There were several recent posts about that - maybe try using the search function up above.
One of the better recent ones was :

Question About Antivirus Software For 2015

Try not to get one with malware included though (just teasing)

;-)

For Malwarebytes and the like, you could probably set it to run once a week, etc using "Task Scheduler" which, in Win7, is in "Administrative Tools" - probably about the same in Win8.

I have made myself happy with free Avast, but it does have bloatware which needs to be disabled either during the install or afterwards, and it does have daily ads which stay on the screen for about 30 seconds before they go away. I stick with it because I haven't picked up a virus yet, and because they have a very active help forum.

If no bloatware/ads is an absolute must, I wouldn't even be looking at a free antivirus. Instead, I'd be looking at paid products which usually offer a free trial period plus with a little effort you can often find them at deep discounts. Just be sure you look at trusted vendors only (Newegg is very popular) or find the manufacturers' own site...don't click on someone else's third-party ad for one...then you don't know what you'll get.

No such thing as an AV which doesn't require user attention on occasion.

AVG Free used here.

DA

An FYI - Microsoft's Windows Defender, is included in Win8, and works well.

I use Avast Free, SuperAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes and Spybot.

I don't think there's any one fits all. All the malware programs seem to find different things.

Thanks all. I think I will just install my last copy of Kaspersky on her machine since it has a 3-user license (already using it on my DT and laptop). I just didn't want to get into having to maintain her 'puter from afar on a regular basis with new versions, etc. She is currently using MSE on her other laptop, but that has Vista and I'm working on migrating her to the new OS on a faster, new computer.

shadylady2u: I have Defender running on her new computer now; I uninstalled the trial McAfee b/c I dislike that program-A LOT. I read that Defender is the VERY bare bones of an antivirus and I wanted a bit more for her since she tends to click on whatever she wants when searching. Perhaps the Kaspersky is best option being it works quite well and is a full Internet Security software.

I don't think that's true, re Defender. It finds things that other's don't. It also gets along with Avast. : )

How effective various AV programs are at picking up viruses, comparatively, changes from year to year.
You can check that out on av-comparatives.org

I posted the link in that article I linked to above :

quote/
The go-to site for independent tests of antivirus products is av-comparatives.org

http://www.av-comparatives.org/summary-reports/. . . . if you look on pg. 6 of the latest summary report, you can see
that some of the free versions rate about as well as the pay ones,
specifically Avast & Avira.
quote/

Indeed Kaspersky usually scores pretty high.

Myself, I use Avast, when I remember to install an AV.

shadylady: You say Avast gets along with Defender but, how? One is only suppose to have one antivirus on their computer.

Defender isn't an antivirus. It's for malware protection.

So, Windows 8 and 8.1 does NOT comes with a built in Anti Virus then?

Actually, Defender was upgraded to a be a Malware and antivirus program.

It does tell you not to use another antivirus program with it, and to uninstall if first before installing something else, but I have both running on my laptop with Win8, and they get along for some reason.

My experience with Defender has been in W 8 systems that it will automatically be disabled when another AV is present. This continues to be true on this W8/8.1 system with AVG Free.

Review the pink "Warning" box on this page:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/21962-windows-defender-turn-off-windows-8-a.html

DA

Isn't Malwarebytes a trial version? It refuses to install on my computer. Popup box tells me the free trial has ended. Some folks must be working around that.

Open Malwarebytes, and on the Dashboard, click on ‘End Free Trial’ link which, then will be instantly converted to the free version.

http://techdows.com/2014/03/revert-to-malwarebytes-free-from-trial.html

There are a number of potential problems with running two AV programs at the same time.
Most of it has to do with the real-time scanning - when the AV is running in memory and monitoring activity. So it will be real-time scanning say, files you download, or that you click on. This is as opposed to "On-demand" scanning, where you manually choose to scan a certain file, whatever.

One "problem is that some of those monitoring activities can look like
virus activity. So one antivirus program can appear to another as a
virus." (The quotes are because I copied & pasted this from elsewhere.)

I'm going to post a few more bits here, also better said by others :

"Live virus-scanners scan files on access. When they notice that a
process accesses a file, they try to access it before the process to
scan it. They even try to do that when that process is another
virus-scanner.

