Windows Defender adequate?

[df1995]

I am confused. My laptop came with Windows 8 installed. Also installed is Windows "Defender". It says: "Windows Defender is installed as part of Windows and helps protect your PC from viruses, spyware, and other threats."

So is this adequate malware and virus protection? I do visit risky sites for downloads sometimes.

[Remah]

Windows Defender is more than adequate for me but I don't engage in risky behavior. So you should look at further protection.

There are two resources you can start with at this site:

• See what Gizmo's Security Wizard recommends.
• Read Gizmo's guide to Securing Your PC and look at using a sandbox or virtual machine (VM) particularly if you are downloading programs.

[MidnightCowboy]

My first comment is if you visit risky sites for downloads, infection is a matter of when and not if, no matter what security software you have installed.

Could possibly be more specific if we knew exactly what it is you have to get from "risky sites" that cannot be obtained from Softpedia, MajorGeeks or FileHippo?

I've tried to provide a simple guide to avoiding the majority of threats in these two articles.

Safe Computing in Under an Hour
What Else Have You Just Downloaded?

[Anupam]

My advice would be to install a third party antivirus.

Although Windows Defender might be considered adequate, but only if you follow safe practices, and do not engage in high risk activities. But, if you do, then getting a third party antivirus is a good thing to do.

I will suggest Avast, as apart from the regular antivirus, it offers a web shield, which prevents from attack from web pages.

Considering that you go to risky sites, I strongly suggest that you consider Sandboxie as part of your security setup, apart from an antivirus.

[df1995]

Originally Posted by df1995

I am confused. My laptop came with Windows 8 installed. Also installed is Windows "Defender". It says: "Windows Defender is installed as part of Windows and helps protect your PC from viruses, spyware, and other threats."

So is this adequate malware and virus protection? I do visit risky sites for downloads sometimes.

I visit risky sites for video downloads via Filestube.

[bo.elam]

Originally Posted by df1995

I visit risky sites for video downloads via Filestube.

Hi df1995, I think WD is fine. I recommend you check out Sandboxie and use it along WD. If you do, you can go to sites like the one you mention and download videos safely. IF what you download are large videos, don't concern yourself too much about the videos, I never seen a 300/500 MB video that is infected but be extra careful about the sites themselves. Thats where most of the danger really is.

About risky sites. In my personal opinion, all sites are risky. I treat all sites the same way, picking out which sites are risky and which ones are not doesn't work. One of the reasons I don't get infected no matter where I go or what I download is because I treat all sites with the same respect and because I am extremely careful about what I install in the computer.

Bo

[Joe A.TT]

Originally Posted by MidnightCowboy

My first comment is if you visit risky sites for downloads, infection is a matter of when and not if, no matter what security software you have installed.

I can't agree with MC more. No matter what antivirus product you use, if you don't practice safe habits you are playing Russian Roulette. However, if you must visit these sites then using Sandboxie and scanning your downloads with on-demand scanners like Malwarebytes before recovering them from the sandbox can limit your exposure.

[sicknero]

If you're prone to downloading stuff that might possibly be dodgy, then VirusTotal is a good way of getting an overview of files from a whole load of different AVs. You can also use it to scan URLs.