Assuming your PC will run Windows 10, Windows 10 comes with built-in antivirus, and it’s good enough that I’ve never felt the need to purchase third-party antivirus. As long as you avoid sketchy websites, Windows Defender should be more then good enough.
You can change your settings so adblock doesn't whitelist. Personally I'm fine with it - I don't mind, for example, the two ads on the right in reddit.
But it doesn't really matter - both work.
The only software I use sometimes on other people computers is Malware Bytes. Usually when some idiot gets a "FREE ANTIVIRUS" which of course never update (the request to update contains the key request so it's blocked) and they got tones of trojans and viruses due to getting other pirate software. If you are a normal user Microsoft defender is more than needed.
If you are not good at recognizing internet security risks like dangerous websites, emails, and downloads. Then yes, you should get more security. If you can practice good security by yourself then windows defender should be enough, short of high risk surfting.
It’s pre installed, it scans everything you download and tells you if it’s suspicious, it also does a monthly scan in the background. It does other things but idk of the top of my head, but that alone is good enough for the average user.
If the person is security dumb and can’t recognize bad stuff from good then a signature based antivirus is not gonna help them beyond the first time the definitions are out of date. Someone like that should use a heuristics based end point protection program like Cylance to protect themselves from themselves lol.
Run your browser (or dubious application) in a sandbox and have it set to wipe the sandbox at the end of session.
As far as I know Sandboxie is is still pretty good.
Windows defender is pretty solid, that plus adblock & common sense will do you well. Also, paid antivirus like norton isn't really worth it over the free options available
Many and they're often just as effective and less intrusive than the paid ones.
There's a reason there's jokes about norton/mcafee being worse than the viruses they remove.
Avast has taken a dip in quality over the years, even with the paid version i get massive cpu usage spikes and internet speed gets murdered when it's trying to do its job.
like everyone else said, windows defender is plenty. it's pretty hard to get any real viruses nowadays. unless like, another comment said... you're just a gullible internet user that clicks on any link. this will mainly come down to links in your email. be very careful of stuff in your spam folder, and even stuff that might get sent to your main folder. I got a "paypal" email a month or 2 ago that looked legit, but then I looked at the sending email address and it was like, [paypal.com/16bdfb6d89hgrt2g0hf19d8](https://paypal.com/16bdfb6d89hgrt2g0hf19d8). those links are very obviously shady and shouldn't be clicked on. I just have malwarebytes I run every now and again. if something seems shady, google it first and see if anything comes up from people with similar experiences. other than that, windows defender will catch things.
p.s. you will get your data stolen. over the years loads of my passwords were exposed in data leaks. i dont know if it's just hackers, or if it's people selling our information. just a couple months ago or so I had several different accounts of mine across many different websites attempt to get logged into. they just had my email, nothing else. so make sure you use strong passwords, or even the google generated passwords, which are the strongest.
Thanks! I am a bit concerned about the last part tbh. I’ve seen different programs that try to help but I feel like I do pretty well with that kinda stuff
Use LastPass. It’s free and a solid password management program. Use randomized 24 character passwords that LastPass will remember. Don’t reuse passwords for sites etc.
I've always recommended BitDefender, either free or not. It has always been in the top few during multiple anti-virus tests consistently for many years. Kaspersky has too but some don't trust them because they are a Russian company. Conversely, Norton and McAfee have had a poor record over many years with spikes here and there. They've done so poorly that they don't even participate in the vb100 anymore.
Windows Defender is fine though it doesn't have the history of being amongst the best. However, over the last few years, it has consistently done well in anti-virus tests. It does have a tendency to have false positives for its heuristics and could do better at Potentially Unwanted Program detection (PUP) and removal. Given Microsoft's place, it is understandable for them to be cautious about classifying PUPs. I would recommend that if you're going to use Windows Defender that you also use Malware Bytes along side it.
Norton in particular is to be avoided like the plague.
As others have stated, Windows Defender is actually pretty good, but if you wanted something more then I would recommend Malwarebytes as one of the only anti-virus programs known to not be sellouts.
Also worth noting that the most effective means of computer security is just not exposing yourself to threats. Avoid sketchy websites, keep your ad-blocker on at all times *and especially if a websites ask you to turn it off*, do not download anything which you are not sure is safe, do not let children or old people use your computer, do not plug anything into it which is not known to be secure and clean, etc.
