Kaspersky Internet Security - Alternative

larc919 · Jun 25, 2024

I've always liked Kaspersky and have never found any problems with it. But I have to ask myself what I believe they would do if ordered by the Russian government to insert some form of spyware or even malware in editions selling in western countries. The Russian government is an avowed enemy of the US. They are not to be trusted. While I wouldn't suspect Kaspersky itself of underhanded tactics some state sponsored hackers in Russia have used, I know what can happen to Russian business people who refuse to cooperate with the government. That's why I wouldn't currently touch Kaspersky or any other Russian software company with a ten-foot pole, same as with any Chinese software company.

kelper · Jun 25, 2024

Steve C said:
It all depends whether you prefer US or Russian backdoors

I never go in through anybody's back door!

antspants · Jun 25, 2024

This thread lol

jimbo45 · Jun 25, 2024

larc919 said:
I've always liked Kaspersky and have never found any problems with it. But I have to ask myself what I believe they would do if ordered by the Russian government to insert some form of spyware or even malware in editions selling in western countries. The Russian government is an avowed enemy of the US. They are not to be trusted. While I wouldn't suspect Kaspersky itself of underhanded tactics some state sponsored hackers in Russia have used, I know what can happen to Russian business people who refuse to cooperate with the government. That's why I wouldn't currently touch Kaspersky or any other Russian software company with a ten-foot pole, same as with any Chinese software company.

C'mon get real folks.

Time to shut this thread full of paranoia etc DOWN,

Let's get real -- I don't care whether you've used the "Dark Web", pirate torrent sites or whatever -- don't need to know but how many here on this forum have actually had any significant problems with viruses on their machines with Windows 11 -- please folks lets get some real numbers here.

Cheers
jimbo

kelper · Jun 25, 2024

jimbo45 said:
Time to shut this thread full of paranoia etc DOWN,

That's for the OP or mods to decide. Just stop 'watching' it.

Actually, I have, over many years, inadvertently downloaded many viruses/trojans/malware. The reason I had no problems is that I had a good AV program!

glasskuter · Jun 25, 2024

I'm with @Wisewiz. I've had MWB Premium since the days one purchased a lifetime license for a little of nothing. When MWB changed to a subscription plan, mine was grandfathered. I wouldn't use anything else. With it running alongside Defender, I feel I'm as secure as one can be in this day and time.
This subject has been visited many times on this forum.

andrew129260 · Jun 25, 2024

glasskuter said:
I'm with @Wisewiz. I've had MWB Premium since the days one purchased a lifetime license for a little of nothing. When MWB changed to a subscription plan, mine was grandfathered. I wouldn't use anything else. With it running alongside Defender, I feel I'm as secure as one can be in this day and time.
This subject has been visited many times on this forum.

I too bought a lifetime license a long time ago. I run malwarebytes with defender with no issues. I think most people with windows defender and smart app control turned on (not enabled by default) are quite well protected from common issues.

jimbo45 said:
how many here on this forum have actually had any significant problems with viruses on their machines with Windows 11 -- please folks lets get some real numbers here.

The whole point of malware is to hide itself and to not be obvious. Malware/viruses are not like the 90's and early 2000's. The exception being ransomware. You can be infected for a long time and never know it.

However, you are correct that malware/viruses etc are less of an issue on windows 11/modern platforms. It is pretty secure out of the box. (except for UAC still not being set to the highest level of always notify-sigh*) It also would be nice if smart app control was turned on out of box as well.

Web Browsers have also moved a lot of infections to the wayside by preventing downloads of files that are not commonly downloaded by default.

There are always zero days and other things, and the fact that anyone targeted at all handpicked is screwed no matter what if the attacking person has the know how. Just the way it is.

Wisewiz · Jun 25, 2024

glasskuter said:
I'm with @Wisewiz. I've had MWB Premium since the days one purchased a lifetime license for a little of nothing. When MWB changed to a subscription plan, mine was grandfathered. I wouldn't use anything else. With it running alongside Defender, I feel I'm as secure as one can be in this day and time.
This subject has been visited many times on this forum.

Thank you, Mama Glass!

If there is one thing in computing that I can count on, it's that @Brink knows way the heck more about it than anyone else I know. And I read, in his My Computers specs, this for System One: Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium

and this for his System Two: Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium

I think that's abundant evidence that my position (and glasskuter's) on this is a sound one.

windoc · Jun 25, 2024

Silvio said:
I would say, it's a bold decision for anyone to use US made security software.

Last time I used Norton Internet Security (approx 2006), it was almost worse than catching a virus, my Task manager showed constant 85%+ cpu usage.

That's when I switched to Kaspersky, and then read reports of backdoors for various "agencies", with TLAs, in US made security software, like Norton & McAfee.

Meanwhile, Kaspersky works, almost invisibly in the background.

BitDefender and Sophos have always been on the radar, heck, I even got offered a role as a C' Software Developer at Sophos !!

