Thread: Anti-virus on Windows 8.1

Originally Posted by ~Rich~

Try Avast free version.
Much better than Microsoft versions.
Avast 2015 | Download free antivirus software for virus protection

interferes with too many email programs to be rated too highly

causes slow transfers and timeouts

live mail in particular ...

Originally Posted by theresanothersteve

...Telstra claimed I had a virus, which I did not believe, but on the off chance they were right I moved anti-malware. I was right, they were wrong, so AVG was doing its job.

Telstra claimed I had a virus - Isn't this a scam.

<In a an Indian accenct> "Hello My name is Sanjay and I calling you from Telstra Technical Department to tell we have detected your computer has a virus, blah blah blah"

How would Telstra know?

Originally Posted by ~Rich~

Try Avast free version.
Much better than Microsoft versions.
Avast 2015 | Download free antivirus software for virus protection

I got sick of the constant messages and re registration with avast so now use MSE on all 4 of our home pc/laptops with win7.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AULRO mobile app

Originally Posted by Ferret

Telstra claimed I had a virus - Isn't this a scam.

<In a an Indian accenct> "Hello My name is Sanjay and I calling you from Telstra Technical Department to tell we have detected your computer has a virus, blah blah blah"

How would Telstra know?

No. I contacted Telstra support about abnormal bandwidth use, I have a history of this happening with them. If you have a minute:

Earlier this year the DNS for my domain, hosted overseas, stopped resolving through Telstra's DNS servers. Telstra level 1 and 2 support didn't understand what was going on, so I switched my DNS to be resolved by OpenDNS. My domain started resolving again (interestingly I learnt more when my domain host rang me from the US so we could work out why I couldn't access my domain and email).

One issue is IPs issued by Telstra can be blocked by spamhaus. This happens if the P issued to you by Telstra has been used for spamming in the past. Telstra want you to get it unblocked by spamhaus if this happens, rather than rebooting your router to get a new IP and releasing the dud one back into the pool. Yeah, right. I'm going to waste my time doing that...

Was eventually contacted by level 3 support, who agreed there was something wrong and they would investigate. Never heard any more.

A while later I saw abnormal bandwidth consumption, exactly 4,294,967,296 up and down (IT savvy people will realise that is a significant number, and to have the same up and down is highly unusual). Again Telstra Level 1 and 2 were no help, so off to the ombudsman...

Turns out, there was a DNS issue. Telstra fixed it, but didn't bother to tell anyone experiencing DNS issue it was resolved.

The internal team for ombudsman complaints told me the DNS issue was fixed, I switched back to Telstra DNS and my domain resolved. They agreed using an overseas DNS resolution could be the reason for the abnormal data use.

Since then I have watched my data use closely, using the 24X7 Telstra app to get a quick view and logging on to my account to see the up/ down mix if I think the quick view isn't quite right.

So, the other week I noticed abnormal bandwidth consumption for uploading and got onto Telstra support. The IP Telstra had assigned was blocked by spamhaus. I rebooted, and the new IP from the pool was fine. Back where the story began, above.

So the IDIOT on the other end of the phone said it was not a Telstra issue, and I must have a virus. I considered unlikely as all machines run anti-malware and all users log on with diminished privileges. He wouldn't listen (he must have been able to view my previous history to realise it might not of been a routine issue) so I asked to speak to his supervisor. Twenty minutes later I hung up and contacted the ombudsman (again).

To be on the safe side I ran deep anti-malware scans, including scanning for root kits, on all machines. Zilch. Followed Telstra's instructions for IPs blocked by spamhaus, nothing wrong my end... Changes the anti-malware program to the paid version of Malware Bytes, deep scan. Nothing.

So no, it wasn't he scam you were thinking of. I've provided the story to help others in a similar postion. I know of other people using 4G for internet (the only way I can get decent speeds) who have experienced similar issues, and Telstra claim they haven't come across it before.

I'll get off the soapbox now...

Originally Posted by theresanothersteve

To be on the safe side I ran deep anti-malware scans, including scanning for root kits, on all machines. Zilch.

you do know that some nasties wont be picked up with scans.

I have seen a lot of talk up for bitdefender

What do you guys think about this one? It's not supposed to effect performance of the machine.

I too am looking for an antivirus with a small footprint because I'm about to go to 8.1 and I really don't want anything to hungry or fussy.

I don't like it much as it interferes with other programs too much

Clamwin is okay in conjunction with 8.1 for doing full scans on a schedule and free bit pedantic at times though