif's list at http://www.cnet.com/forums/discussions/how-to-remove-pup-option-603542/#post-f742c795-5881-433b-a29b-6d758efe5cd3

Now at 2 years using just that (and a few browser addins) I have yet to find a virus, trojan, malware or such.

Here's how I beef up the Browsers.
1. Ublock Origin and if not supported by the browser, Adblock+
2. Web Of Trust. If WOT is other than Green or clear, I don't go there.
3. I use NINITE.COM! If you don't know why, google ninite up.

Hope this helps.

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Answer
Kaspersky
Aug 20, 2016 2:38AM PDT

I can't really answer your question but I can say that Kaspersky is not a heavy resource hog in my experience. I've been running Kaspersky since its launch in the UK and that must be well over 10 years and never had any malware infections or noticed heavy resource consumption. For the last 7 years, I've been running the top of the line Pure, now renamed Total Security. Kaspersky Internet Security suite is just as good if you don't want the extra features of Pure/Total.

The definition updates are done in the backgound automatically in spare cycles - it checks for new ones up to once an hour. the only times I've actually noticed its resource usage is on a single processor system, when it's doing an application update in addition to the definition update.

The downside, of course, is that Kaspersky isn't free - well, except in your case!