Hey Guys.  I've had some issues last few months related to Norton Internet Security.  First a few months ago I had to reinstall the FSL A320.  Despite having excluded the proper directories in norton.  Then this week out of know where, it decided to kill AIG.  I've had that excluded also.  It's almost like Norton has got to the point where it ignores the parameters I attempt to set aroudn it.  While at the same time I've read numerous reports online where people say you don't even need to run a 3rd party anti-virus program anymore.  What do you guys do?

I use Avast Antivirus (the free version), and it seems to work fine. I was never a big fan of Norton antivirus in the past, as I found it to be far too intrusive.

I'm using the M$ one. Don't have any issues, but having said that. I exclude the hard-drive that Prepa3d is installed on.

 

Since I built this Windows 10 system in the fall of 2015 I have used nothing other than the Windows 10-included Defender (no cost, constantly updated) and Malware Bytes.  Perfect!  No need to purchase or use cumbersome, system draining 3rd party AV any longer.  I have seen numerous posts over the past two or three years similar to your post, and believe the strongest recommendations are just that.  Defender and Malware Bytes.

thanks guys.  I was expecting to hear this.  My concern is that I will delete Norton.  Then windows defender will activate and it will then start blocking everything since it's been dormant.  

If you don't mind having a couple of OS installs what works exceedingly well is to keep your simulator and its various add-ons on one disk w/ its own OS.  Nowadays, since high performing SSD's arrived, there is little to no need to put OS and sim on separate drives.  Plus, it makes for easy complete system restores or cloned backups (on old HDD's which is what I've done) which I have done a few time when something poorly repairable happened to the install.  This is what I've done for 20y now and I never have AV/malware software installed on my OS/sim boot, nor any other type of software that would be vulnerable, for example MS Office.  When I download any new software including updates to sim/add-ons I boot to another drive where other software, games, and AV/malware software exists, scan the item for problems, then copy it on my OS/sim disk for install next boot in.  Have yet to ever have any virus/malware in my simulation install.

Edited February 12, 20206 yr by Noel

Thanks Noel.  That might be a little too much for me.  But I'm likely to go ahead and ditch Norton and use W. Def

2 hours ago, fppilot said:

Since I built this Windows 10 system in the fall of 2015 I have used nothing other than the Windows 10-included Defender (no cost, constantly updated) and Malware Bytes.

Is that the free or paid version of MB? Im thinking of switching to the same setup and im unsure what version to get.

I’m using bitdefender , mainly because my wife’s work has a program where we could get the cost reimbursed on our home computer.  There are a few functions I turned off (safe file protection is one) because it never actually reported catching anything malicious and was constantly being a pain in the butt stopping legitimate things from working.

Not sure if I’ll renew when my one year license is up or just go back to windows defender....from what I hear it ranks quite well, particularly for its “cost”.

1 hour ago, micstatic said:

Thanks Noel.  That might be a little too much for me.  But I'm likely to go ahead and ditch Norton and use W. Def

Sure, you might consider it when you do your next build.   It's nice to have an uber clean install for your flight sim with virtually no risk of any interference by malware or even unnecessary services running for other purposes on your sim OS' install. 

29 minutes ago, SoJourned said:

Is that the free or paid version of MB? Im thinking of switching to the same setup and im unsure what version to get.

Yes.  Malware Bytes Premium.

I use  a combination of Windows Defender and Malwarebytes Premium.  No issues with either (or with the two together).  Hope this helps.

Windows Defender + Malwarebytes Free (for scans) + HijackThis.

Greg

11 hours ago, micstatic said:

Hey Guys.  I've had some issues last few months related to Norton Internet Security.  First a few months ago I had to reinstall the FSL A320.  Despite having excluded the proper directories in norton.  Then this week out of know where, it decided to kill AIG.  I've had that excluded also.  It's almost like Norton has got to the point where it ignores the parameters I attempt to set aroudn it.  While at the same time I've read numerous reports online where people say you don't even need to run a 3rd party anti-virus program anymore.  What do you guys do?

I would rather have three root canals with no Novocaine than use Norton AV. The only  thing it is good at is slowing your PC down. 

So far over the last few years have had paid versions of the following Internet Security Packages: Avast, Avira, Karspersky and Bit-Defender. Had nothing but problems with all of them blocking and sometimes even deleting perfectly clean exe files, blocking access to data, etc. Have ended up disabling the AV altogether when flying and noticed the Sim performed much better. Now considering malware bytes Pro and Windows Defender. If you are having issues disable the AV completely prior to flying.