Installing Antivirus on Your DSA Laptop: Agent Recommendation - Comodo

Why you need to install more than basic Antivirus on Your DSA Laptop and tips for good maintenance: Agent Recommendation - Comodo

What can you recommend as an anti virus software?

Short answer, as a company nothing. Long Answer:

DSA/SLC, as an entity recommend a better than entry level anti virus be used, but make no specific recommendations. Study Tech, as a company similarly do not make any specific recommendation.

Assessors, may make personal recommendations that DSA/SLC then "fund" or award. However, in most, if not all instances this recommendation will be for a free software, such as Sophos (especially for Mac), or Malware Bytes, which is a more reactive/after the fact than preventative option than a true anti virus.

Technical support agents would personally recommend installing a full anti-virus  to protect your system.

DSA do state that installing any anti-virus/keeping the laptop up to date is the student's responsibility, buried somewhere in your DSA letter.

Regularly restarting your laptop, along with Windows Updates and a above entry level anti virus would be considered basic maintenance by Study Tech, DSA and SLC regardless.

In addition, usage of any apps, or websites, especially those not used for University educational purposes, such as adult, gaming, file sharing or other similar apps/sites and activities could, in some cases, preclude repairs or access to your maintenance and support warranty. 

As they would be considered negligent use of your laptop/PC, any other device or they could be seen as being malignant use.

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Okay, so what would agents recommend as an anti virus software?

15 years ago, the paid software were the best to use, such as McAfee, Norton or Dr Solomon. 

Now, as the "free" anti-virus have a substantially larger customer base, they get virus definitions, fixes and "cures" faster than the paid software.


Software such as Avast/Avg are also fine.

Windows Defender, although entry level is actually improving to/past the point where it may be considered entry Level.

If you have a Mac, Yes you need an anti virus. If you personally feel you do not, that is fine. But lack of one, again, may be considered lack of proper maintenance and at that point some support options may be affected.

For either Windows or Mac, the solution Study Tech use in house, download Comodo anti-virus can be downloaded  for windows for free using this link, or using this link for Mac.

Please note that this is a personal recommendation of the Tech Support team/agents, not from Study Tech as a company.

Though the company would also suggest an anti-virus to be good/best practice, they would not recommend any one over another.

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Alright, assuming I have gone with the personal recommendation, how do I use comodo/are there any basic tips for any Anti Virus?

Regardless of the anti-virus used, it is recommended to update the anti-virus fully before performing a FULL SCAN.

With Comodo, this is actually fairly easy; there is an easy-to-read "Red, Amber and Green" system that should be easy to read.



Red is bad/stop something is off, Amber things are almost ready or need only a little attention, and Green is good to go/scan.

Technical support agents would also recommend reading the install prompts and making sure the on screen widget is activated,

If you do miss this, you can easily enable the widget after installing the software by right-clicking the Comodo icon near the clock/bottom right-hand corner, selecting widget and ticking "show":

 
After this/once fully updated and scanned, you should find that the software blocks most unwanted malware and viruses. You will occasionally see notifications that things are being blocked, and here "common sense" applies. If you see a notification for a known by yourself, or known DSA software being blocked, it should be treated as an installer/trusted app or similar.

If you see something for a questionable or unknown app or website, it should be blocked. If you knowingly allow something that you may not be safe, such as an adult, gaming, file sharing app or website you do so at your own risk, and with the knowledge that some of your support options, such as maintenance and support from Study Tech can be affected. In extreme cases, it may even make a repair or support option become chargeable.

Most DSA laptops through an error when you first run an anti virus installer (not sure why, we think it has to do with University accounts/emails) however immediately re launching the installer seems to then work just fine.