It’s been a long while since i used a desktop and honestly can’t remember what antivirus software i used, and even then, probably the landscape has changed over the years.
Atm i’ve been winging it with just Windows Defender (no custom configuration) and scanning any thing that looks suspicious on VirusTotal, but probably that would be not enough.
I’m thinking on get a couple of pirated files, so i’d like to be as secure as possible.
Gonna quote myself from an earlier comment I made:
On Windows, just use the built-in Windows Defender. On Linux, I recommend ClamAV + ClamTK. On Android, Hypatia.
If you think you have malware, this is a pretty good guide to remove it.
I’d also strongly recommend using and configuring a content blocker like uBlock Origin in your browser, as well as using a DNS level blocker like NextDNS.
If you have a multilayered setup like this, then I think you’re pretty good and it’ll be not impossible, but much harder to get malware or be infected. Just use common sense as always.
Kaspersky is owned by a Russian company which subject to interference of the Russian government. This allows the government to inject code, knowingly or unknowingly to the Company, into the project.
Use Common Sense™ brand antivirus. Pirated files like movies and songs are mostly ok except for executables. Those must be sourced from trusted sites. Pirating has its risks and if possible do it on another machine not used for work. Antivirus will almost always flag crackers and keygens anyways.
There is plenty of malware that targets Linux due to its prevalence in mission critical architecture! Also, someone who is recently returning to desktops and likely new to Linux as a whole will be more likely to blindly run windows executables with a compatibility layer like wine, which can still infect the system.
The only case where I'd use a virus scanner is when I'd host a file server for Windows systems.
Btw, ClamAV is slow and generally awful. It has many false positives that you get spammed all the time. There are also cases where it doesn't really find the virus (false negatives). It's also buggy and it's not a good sign for security product.
I'd still recommend Linux, if you want to be safe. Windows has never been designed with security in mind. It's not even a proper multiuser system.
Anyway I can see your point, but just in case the OP wants to try a different operating system where you don’t have these problems, it’s good to know about Linux.
There are virus scanners for it, sure, but they are hardly used outside of enterprise environments and there is almost no virus writers targeting Linux. It’s a different world.
Once you try it, you don’t want to go back to Windows.
Of course it’s not a container but wine is a windows emulator running in Linux. So wine will be infected, which means your windows apps may be infected also.
Your files are still fully visible to the Malware so if it is trying for example to encrypt all of them it can. If it targets smth like System32 then you would be safe since that would only affect wine and apps running under it. So depends on the Type of Malware.
Edit: Most Malware Target the entire System so exes are a danger for Linux when using WINE
I've used ESET NOD32 for a long time. It costs money, but it's relatively light weight, doesn't get in the way of any of the gaming or video editing or programming work I do, and it has smacked my hand a few times clicking on risky links, blocking a few downloads (one or two, ever) and often blocking scam websites that attempt to run javascript crypto miners. Your experience may vary if you're planning on using "rescued" media or applications. I don't have have the full internet/devices subscription, just the one for personal computers that does the actual virus detection.
I use Webroot because it uses minimal system resources, and it scores highly as an antivirus. But it requires an annual subscription, so if that is a turn-off to anybody, then I'd just recommend the standard Windows Defender.
One thing that hasn’t been mentioned yet - have a good backup solution. If there isn’t anything on your computer that can’t be restored, then you’re not going to feel as much pressure to protect things.
Of course there’s crypto miners, identity theft, botnet stuff, all sorts of things that run undetected and don’t simply render your computer unusable. But if you’re absolutely sure you’re not losing anything, then “nuke it from orbit” becomes a more paletteable solution for virus removal. A hassle for sure, but format and start over again becomes an option that results in no loss other than the pain of having to reinstall everything.
To add to this, if you have the storage then a solution like Macrium Reflect (or a FOSS alternative) is a great option too. I let my PC back itself up every morning before I wake up, then if something happens to it (virus, broken driver, bad install, etc.), I can just revert it to the state it was in earlier that morning using a recovery drive.
Windows Defender has also gotten pretty good over the past couple years - features like controlled folder access will protect sensitive data from ransomware (I just use it on my backup folder). The combination of the two has been plenty for me to deal with viruses or broken programs - I haven't had to run a clean install of Windows in 4 years.
if you’re doing frequent backups, make very sure to have multiple copies of backups. You get a virus into your backups, that does no good if it’s your only back up.
Aside from other recommendations, not installing the latest stuff and waiting a couple of days or longer can help, since open source projects have sometimes been infected too. Especially if it’s pirated files.
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