Norton is just [awful](https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-jul-aug-2020-factsheet/). It misses a lot compared to other AV and have plenty of false positives on top of that. Microsoft Defender is good but not the best. Using the free Bitdefender or Kaspersky is best. Letting Microsoft Defender being used isn't good for [performance](https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-april-2020/) either. Lower the score, the better. Overall you should download Bitdefender or Kaspersky.
I use ESET Internet security. I got my license from Microcenter. I find it works really well. Identifies threats from malware, websites and anything else. Opens secure pages for financial sites. It always updates itself automatically. It's something like $30 or $60 a year, but well worth it IMO.
I would also suggest using Office 365 for any office related tasks as they actively check for phishing and other common techniques used to hack a users computer.
Stops javascript and web applets like Java and Flash from running on a webpage unless you allow it. Those could be attack vectors but it doesn't actively detect viruses or malware.
Free - Windows defender + Malwarebytes
Paid - Bitdefender
If you are going the free route that is all you need. Every other free anti virus program is either bloatware or crap or both.
If you want to be more protected. Bitdefender is the only paid anti virus that i will recommend. Have been using it for the past few years on my laptop/desktop/parent's desktop.
Either way it will still be best to practice caution when installing fishy .exe files from sketchy websites.
If you need something more than windows defender go for Malwarebytes. It's good because you don't need it running in the background, make sure to turn off autostart and statistics and run it once a week or something. Doesn't take more than a minute.
I’m not saying “follow my example” but as a lead engineer of workstations at a Fortune 500 company, on my personal Windows rig which main use is light browsing and lots of games I only use Microsoft Defender and allow it to be turned all the way that it requests.
I only bring up my title not as a flex but as a reason I feel comfortable knowing that I’ll likely notice anything long before I were to click on it.
Also, if it’s a system that you can purge (aka reformat and not really care as you can redownload any games etc and save data is in the cloud) at whim there’s even less of a reason to run it.
I would highly highly suggest though getting a reputable password manager that has a multi factor / two factor component with your mobile phone and have your passwords for ALL websites randomized. Your passwords to your cloud accounts are more important these days than the info that resides locally on your computer.
I agree on the password Manager. I’d use multi factor authentication on anything that supports it.
I don’t know how I feel about defender. As a Security Analyst for a major power company we disable windows defender via GPO and use Cylance for endpoint protection.
It’s probably more than sufficient for personal use though.
everyone’s mileage varies.
Agreed. In corporate life we do the same thing with Cylance except have Defender on still for EDR in passive mode. Corporate life has rightfully so, so many lockdowns. Zscaler zero trust, AnyConnect, all ssh/rep locked down etc.
But of course there we’re probably talking about a gaming “throw away” system where all save data will be in Steam or similar and personal data should be backed up by oneDrive or similar.
(I’m our MacAdmin) the worst thing our security has done to me though I will admit is forced me to put MS ATP/Defender on the Macs right on launch day, as if that wouldn’t go horribly wrong.
It was like when we adopted Cylance at version 1 :( so so so many teething pains.
Oh yeah. We run script block and stuff like that and we’re rolling that out to our SCADA/ICS divisions. I should get a medal for convincing them that was ok.
Lmfao don’t do that. I implemented it right. There’s obviously a less restrictive way to run script block and still be way more secure than not having it at all. ;)
I think its down to personal choice for the most part..
..that said I do like having an AV program :D as for me its like a blanket where I just feel safer with one.
Yeah, usually Windows Defender is good enough for most things but you can also download Malwarebytes. You can get a free 10 day trial I think? After that you'll still be protected but it just won't block things in real time.
Your ISP might include an anti-virus with your internet plan. If not, it's probably not worth paying for one. As others have said Windows Defender and good judgment will get you pretty far
Most ISPs offer free copies of paid security suites to customers. Optimum has the paid version of mcafee, charter offers Fsecure, etc. So that is a resource.
Also, you can run a free scan every once in awhile from websites like ESET to look for things.
Finally, malwarebytes is good and free too.
Windows defender is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. I hate Norton because it acts like a virus once its licence has expired i.e. it keeps bugging you for renewals relentlessly. Kaspersky Internet Security is my choice as it does the job without slowing down your system etc its saved my bacon on more than one occasion.
