Good alternative to Windows Defender on 8.1

[Red_Machine]

I had to do a format and reinstall on my main rig, and thought I may as well upgrade to 8.1. My only real gripe is my Downloads folder lagging like hell, which I've read is due to Windows Defender. Now I really like MSE/Windows Defender because it's unobtrusive and lets me do what I want to do without pissing me off. Several attempts to try another antivirus program have always resulted in me going back to MSE (either due to viral infection or general annoyance). The lagging, while not an issue per se, is annoying the hell out of me. So I'd like suggestions for a good, free alternative that will be unobtrusive, not try to block everything I want to do (I'm smart enough to know what I'm doing), and not make my PC lag even when running a schedules scan.

Thanks.

 

[rtwjunkie]

It seems to me you are looking for a foolproof free AV, that you never need to mess with, works entirely in the background and doesn't slow things down because it waits until you aren't involved in something. Even though I'm a big Avast! proponent, it's not what I will suggest.

Try BitDefender Free. I use it on my HTPC, and it does all those things.

 

[Red_Machine]

I seem to rermember trying that once before and not liking it for some reason. Can't remember why, but it was a big enough reason to get me to go back to MSE. But thanks anyway.

 

[erixx]

A lagging folder? WTH is that? There are lagging programs! Or lagging Antivirus analisis when files are big and/or suspiscious....

 

[Red_Machine]

Every time I open my Downloads folder, navigate to a subfolder in it, or what have you, Explorer takes an inordinate amount of time to load the folder. It's an often reported issue with Windows 8 and Defender.

 

[hat]

I seem to rermember trying that once before and not liking it for some reason. Can't remember why, but it was a big enough reason to get me to go back to MSE. But thanks anyway.

I remember something being said about that program automatically removing an item if it finds it to be malicious... meaning potential false positives could wreak some havoc.

 

[Red_Machine]

Yes, that was it. There was no option to restore quarantined/deleted items, so I got pissed off with it and uninstalled.

 

[xvi]

I like Malwarebytes Anti-Malware myself, although I often don't run anything. I very much do not like realtime scanners. Just scan what's suspicious and do a full scan once a month or so.

virustotal.com has a nice online single-file scanner. Saves you from having to install anything.

 

[qubit]

I've used Kaspersky Internet Security for years with few problems. Get it off Amazon/newegg etc for the best price. 3 licences is very modestly priced.

 

[Red_Machine]

I said free for a reason, I'm unemployed. Unless it's <£5, I can't afford it. Man, I wish AVG 7.5 was still around. Loved that version.

 

[newtekie1]

I switched from MSE/Defender to AVG Free. It does pop up more often warning me about potential hazards in some of my ill gotten downloads, but other than that it is pretty non-intrusive. It does pop up once after you install it asking to install the SafeBrowser crap, but once you click decline it doesn't pop up again. It also pops up reminding you to do the first scan after you install it, again once you do the first scan it never bothers you again. The biggest thing I like about it is that it doesn't immediately delete anything. It will stop it from running, but asks you what to do with it. And since there is the same .dll file included with most of my ill gotten downloads, AVG gives you the option to ignore by file name so it won't keep alerting you every time that file comes with a download.

 

[Kursah]

I use Malwarebytes Premium now...before I used MSE + Malwarebytes Free (for weekly scanning). Honestly was a great move and worth every penny, which wasn't many due to a sale and the Golden Ticket for the lifetime licenses instead of 1-year, 3-year, etc.

Can't say I've had a lagging issue because of Defender/MSE...I'm assuming you killed the service and verified this is the case? Is this slowdown consistent or intermittent?

You can only expect so much with scheduled scans and performance degredation...with an SSD I don't notice it...but HDD and deep scans are noticeable, quick scans not really. Gotta schedule wisely for sure. You should try Bitdefender, Avira and AVG for yourself, see which one you like and don't. I've used all 3, and really they all seem to do their task about the same...different UI's, I dislike the extra "system maintenance" crap they like to throw in with some of these.

I'm curious about this download slowdown issue...only because I can't say I've ever experienced it, let alone with Defender/MSE...not that I doubt you, just curious to the situation. I'm hopeful what you choose for replacement meets your needs and budget.

 

[Red_Machine]

It's consistent, and googling brings up multiple forum threads and articles with people saying it's either Explorer taking a long time to parse the folder structure to find out what's in there (so it knows if it's documents, music, photos, videos, etc), which I think is bullshit as it never did it on XP, Vista or 7, or Windows Defender scanning the folder each time you open it, which seems more likely as I seem to remember the problem going away last time I used Windows 8 a few years ago and switched the antivirus to another program. And it's not just a few seconds, either, sometimes it takes 15-20 seconds to load the folder.

When it comes to my system, OS in on an SSD, and Downloads folder is on a separate HDD. The only antivirus I've noticed lagging my PC when it does a scheduled scan is McAfee (both the consumer version, and the enterprise version), I don't recall MSE ever doing it, or Symantec, or Panda Cloud, etc.

 

[newtekie1]

An easy way to see if Defender is the cause of the slow folder loading is to just disable Defender and open the folder. If it still does it, then it is Explorer being stupid, if it opens quickly then it is Defender.

 

[Red_Machine]

It's definitely Defender. If I disable realtime protection, folders load instantly.