Draft NOINDEX expansion 2026-08-10; overall scores unpublished
Safe Browsing Checklist
Browser habits before scanner logos: SecurityChecklist keeps this draft free-first and claim-safe. Most malware starts with a click. Fix habits before stacking paid scanners. Optional paid cards use claim-ledger prices from 2026-08-09 (Bitdefender Antivirus Plus from $24.99/yr first year; Malwarebytes from $59.99/yr). Overall scores stay unpublished (N/Pub). Who should not buy: anyone who has not confirmed OS updates and built-in protection, anyone stacking multiple always-on engines, or anyone who needs published lab detection rates before deciding.
- Guide · Free-first · Draft NOINDEX
Priority checklist
- 1Keep browser and OS updated
- 2Download software only from official sites
- 3Enable browser Safe Browsing / Enhanced Protection
- 4Limit extensions to ones you need
- 5Paid AV only for leftover device jobs
Checklist
- 1Free
Update browser and OS
Patches close drive-by paths. Auto-update beats a new toolbar that promises magic scanning.
- Browser auto-update on
- OS updates current
- Remove ancient unused browsers
- 2Free
Official downloads only
Avoid softpedia-style mirror mazes and fake Download buttons. Prefer vendor domains you type yourself.
- Type vendor domain or use bookmarks
- Skip bundlers and optional offers
- Prefer app stores when available
- 3Free
Harden browser settings
Enable Safe Browsing, block pop-ups you do not need, and review search engine defaults after hijack attempts.
- Safe Browsing / Enhanced Protection on
- Check default search and homepage
- Clear surprise toolbars
- 4Optional paid
Paid scanners for leftovers only
If habits and Defender are healthy, paid AV is optional for multi-device or cleanup leftovers.
- Confirm Defender/SmartScreen first on Windows
- Avoid stacking engines
- Read who should not buy before /go/
What this checklist does not cover
- Zero-day browser bugs before patches
- Users who ignore warnings
- Invented safe-browsing efficacy percentages
Sources
- Browser Safe Browsing settings, Official Chrome/Edge/Firefox safe browsing documentation; labels vary by browser
- Malwarebytes claim ledger, data/claim-ledgers/malwarebytes.json; from $59.99/yr captured 2026-08-09
- Overall scores unpublished (N/Pub), No invented lab scores, detection rates, or aggregate ratings on Batch39/40/41 drafts
- Vendor marketing pages, bitdefender.com / malwarebytes.com feature and pricing claims, not independent lab evidence
- Security Checklist methodology, How antivirus pages are structured before scores and detection rates publish, /methodology/
- Claim ledger (T014), data/claim-ledgers/bitdefender.json + malwarebytes.json, starting prices verified 2026-08-09; lab scores unpublished
Frequently asked questions
Usually no. Built-in Safe Browsing plus OS protection is enough for many people. Extra extensions increase attack surface.
HTTPS only means the connection is encrypted to some server. It does not prove the site is trustworthy.
SecurityChecklist keeps overall scores N/Pub until signed test records exist. Qualitative fit notes are not substitute scores.
Anyone who has not finished the free steps on this page, anyone buying logos for a job they do not have, and anyone who needs a published overall score before deciding.
Internal links
Continue in this cluster
Hub, tools, and related pages from the inventory. No invented URLs.
Expert guides & insights
Related guides
Stay in the same problem space without jumping brands.
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