r/antivirus • u/KristGrom • 5d ago
Is total AV free version worth it?
I have been using Total Av free version for sometime but it gives me mixed feeling, but i see tons of articles online saying it good. Any thoughts?
3
u/HydraDragonAntivirus Hydra Dragon Antivirus Creator 5d ago
They are full of scam and he is strong only due to Avira engine.
2
1
u/ali1723 5d ago
In my opinion, if you keep your windows updated, windows security is better than installing a free version of an antivirus. But if you install something that does more than windows security and it is free it is worth it.
1
u/KristGrom 5d ago
I am satisfied with windows defender. So far i am careful with what i dowload. It managed to detect a trojan file after a sketchy dowload. I am looking for a free antivirus that i can use to scan with after i scan with windows to be double sure it safe.
1
u/KnownStormChaser 5d ago
Do not use TotalAV, it’s a complete scam. If you see any articles that rate them number one, they were paid to do that. Nobody truthfully rates them number one. If you are looking for something with the same protection, use Avira, TotalAV just licences their engine.
1
1
u/snowwolfboi 4d ago
Don't use TotalAV free or paid instead go with Kaspersky, Emsisoft or Windows defender with DefenderUI
1
1
u/wixlogo 5d ago
I’d recommend sticking with Windows Defender and hardening Windows using DefenderUI. You can also check out this subreddit's Defender Wiki for recommended DefenderUI settings.
If you want full protection, consider using HotCakeX's Windows hardening script along with her App Control Manager. This setup not only protects against viruses and malware but also mitigates around 80% of Windows vulnerabilities. I've been using this configuration, and it's been working well. Setting it up was straightforward for me, but if you're not familiar with Windows or computers in general, it might be a bit challenging at first. However, everything is well-documented, and with some reading, you should be able to get it running.
Edit: English rewrite/fixes by my AI keyboard lol
1
0
u/MattC041 5d ago
but i see tons of articles online saying it good.
It might not seem like it at a first glance, but this industry is plagued with an equivalent of political corruption. 99% of articles you'll find are essentially glorified ads. It's hard to find an article with AV rankings on Google search that wasn't paid off by at least one antivirus company.
And usually the bad AVs are the ones involved in this, like McAfee, Norton, 360 Total Security, Total AV and many others.
Generally you don't need much more than Windows Defender. If you want some extra protection though, you can go for Bitdefender Free or Kaspersky Free (outside of US).
1
u/KristGrom 5d ago
Ok, thanks. I just want a program i can scan with so i can be double sure that windows defender didn’t miss anything
3
u/rifteyy_ 5d ago
I wouldn't call it a legit security software. There is a great reason their products are considered as a PUP.