Leaving ESET Nod32 for Microsoft Defender?

Hi all,

Here are the security software I run on my machine:
_ ESET Nod32 AV
_ Malwarebytes Antimalware Premium
_ Voodooshield
_ Simplewall
_ Sandboxie

From time to time I run into compatibility issues between Nod32 and other apps. Last time it happened, Nod32 prevented me from retrieving emails with Thunderbird (due to Nod32 HIPS settings if remember well).

Aditionnally, as ESET Nod32 isn't free, I'm considering leaving it for Microsoft Defender instead.

What are your thoughts about this? Is it a good idea?

Thank you in advance guys, I appreciate your help

 

I very much like that setup. In fact, I run something similar; just replace simplewall with WFC. I'd go one step further and say you don't need any real-time scanners, except a hardened Windows Defender/Security. Ditch Malwarebytes too. It's not needed. With a properly configured sandboxie and voodooshieldyour risk of infection is minimal. However, I would add a disk imaging program, like Terabytes Image for Windows or Macrium Reflect. While not security programs, a proper backup is absolutely essential when using a computer.

 

Basically compatibility issues between ESET and other applications are very rare and even then we try to work around them on our part even if the other application is the culprit. As for Thunderbird, ESET doesn't integrate with it. The problem must have been with SSL scanning; ESET adds a config file that enables security.enterprise_roots.enabled to make Thunderbird honors the trusted root system CA cert. store certificates. Disabling SSL filtering, clicking OK and re-enabling SSL filtering would re-import the root CA certificate which often resolves SSL-related issues. Windows Defender doesn't filter POP3S/IMAPS at all as far as I know.
As for Malwarebytes, make sure to use it without real-time protection if you use another AV with real-time protection.
Next time feel free to discuss possible issues in our official forum at https://forum.eset.com.

 

I only use Windows Defender (not hardened) and nothing else except I do a daily image as an absolute almost fail-safe solution. Most here have layers of so-called "defense," but I have used computers before they had PCs and never had a problem. There is a lot of near-paranoia here that is not necessary in my view. Do what works for you.

 

MBAM is futile versus Eset or Defender. SimpleWall with admin rights is pretty pointless.

the interference with TB was to be expected sometimes.

+1
you already have sandboxie to try out unknown programs. just let defender let scan the box folder before.

 

Well, it's nice to see this thread validates that I'm not some special kind of idiot.

 

Good for you. I am only using Windows Security on my newly built pc. I left WS in default settings. Being careful when downloading from unfamiliar websites/ sketchy sites, opening links from unknown email senders or fishy attachments from known senders, not using usb flash drives that frequent multiple pcs and keeping regular backups of data are more important than spending $$ on security suites.

 

100%

 

Thx for the advice @n8chavez. I forgot to mention I already run Macrium Reflect as well )
Another usefuk software I run is Autoruns. Ideal to see changes that occur in the system.

 

Thanks to all of you guys, your answers validate what I thought: I won't renew my ESET license this year and I'll go for Microsoft Defender instead.
I'm considering dumping MBAM as well as most of the time it triggers false positive alerts when browsing safe websites.

The only situation where I found MBAM kind of "useful" (not sure it really is actually, but at least it seems to do some kind of job) is when downloading torrents (yes I know it's bad to download movies with such protocols, but I download almost exclusively 40+ years old movies with public rights and they are almost impossible to find somewhere else): in that case, MBAM triggers alerts saying things like "a connection to xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (IP) has been closed due to trojan" or something similar. But ESET doesn't trigger anything. Is it always false positive again? Hard to say, but MBAM SEEMS useful in this situation.

 

Why is Simplewall pointless when used with admin rights?

 

because its not protected, sending a kill command and game over.

 

I couldn't agree more, it's time for antivirus companies to find a different business model or to scale down. Microsoft Defender has reached maturity, it is effective and free. As Bunkhouse Buck advised, learning to backup your system and restore it in a matter of minutes, has become extremely easy nowadays... Curing the system is time consuming and expensive, it's easier to give it a new life through backup/images.

 

Man, said you said it all and thank you. I have been doing this a long time and am good with what I use. Clearly, we agree.

 

but what do you use for safe banking then?

 

for me i stick with the regular setup from my browser and system.
a special setup for banking is waste of time and more than futile. if you dont trust your browser and system in its pre-defined settings than dont do online banking! simple as that.

germany and the Eu has rules for banking and that means mandatory 2FA. and if you dont trust your bank - change the bank. it does not make sense to use an unsafe bank.

 

a physical bank branch?

 

I use an offline dumb phone for all banking and my bank is a short hike away. Defender/Sandboxie user as well. Security is so often over-thought, I find.

 

yeah, i'm not gonna name names but especially by some wildersians.

 

I know that Kaspersky (I had it for a year) has a special function for safe banking which is obviously reassuring in the long run, but last time I used online banking was in 2006, ever since my wife does it through her phone instead. I also believe that if you have a fat bank account, it should not be accessible on the internet period, no AV is going to guarantee 100% protection.

Online banking should be done with an account specifically created for small payments. If I were to do online banking again, I would probably use a live Linux CD which would run completely isolated from Windows.

 

Ok but then I will spot Simplewall is not running anymore as its icon in the notification area will disappear, right?

 

100% agree. Macrium does an awesome job here.

 

An absolutely wonderful recommendation. I've had a "throwaway" checking acct. not linked to anything else for a few years now, with small amts deposited as I see fit. I monitor this acct myself and because its balances are so small, there's no need for a security software to do it for me. Among other things, I use this acct. to buy subs for my security software.



A little more on-topic: I admire and respect ESET very much. But no antivirus substitutes for my offline banking plus vigilance.

 

By all means I'm not trying to underrate the efficacy of Eset or other companies. I used Nod 32 for a couple of years without any problems (no infections), I was a long time user of Avira mainly because of their detection record but also their unbeatable discounts.

Most AVs nowadays are very reliable indeed, but so is MS Defender. One thing is to pay for a service that is necessary, but I haven't had a single detection in almost 15 years. Statistics keep stating that there are more than 500,000 new instances of malware created every day... Without a single detection in 15 years, how can I believe it?

 

You can't believe it. Vendors want to create fear if they can- it helps sales (unfortunately). A million new malwares a month and yet I was infected once back in 1991. Analogy to crime: if there was none- there would be no need for police. So we need a lot of threats to keep the people that make money from malware happy.