I have some family members who are running Windows 11. I appreciate from a privacy point of view this is already bad. I wish I could get them onto Linux but it’s not happening any time soon. It is what it is and I’d like to do the best I can for their privacy and security. The threat model here de…

[image] Bhaelros: Their protection rate is still better than others. There are many AV solutions which have similarly good detection rates and MS Defender is usually among them. So there is no reason to choose something different. See Test antivirus software for Windows 11 - October 2023 | AV…

The era of antivirus software that you are looking for no longer exist.

Is not ClamAV decent? Free, decent enough for none super security, resource light. It also downloads the database as you want with no communicating back or ads.

Yes it is, but it isnt for windows iirc Edit: actually it is i guess

[image] exaCORE: Edit: actually it is i guess Yes, it is. ClamAVNet

CyberGhost VPN has an antivirus option for an extra £1/month but they only sell it to their VPN subscribers. [image] Best All-In-One Security Suite for Windows (2025) | CyberGhost CyberGhost's Security Suite is an all-in-one security solution for Windows. Get an antivirus, app scanner, …

I wouldn’t trust an antivirus from a VPN owned by Kape Technologies (whose name should ring alarm bells for anyone in the privacy community)

SurfShark has a similar product, they only sell it to their VPN customers: [image] Protect your devices with Surfshark Antivirus Surfshark Antivirus protects your devices from viruses, threats, and intrusive apps. Enjoy real-time protection and schedule your scans …

And this is a product from a VPN owned by Nord, who has a fun record with security on their own servers…

Malwarebytes? This one is free for everybody. [image] Free Antivirus 2025 | Download Free Antivirus & Virus Scan | 100% Free... Download free antivirus: easy install for all devices. Remove unwanted malware like viruses, ransomware, spyware & more. Est. reading time: 6 minutes …

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Privacy/security considerations for anti-virus on Windows 11 for non-technical users?

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privacylover January 15, 2024, 2:59am 25

CyberGhost VPN has an antivirus option for an extra £1/month but they only sell it to their VPN subscribers.

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Privacy/security considerations for anti-virus on Windows 11 for non-technical users?

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