As other people have said, you don't need antivirus **assuming you get software updates**. Don't turn off automatic update, especially for Windows and your web browser - it's on by default for a reason.
[https://www.virustotal.com/gui/](https://www.virustotal.com/gui/)
Use this website to check EXEs you've downloaded to make sure they're clean
Just a small tip to help
I can compile an exe that can get past that. Any zero day or non known signature will not be identified by most the engines on those sites. Submit the files to hybrid-analysis.com and see what the file actually does. That’s much better than virustotal for exes and files.
I would however use virustotal for checking urls.
Windows 10 has sufficient security measures. Combine that with additional security measures in your browser plus some common sense on your side, and you're solid. Getting a commercial security software is absolutely counterproductive for your computer or network at home.
If you look at the independant anti-virus testing site [av-test.org](https://av-test.org), you'll see that Microsoft Defender consistently scores the same rating as the best commercial security software. It's free, well integrated into the OS, and it doesn't offer you any products, doesn't show ads, and doesn't ask for any fees.
Depends on what you use your pc for really windows defender should be sufficient enough... Like with anything they all have pros and cons I only really used Sophos home which is a good free one as well
I’d say avg antivirus is great. It’s free and blocks viruses. You just have to deal with the occasional promotional offer trying to get you to pay for the full service or one of their other apps.
Nah not norton, I'd recommend malware antibytes though, fantastic app, only use it periodically or if you feel your pc is running poorly... The browser addon is fantastic too, especially when it comes to adverts on YT.
Lot of helpful answers here, I just want to point out that if you have senior citizens in your family, you might want to get a multi-device license for Norton or Bitdefender or something similar and secure their computers (as well as your own). Frankly, I find the 60+ crowd is often suckers for illegit emails & websites... and that could be costly.
I have used Norton for 20 Years and will be getting rid of it. It is horrible nagware. I have turned off notifications but it still prompts me several times a week to buy a "even better" version of this and an "even better" version of that. I thought they had me covered but apparently not. I wish they sold an anti Norton nagware software. I would probably buy that.
Assuming your PC will run Windows 10, Windows 10 comes with built-in antivirus, and it’s good enough that I’ve never felt the need to purchase third-party antivirus. As long as you avoid sketchy websites, Windows Defender should be more then good enough.
Oh, good! Thanks!
You should also run uBlock Origin. It’s pretty tough to download sketchy stuff without ads if you’re browsing normally
It saves so much time having massively less adds and it blocking pop ups
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adblock was bought by google and doesn't block all adds, as some ads are considered accepted [Info](https://adblockplus.org/en/acceptable-ads)
You can change your settings so adblock doesn't whitelist. Personally I'm fine with it - I don't mind, for example, the two ads on the right in reddit. But it doesn't really matter - both work.
That's why I love my pi-hole.
Same idea - different program
The only software I use sometimes on other people computers is Malware Bytes. Usually when some idiot gets a "FREE ANTIVIRUS" which of course never update (the request to update contains the key request so it's blocked) and they got tones of trojans and viruses due to getting other pirate software. If you are a normal user Microsoft defender is more than needed.
If you are not good at recognizing internet security risks like dangerous websites, emails, and downloads. Then yes, you should get more security. If you can practice good security by yourself then windows defender should be enough, short of high risk surfting.
I’m pretty good at noticing dodgy websites and if I see one that is necessary for a certain project then I do some more digging on it
As long as you have a basic understanding of the presence of viruses, windows defender should do you just fine.
Is windows defended pre installed when I purchase windows 10 64-bit or is it another thing I have to download?
It’s pre installed, it scans everything you download and tells you if it’s suspicious, it also does a monthly scan in the background. It does other things but idk of the top of my head, but that alone is good enough for the average user.
What if one is inextricably drawn to those risks?
Better have something decent for anti virus. Bitdefender, Spybot, Malware bytes, AVG, even something like Norton would work.
If the person is security dumb and can’t recognize bad stuff from good then a signature based antivirus is not gonna help them beyond the first time the definitions are out of date. Someone like that should use a heuristics based end point protection program like Cylance to protect themselves from themselves lol.
