What is the best anti virus software to get?

[Dushmnn73]

Windows Defender should honestly be enough, I think for the most part the user's behaviour is responsible if they are infected, if you keep your eyes open and act cautiously I think there shouldn't be any problems

[anon]

Windows Defender will still do scheduled quick scans, autoupdates and event traces even when supposedly disabled. Here's how to kill it for good if you don't need it.

Disable anti-tamper protection Get TrustedInstaller privileges (mandatory; see https://github.com/jschicht/RunAsTI) Run the commands below reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center\Notifications" /v "DisableEnhancedNotifications" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center\Notifications" /v "DisableNotifications" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center\Virus and threat protection" /v "SummaryNotificationDisabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center\Virus and threat protection" /v "NoActionNotificationDisabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center\Virus and threat protection" /v "FilesBlockedNotificationDisabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection" /v "DisableRealtimeMonitoring" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection" /v "DisableBehaviorMonitoring" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection" /v "DpaDisabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scan" /v "CheckForSignaturesBeforeRunningScan" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scan" /v "DisableCatchupFullScan" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scan" /v "DisableCatchupQuickScan" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet" /v "SpyNetReporting" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet" /v "SubmitSamplesConsent" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet" /v "SpyNetReporting" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet" /v "SubmitSamplesConsent" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "DisableRoutinelyTakingAction" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "DisableAntiSpyware" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "DisableRealtimeMonitoring" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "DisableAntiVirus" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "DisableSpecialRunningModes" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "ServiceKeepAlive" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection" /v "DisableRealtimeMonitoring" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection" /v "DisableBehaviorMonitoring" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection" /v "DisableOnAccessProtection" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection" /v "DisableScanOnRealtimeEnable" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Reporting" /v "DisableGenericReports" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scan" /v "ScheduleDay" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x8 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates" /v "ForceUpdateFromMU" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet" /v "SpyNetReporting" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet" /v "SubmitSamplesConsent" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x2 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet" /v "DontReportInfectionInformation" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet" /v "LocalSettingOverrideSpynetReporting" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet" /v "DisableBlockAtFirstSeen" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "DisableRoutinelyTakingAction" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "DisableAntiSpyware" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "DisableRealtimeMonitoring" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "DisableAntiVirus" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "DisableSpecialRunningModes" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender" /v "ServiceKeepAlive" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection" /v "DisableRealtimeMonitoring" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection" /v "DisableBehaviorMonitoring" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection" /v "DisableOnAccessProtection" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection" /v "DisableScanOnRealtimeEnable" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Reporting" /v "DisableGenericReports" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Scan" /v "ScheduleDay" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x8 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Signature Updates" /v "ForceUpdateFromMU" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet" /v "SpyNetReporting" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet" /v "SubmitSamplesConsent" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x2 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet" /v "DontReportInfectionInformation" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet" /v "LocalSettingOverrideSpynetReporting" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Spynet" /v "DisableBlockAtFirstSeen" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x1 /f reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WMI\Autologger\DefenderApiLogger" /v "Start" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\WMI\Autologger\DefenderAuditLogger" /v "Start" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0 /f schtasks /change /tn "\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Cache Maintenance" /disable schtasks /change /tn "\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Cleanup" /disable schtasks /change /tn "\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Defender\Windows Defender Verification" /disable reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WinDefend" /v "Start" /t REG_DWORD /d 0x4 /f Reboot as quickly as possible

[ceeps]

Just started using Bitdefender Total Security (fanatical.com deal).. so far not too shabby.

[mashpal]

For a new Dell laptop with Windows 7 Professional, I recommend using a reputable antivirus solution like Bitdefender, Norton, or Kaspersky. These are known for effective protection without significant system slowdowns. Make sure to keep the antivirus software updated for the latest security features.

[anon]

For a new Dell laptop with Windows 7 Professional

And where can you buy a new Dell laptop with Windows 7, which came out on 2009 and became unsupported four years ago?

[sam007]

for windows user there is no need of any antivirus because Windows have already built in Windows defender

[NZBmee1]

I have used it , I thimnk its pretty good for what it does.

[wedwilson]

McAfee, Avira and AVG are best anti virus

[anon]

Avira

Ah, the good old days of visiting free-av.com to download AntiVir...