Category: Geeks r Us
I just got a new computer from BestBuy and they gave me a choice of three different antivirus programs. I picked WebRoot. Anyone know if it is accessible with JAWS? I guess as we are on the subject what is your favorite antivirus program? I've personally just been using the free MicroSoft one.
Not really.
I like Viper, but it cost a bit.
For free, I like Microsoft's program, because it is accessible, works reasonable, and intergrates with Windows.
You should probably have a backup if you're using Security Essentials, though. Even Microsoft has admitted that it should really only be a first responder, if you will.
Hell, in my opinion, you should have a backup no matter what program you're using.
For a free and accessible solution, try Clamwin. It too has its shortcomings, but if you don't want to spend money, it's currently the only fully accessible antivirus solution out there.
You're going to have to schedule scans with it, if you don't always want to do manual ones, and it does not contain active protection. That is, it doesn't actually scan files as they come into your computer.
Even so, I do like to use it to scan files that I'm not sure about, and I use Essat Smart Security, which is one of the top antivirus programs out there.
Good advice.
Also, leave Windows security settings alone. Lol
Like the User account, and other things set by default unless you are sure you know what you are about.
Then if you choose the free way, you'll be okay with some comen sense measures as well.
A backup is a really good idea no matter what. Wish I did them alot more than I really do. MS Essentials is the only thing I've used for years. I was paying for a top rated antivirus program years ago and still got infected. So, in my opinion they all have their short comings.
This is true. No antivirus is going to get 100% of everything every time. This is why I always recommend having another one to fall back on, in case your first antivirus fails you.
It doesn't hurt to have something like Malwarebytes around, either, because that scans for spyware and adware and that kind of stuff, whereas, depending on the antivirus program, that won't necessarily be its strong point.
Is Malwarebytes accessible? In the early 2000s I used ZoneAlarm but I haven't used that in almost 10 years. Truthfully if something isn't fairly accessible and/or fairly easy to use I will not use it. I'm really careful on the web and what I click on but viruses are really tricky these days. Heck even my new computer is full of junk right out of the box.
All new computers come with programs you may or may not need.
Remove them.
As to good protection, if you have one, plus the windoes's 8 controls now, you'll be good.
A good program provider will also help you clean your computer if you should happen to catch something free of charge.
I'm not entirely sure about the accessibility of Malwarebytes these days. I've heard that screen reader support was implemented in the latest version, and I played with it briefly, but didn't find the interface to my liking. I don't remember being able to interact with the scan results as I would have liked.
Zone Alarm, that's a name I haven't heard in forever, lol. That's almost as much of a fossil as Ad Aware. But I think both programs are still alive and kicking, although I have no clue how accessible either of them are now.
Well, you can always try anything for a few days.
All of these programs usually offer a try it period.
Any other programs other than MS Essentials, Clamwin, and Essat that works well for a JAWS user? I know I can try just about anything first just thought I’d try and get an idea on what others use and works for them. Thanks everyone.
Free? It is hard to say, because they change sometimes.
The paid are easier.
Just try some. If it isn't working for you, change it.
A note, some are a bit hard to remove, but can be.
Yeah, it's hard to rely on the free programs. They do tend to change often, so what might sort of work this month might not work in 2 months' time, and some of them do have a nasty habit of firmly implanting themselves in your OS, making it so that you have to boot into safe mode to get rid of them.
Having to remove whatever I get is what I’m really trying to avoid. I take it from the suggestions that for free Essentials and Clamwin are accessible and for paid Essat and Viper are also accessible.
The main Malware Bytes programme is accessible enough. Using Jaws and NVDA you can download updates and do scans. In NVDA, Setting the speech not to read out the percentage when scanning and relying on the beeps can be a good idea. I prefer doing scans with NVDA.
For antivirus protection I use what ever my ISP provides because it is included in my broadband package.
MS SE is good enough along with malwarebytes IMO .