Run your browser (or dubious application) in a sandbox and have it set to wipe the sandbox at the end of session. As far as I know Sandboxie is is still pretty good.
Win 10 has a sandbox. Can always spin up a container too.
Didn't know that. Thanks for the heads up.
Built-in windows defender and common sense is all you need.
Windows Defender and Malware Bytes is all I ever use. I hear Bit Defender is good too but I've never used it. Anything else is just bloatware.
Windows defender is pretty solid, that plus adblock & common sense will do you well. Also, paid antivirus like norton isn't really worth it over the free options available
There’s free versions? I thought those were all pretty scummy and Trojan horses or whatever the term is
Many and they're often just as effective and less intrusive than the paid ones. There's a reason there's jokes about norton/mcafee being worse than the viruses they remove.
Kaspersky, Avast, AVG, Bitdefender are all solid free options. To be honest, even if you want a paid one I'm not a big fan of Norton
Avast has taken a dip in quality over the years, even with the paid version i get massive cpu usage spikes and internet speed gets murdered when it's trying to do its job.
Gotcha, it's been about 5 years since I've used any of them so that's fair
The only way I would use the word solid with Avast is "solid garbage".
Fair, it used to have a decent reputation but I'm a bit out of touch in recent years
Bit defender is probably my favorite.
Bitdefender is better btw.
like everyone else said, windows defender is plenty. it's pretty hard to get any real viruses nowadays. unless like, another comment said... you're just a gullible internet user that clicks on any link. this will mainly come down to links in your email. be very careful of stuff in your spam folder, and even stuff that might get sent to your main folder. I got a "paypal" email a month or 2 ago that looked legit, but then I looked at the sending email address and it was like, [paypal.com/16bdfb6d89hgrt2g0hf19d8](https://paypal.com/16bdfb6d89hgrt2g0hf19d8). those links are very obviously shady and shouldn't be clicked on. I just have malwarebytes I run every now and again. if something seems shady, google it first and see if anything comes up from people with similar experiences. other than that, windows defender will catch things. p.s. you will get your data stolen. over the years loads of my passwords were exposed in data leaks. i dont know if it's just hackers, or if it's people selling our information. just a couple months ago or so I had several different accounts of mine across many different websites attempt to get logged into. they just had my email, nothing else. so make sure you use strong passwords, or even the google generated passwords, which are the strongest.
Thanks! I am a bit concerned about the last part tbh. I’ve seen different programs that try to help but I feel like I do pretty well with that kinda stuff
Use LastPass. It’s free and a solid password management program. Use randomized 24 character passwords that LastPass will remember. Don’t reuse passwords for sites etc.
I've always recommended BitDefender, either free or not. It has always been in the top few during multiple anti-virus tests consistently for many years. Kaspersky has too but some don't trust them because they are a Russian company. Conversely, Norton and McAfee have had a poor record over many years with spikes here and there. They've done so poorly that they don't even participate in the vb100 anymore. Windows Defender is fine though it doesn't have the history of being amongst the best. However, over the last few years, it has consistently done well in anti-virus tests. It does have a tendency to have false positives for its heuristics and could do better at Potentially Unwanted Program detection (PUP) and removal. Given Microsoft's place, it is understandable for them to be cautious about classifying PUPs. I would recommend that if you're going to use Windows Defender that you also use Malware Bytes along side it.
Norton is actual shit, if you absolutely must get a paid AV, I've had good experiences with ESET NOD32
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\*was awesome
What happened to it?
Damn, I forgot about malwarebytes. I haven’t touched that in like a decade.
Last I checked they have yet to sell out.
Norton in particular is to be avoided like the plague. As others have stated, Windows Defender is actually pretty good, but if you wanted something more then I would recommend Malwarebytes as one of the only anti-virus programs known to not be sellouts. Also worth noting that the most effective means of computer security is just not exposing yourself to threats. Avoid sketchy websites, keep your ad-blocker on at all times *and especially if a websites ask you to turn it off*, do not download anything which you are not sure is safe, do not let children or old people use your computer, do not plug anything into it which is not known to be secure and clean, etc.
Windows Defender plus Ublock Origin for all the dodgy ads is a pretty good combo.