When you have two live-scanners on a system, both will try to be the
first to open a file. When virus scanner A detects that scanner B opens a
file, A will try to access it first to protect B from any viruses in
it. B will register this attempt to read the file, and in turn will try
to scan it before A does. The result is that both virus scanners are
caught in an infinite loop."

This has been described elsewhere as being like "hiring two people to sweep an airport for suspicious characters but not telling them about each other."

This kind of behavior can cause conflicts and slow down your computer, as each AV tries to get control.

And that's why a lot of AV programs will try to deactivate or uninstall other AV products already installed. Moreover, they don't want to get a lot of support calls, or people complaining that it made their computer slow to a crawl.

I'm running Norton's Security Suite that comes with my Internet Service with Comcast Xfinity. Comcast doesn't really make it well known and you do have to search for it on their website. It is listed under Constant Guard and Constant Guard is also offered by Comcast at no additional cost (on up to 7 computers or devices). I only have Norton's Security Suite installed, chose not to install Constant Guard!

When the Comcast Guys set up our house for cable (years ago) they installed a bunch of Crap I didn't want on my Desktop Computer. I proceeded to Uninstall all of it except the Norton's. He told me they were required to install it and if I wanted to remove it I could, he couldn't uninstall it.

Windows 8.1 has built-in anti-virus protection. It called Microsoft Security Essentials. Why would you install these crappy third party security packages and pay for them too. That just plain crazy! It slow down you entire computer system and some are not compatible with Windows 8.1. Totally insane to use a third party anti-virus since it gets update about a month to two month after Microsoft notifies the general community and the third party security software anti-virus companies of any new virus or malware in their operating system.

Microsoft Windows Security Essential

Defender is an older Microsoft product that is directed at adware/spyware.

Microsoft - Using Defender Link

>>harry_wild

Most of what you are saying there is simply not true, to the extent I wonder if really have any experience in this area.

For starters, what kind of data can you provide for evidence that these so-called 3rd party security "packages" are less effective than MWSE?

Check some of the independent testing sites and you'll see you're way off.

And the notion that these providers are dependent on Microsoft for notification of new viruses and/or malware is simply not correct. Their detection has nothing to do with MS. I don't know where you came up with that wild idea.

Is there any problem running AVG and malwarebytes at the same time on a computer with windows 8.1?

kbarb,

You sound like a person who works for Norton's Security - AnitVirus by Symantecs or a similar outfit! If you do consult or are an employee of theirs; know that in order to prevent a new virus or malware for your on going service; you have to get it from Microsoft in the first place!

Just found out that if Windows is included as part of the consumer PC that you purchase; Defender and Windows Security Essential is not included and you have to downloaded from Microsoft to get it; but it completely free.

I never purchased a consumer PC; so I did not realized this!

Did some research on the Microsoft page that Enterprise IT staff go to: Virus and Security Solution Center

No amount of anti-virus, malware software is able to protect a PC 100%! So, there are better and worse on each major release of these third party packages. But the way to be protected is to backup your PC every week. When there is an attack and you are infected. Just go into safe mode and restore the last backup! You ready to rock again!

@harry_wild
"know that in order to prevent a new virus or malware for your on going
service; you have to get it from Microsoft in the first place!"

You keep stating this, but provide no evidence.

Why don't you provide some proof of it, if you think it's true.
Just stating something doesn't make it true.

.

@ wolfie46

"Is there any problem running AVG and malwarebytes at the same time on a computer with windows 8.1?"

Shouldn't be any problem. Although it would probably be a good idea not to run scans by each, at the same time.

From Microsoft Community on Defender and Security Essentials: Microsoft Community reply on difference.

Huh ? Is that a reply to me ?
Because it's just a simplified description of Microsoft's Security Essentials and Defender.

It doesn't say anything regarding your statement,

"third party anti-virus . . . gets [its] update about a month to two month
after Microsoft notifies the general community and the third party
security software anti-virus companies of any new virus or malware"

It didn't refer to third party anything.

Microsoft Windows - antivirus-partners - Windows 7

Nothing there either.
Why don't you provide a quote and source of something relevant.

Unless the user has a history of getting viruses/malware (downloading alot of third-party files or software, visiting questionable sites, clicking on links w/o thinking, etc), Microsoft Security Essentials (viruses) combined w/Windows Defender (malware) should be fine, and they're free -- this is what I use & have never, ever had any infections. Network admins use much stronger protection on their servers, of course, but the avg home user doesn't need that.