Totally agree, let me add also that I just switched from Bitdefender to Kaspersky, and my computer fan is running a lot less. I can't say with certainty that BitDefender is responsible for that, because I did just do a re-install, but it coincides with what you're saying.

windoc · Jun 25, 2024

larc919 said:
I've always liked Kaspersky and have never found any problems with it. But I have to ask myself what I believe they would do if ordered by the Russian government to insert some form of spyware or even malware in editions selling in western countries. The Russian government is an avowed enemy of the US. They are not to be trusted. While I wouldn't suspect Kaspersky itself of underhanded tactics some state sponsored hackers in Russia have used, I know what can happen to Russian business people who refuse to cooperate with the government. That's why I wouldn't currently touch Kaspersky or any other Russian software company with a ten-foot pole, same as with any Chinese software company.

You're right about the Russian government, in regards to not being trusted. However, the same thing can be said about The United States, and The West.

larc919 · Jun 25, 2024

jimbo45 said:
C'mon get real folks.

Time to shut this thread full of paranoia etc DOWN,

Sensible caution isn't only advisable, but not practicing it is foolhardy. Especially when there are other good choices that pose less risk of danger.

Steve C · Jun 26, 2024

andrew129260 said:
I too bought a lifetime license a long time ago. I run malwarebytes with defender with no issues. I think most people with windows defender and smart app control turned on (not enabled by default) are quite well protected from common issues.

The whole point of malware is to hide itself and to not be obvious. Malware/viruses are not like the 90's and early 2000's. The exception being ransomware. You can be infected for a long time and never know it.

However, you are correct that malware/viruses etc are less of an issue on windows 11/modern platforms. It is pretty secure out of the box. (except for UAC still not being set to the highest level of always notify-sigh*) It also would be nice if smart app control was turned on out of box as well.

Web Browsers have also moved a lot of infections to the wayside by preventing downloads of files that are not commonly downloaded by default.

There are always zero days and other things, and the fact that anyone targeted at all handpicked is screwed no matter what if the attacking person has the know how. Just the way it is.

If Smart App Control is off then Windows needs to be reinstalled to enable it

andrew129260 · Jun 26, 2024

Steve C said:
If Smart App Control is off then Windows needs to be reinstalled to enable it

correct. which is unfortunate. But It makes sense because of the way it works. I enable it for everyone I help getting started with a new pc.

kelper · Jun 26, 2024

Some computers, like my Acer, just can run it even from a fresh install.

TairikuOkami · Jun 26, 2024

Silvio said:
Need 1x solution for Windows/Mac/Android, that is managed by 1x account, for many devices.

iOS does not allow scanning for malware, you can just use anything for Windows/Android and secure all with a safer DNS. I replaced AV with DNS, since it can block ~99% threats from even reaching the device. Cloudflare Malware DNS (1.1.1.2) is great.

A List of Free and Public DNS Servers for 2025

A list of the best public and completely free DNS servers, plus why you might want to change them.

www.lifewire.com

windoc said:
You're right about the Russian government, in regards to not being trusted. However, the same thing can be said about The United States, and The West.

This choice is pretty simple, if you are a patriot, who trusts the government, always use local apps, so US/EU use US/EU apps.
If you care about privacy, always use a foreign software, since they will not share it, so US/EU can use RU/CN and vice versa.
As for the government officials, there is no choice, the reason that Kaspersky is banned, because NSA used it on their PC.

Scramjet · Jun 26, 2024

I have used ESET for eons on my computers and devices and have never looked elsewhere. I trust it to do the job for me. Hope you select a top virus protection for your devices.

Cheers

TairikuOkami · Jun 27, 2024

Kaspersky is allowed to continue certain operations in the United States, including providing antivirus updates, until September 29 this year,
"in order to minimize disruption to U.S. consumers and businesses and to give them time to find suitable alternatives,"

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/antivirus-russia/2024/06/20/id/1169561

windoc · Jun 27, 2024

TairikuOkami said:
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/antivirus-russia/2024/06/20/id/1169561

""Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive US information," US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement."

Yes, well, so has The U.S Government, time and time again, demonstrated that it is capable of coercing American companies to spy, including on American citizens. This is so laughable. I will continue to use it, glad I am not in The U.S.

jimbo45 · Jun 27, 2024

windoc said:
""Russia has shown time and again they have the capability and intent to exploit Russian companies, like Kaspersky Lab, to collect and weaponize sensitive US information," US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement."

Yes, well, so has The U.S Government, time and time again, demonstrated that it is capable of coercing American companies to spy, including on American citizens. This is so laughable. I will continue to use it, glad I am not in The U.S.

Without getting into politics but didn't the US F.B.I try and coerce Apple to give up or reveal it's encryption methodology.

With this stuff I think "The Good Book" has it correctly even though the saying is > 2000 years old "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.

While I don't use ANY of these 3rd party A/V products (IMO with the current builds of Windows the OS itself and WD are more than robust enough for domestic users) I doubt that any of these companies are introducing that type of spyware into their products -- just think of the marketing gaffe world wide if any of these allegations were found to be in any way true.

Cheers
jimbo

antspants · Jun 27, 2024

What I originally said in post two was basically “if you want to believe everything you hear, try defender. I also mentioned political conversations weren't allowed in here, I see my post was modified..

What has followed is political mud slinging when all that was asked (aside from the mention of the USA) was what to use after Kaspersky.
We have all nations people members here
This thread is bent.

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