Cheap, Minimal Protection for a Windows 7 PC

Discussion in 'other anti-virus software' started by SecurityFan, Mar 30, 2014.

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  1. SecurityFan

    SecurityFan Registered Member

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    After fighting with this all weekend, like I have the time, I am SICK UNTO DEATH of Norton.

    I had a problem caused either by Norton or a Microsoft update where I was unable to even launch any of my Office 2013 products (Excel, Word) in Windows 7 Professional. I used System restore to go back to an earlier time. Now my office products worked. The problem is I couldn't get to the Internet. I tried installing Explorer 11 over my Explorer 10. Nothing. Explorer Diagnose said Norton wasn't installed properly. I downloaded (this took hours) the Norton Remove-Reinstall tool and restored it. Now I could get to the Internet and had my office programs. Everything seemed ok. I rebooted several times to make sure. That was yesterday.

    Today I logon and Norton informs me it has a problem. On its own it does a 170 meg Live updates download. Things seem to work. Then it said some Sonar baloney needed to be fixed. It didn't fix itself. I rebooted and then it was OK. But now Office programs won't launch again. They won't launch in Safe mode, etc.... Same problem as before. I've been thru this process multiple times with different variations today trying to understand what the problem is and change the outcome.

    Conclusions:
    1. Office 2013 is an unstable piece of garbage. It's all geared towards forcing you to use the internet when you don't need to. If I knew it was like this, I wouldn't have paid for the Student Edition which I bought permanent rights to. I do want Word for business reasons. I just want to type documents. I don't need online templates nor do I want to save anything in some cloud.
    2. Norton is an even bigger piece of garbage. Norton has got to go. I'm going to find the Norton Removal tool and GET RID OF Norton. I've used it on multiple PC's for over 10 years. It was good for a long time. Then it caused 2 blow-ups with different VISTA PC's (Norton 360) with Microsoft Updates last Summer. And lately it endlessly ties up my old XP computer at inopportune times (Norton Internet Security) doing some kind of updates. Then I got a Windows 7 PC new, and put the latest Norton Internet Security on it last January. This is the return I get for that mistake.

    My questions:
    What can I get by with for Free? I want to use a free PC anti-virus. Do I need some sort of firewall program? Or can I get by with what's on Windows 7? What is Windows Defender? Is that any good for what I want? I don't go to dark parts of the internet and only use limited user ID's to browse. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks in advance.
     
  2. Osaban

    Osaban Registered Member

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    Avira, Panda, and Bitdefender are free with top detection results, try them out and see the one that will work without conflict with Office 2013. There are other possibilities of course... Windows own firewall is great IMO.
     
  3. roger_m

    roger_m Registered Member

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    I don't know how you reached that conclusion. You do no need an internet connection to use it, and for the most part, I have found it to be very stable.
     
  4. aztony

    aztony Registered Member

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    Problem you described sound like Norton, since after you used the Norton Remove-Reinstall tool you could again use the office suite, until another subsequent Norton update. There are some very good free AVs out there. The 1st commenter to your post mentioned (3). Bitdefender could be a hit, or miss, it's been plagued with bugs. Some people have had good luck with it, many others haven't. Best thing to do is take 'em for a test ride and see which is a good fit for your particular setup. Concerning the firewall, for Win 7 the native firewall will do the job. XP I would recommend a good 3rd party firewall, and there are 2-3 good free options there too.
     
  5. anon

    anon Registered Member

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    Last edited: Mar 31, 2014
  6. quanzi_1507

    quanzi_1507 Registered Member

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    If you hate cloud features that much then:

    http://www.mydigitallife.info/disable-enable-office-2013-sign-in-cloud-services/
     
  7. saakeman

    saakeman Registered Member

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  8. Austerity

    Austerity Registered Member

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    In order, I'd try 360 IS, Panda Cloud free, and Avira.
     
  9. Overkill

    Overkill Registered Member

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    Just install Avast Free and use Windows Firewall and you should be fine.
     
  10. Austerity

    Austerity Registered Member

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    Avast has fallen off the bandwagon recently when it comes to protection AND resource usage.

    360 IS, Avira, and Panda are all superior. Just my opinion of course.
     
  11. Drew99GT

    Drew99GT Registered Member

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    I have to say, of all the free AVs out there, I'm back to Avira. It's the lightest and best running all though the boot time is a bit slower; but overall performance is the best with Panda being a close 2nd. Avast is a resource hog and detection is falling off; AVG is a piece of garbage. Quihoo 360 looks decent, but I'm back to Avira. It's always been the best running AV I've used.
     
  12. Gullible Jones

    Gullible Jones Registered Member

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    @SecurityFan: Honestly your Windows install sounds kind of broken right now; I'm not sure how it got that way, but I'm not sure the problem is Norton either. You might want to boot from the install DVD and run the repair/troubleshooting routine. (Followed by the usual gazillion updates.)
     
  13. zfactor

    zfactor Registered Member

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    well you have the STUDENT edition of office 2013. the last three versions of the STUDENT ones have relied some on the internet. and if you read your tos it explains the many things the student edition is or does, you got a HUGE discount on office and this is why.

    i cant say i disagree totally about norton's i cant say its total garbage but i no longer feel i can recc or will use it.

    if you look around you can easily find deals on ALL av's some even free or free after rebate. i always prefer a paid av vs a free one on all my own machines. eset smart security can be found on newegg often dirt cheap as well as webroot which imo is light as a feather.
     
  14. Osaban

    Osaban Registered Member

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    I completely agree with you, Office 2013 is an amazing program, and for that matter it works perfectly well with Avira on my computer.
     
  15. Behold Eck

    Behold Eck Registered Member

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    Bitdefender Free and Kingsoft Office Free.
     
  16. Joxx

    Joxx Registered Member

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    my machine begs to differ
    and so do I

    as to the OP's questions
    Windows firewall is enough

    in Win7 it's just an anti-spyware, and not a good one

    Avast is arguably your best choice
     
  17. DoctorPC

    DoctorPC Banned

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    Toss on Immunet3 Free, MBAM Free, and forget about it all.. No issues, fast, light, and hassle free.

    Office 2010 was the last 'good' version of Office. Myself, and most of my clients ceased upgrading after 2010. Now that it's all cloud based, even more critical to ignore the latest ones. Find 2010, and rejoice. I crack the activation right out of 2010 - paid for it - not about to deal with DRM - why should I?
     
  18. ance

    ance formerly: fmon

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    Bitdefender, AVG or maybe Ad-Aware.
     
  19. blasev2nd

    blasev2nd Registered Member

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    free office, free av and free backup. done
     
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