Computer care, what do you recommend?

I'm considering Avira, because I've heard Avast can tax the system a bit more. I suppose Avira coupled with malbytes malware should be ok. Any recommendations?

And really just for general computer care what programs do you use and why?

Right now I only have CC cleaner, IObit advanced system care and Game Booster and I think I will install malbytes malware.

 

I recommend NBR. People there have seen just about everything.

Oh, you mean a program that's 24-7? Try Microsoft Security Essentials. It's free and it isn't a memory hog or system dominatrix like the rest of the security programs tend to be.

 

+1 on this one. You don't need anything else. You can ditch all the other stuff you mentioned, it serves no useful purpose.

 

+2

Microsoft Security Essentials + EMET 4 (maximum security settings in my case) + A whole lot of common sense = Safe enough.

 

If you doing all that protection go with what other have mentioned MSE it's a A/V and Malware all in one and that should do for you and it's a decent program for something coming from M$. I have Avira free but you have to do a edit to block the pop ads that takes up the middle of your viewing screen. There are directions online on how to remove that pop but you can do. Here is the link to help. This is if you go with Avira.
How To Remove Popup Ad In Avira AntiVir Personal (Free Version)
or
How to do almost anything: Disable Avira Free Antivirus Pop-up Ads

So there are many more showing how but doing the same process.

 

Another vote for MSE, though if you want more, I'd add in Malwarebyte's as well. But definitely use common sense when surfing the web, as that'll prevent a lot of social engineering attempts, which is the most popular way to screw people over these days and *no* program can protect you from that.

 

Running MSE + Malwarebytes and Firefox with the following addons - NoScript, AdBlock Plus (with Ultimate Fanboy List and Malware Domains filters and 'Allow some non-instrustive advertising' unticked) and HTTPS Everywhere, these three being the absolute minimum I will go with, anything less than that and I won't even bother surfing the Internet.

 

I use Avira free with edit to stop ad popup and Defender and Hosts file edits to block any sites already on the list. The hosts edits are IMO very powerful and can block more blocks then I can imagine to see. So that might be also where you want to look at and I also edit my hosts file when I find a pop or site trying to get me to click on something I don't want just addy it to my hosts edit and gone it is a white screen or pop saying can't connect......

 

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention I also use Someonewhocares' hosts file, along with Facebook and Google analytics (and the likes) entries.

 

Of course some decent AV etc & some brain while browsing and... always having complete & recent disk images available. Macrium, Easeus etc. Storage in the TB range is so cheap these days, there is no excuse whatsoever to not implement some good backup routines, in case of user error, virus, disk errors.

 

Same here Someonewhocare and MVP are two hosts edits I use and added to my hosts file and they work wonders in killing pops that I don't want or need as well....

 

MSE here and lots of user care. I do the same for my daughter and son in law along with constant user education. There is no AV or otherwise that is fool proof, you must keep vigilance or fall prey.....................

 

Take a look at Sandboxie.It has a free version too. See this one for Intro and Quick guide to Sandboxie.

Another option is to use Shadow Defender. See this one for review and guide.

CCleaner alone is enough for system cleaning.If you want to add more to CCleaner,then see CCEnhancer

 

I use Glary Utilities in addition to CCleaner. Otherwise I use MSE for daily virus protection. It's not the best but it's free and hasn't failed me yet (that I know of haha).

 

Malwarebytes only runs in the background with the paid version, no? Will check out HTTPS Everywhere. Anyone else have experience with this and recommend or not?

Never heard of Glary Utilities.

 

Yep. Free version is manual-only.