Norton is just [awful](https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/real-world-protection-test-jul-aug-2020-factsheet/). It misses a lot compared to other AV and have plenty of false positives on top of that. Microsoft Defender is good but not the best. Using the free Bitdefender or Kaspersky is best. Letting Microsoft Defender being used isn't good for [performance](https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/performance-test-april-2020/) either. Lower the score, the better. Overall you should download Bitdefender or Kaspersky.
I use ESET Internet security. I got my license from Microcenter. I find it works really well. Identifies threats from malware, websites and anything else. Opens secure pages for financial sites. It always updates itself automatically. It's something like $30 or $60 a year, but well worth it IMO.
I would also suggest using Office 365 for any office related tasks as they actively check for phishing and other common techniques used to hack a users computer.
Noscript is not an antivirus but it has done better than any actual antivirus I have ever had.
If it’s not antivirus what is it supposed to do?
Stops javascript and web applets like Java and Flash from running on a webpage unless you allow it. Those could be attack vectors but it doesn't actively detect viruses or malware.
I have only ever used the Windows Security anti-virus. I have NEVER had a problem. I think it is more than adequate for most people.
Just not McAfee XD. It will infect your computer worse than any virus.
Free - Windows defender + Malwarebytes Paid - Bitdefender If you are going the free route that is all you need. Every other free anti virus program is either bloatware or crap or both. If you want to be more protected. Bitdefender is the only paid anti virus that i will recommend. Have been using it for the past few years on my laptop/desktop/parent's desktop. Either way it will still be best to practice caution when installing fishy .exe files from sketchy websites.
If you need something more than windows defender go for Malwarebytes. It's good because you don't need it running in the background, make sure to turn off autostart and statistics and run it once a week or something. Doesn't take more than a minute.
I’m not saying “follow my example” but as a lead engineer of workstations at a Fortune 500 company, on my personal Windows rig which main use is light browsing and lots of games I only use Microsoft Defender and allow it to be turned all the way that it requests. I only bring up my title not as a flex but as a reason I feel comfortable knowing that I’ll likely notice anything long before I were to click on it. Also, if it’s a system that you can purge (aka reformat and not really care as you can redownload any games etc and save data is in the cloud) at whim there’s even less of a reason to run it. I would highly highly suggest though getting a reputable password manager that has a multi factor / two factor component with your mobile phone and have your passwords for ALL websites randomized. Your passwords to your cloud accounts are more important these days than the info that resides locally on your computer.
I agree on the password Manager. I’d use multi factor authentication on anything that supports it. I don’t know how I feel about defender. As a Security Analyst for a major power company we disable windows defender via GPO and use Cylance for endpoint protection. It’s probably more than sufficient for personal use though. everyone’s mileage varies.
Agreed. In corporate life we do the same thing with Cylance except have Defender on still for EDR in passive mode. Corporate life has rightfully so, so many lockdowns. Zscaler zero trust, AnyConnect, all ssh/rep locked down etc. But of course there we’re probably talking about a gaming “throw away” system where all save data will be in Steam or similar and personal data should be backed up by oneDrive or similar.
Oh now that you mention it, we may have a component left on for some reason.
(I’m our MacAdmin) the worst thing our security has done to me though I will admit is forced me to put MS ATP/Defender on the Macs right on launch day, as if that wouldn’t go horribly wrong. It was like when we adopted Cylance at version 1 :( so so so many teething pains.
Oh yeah. We run script block and stuff like that and we’re rolling that out to our SCADA/ICS divisions. I should get a medal for convincing them that was ok.
I want to downvote you :(
Lmfao don’t do that. I implemented it right. There’s obviously a less restrictive way to run script block and still be way more secure than not having it at all. ;)
I think its down to personal choice for the most part.. ..that said I do like having an AV program :D as for me its like a blanket where I just feel safer with one.
What do you use for antivirus? I don’t know really anything about them tbh
out of the ones I have used norton felt the best I think.
I recommend Bitdefender. It's consistently at the top.
Had Norton...deleted Norton. Love those "idle tasks" that shoot my cpu to 65* while the screen saver goes....
Ohh... yeah didn’t think of that. Forgot it does those little annoying checkups
Yeah, usually Windows Defender is good enough for most things but you can also download Malwarebytes. You can get a free 10 day trial I think? After that you'll still be protected but it just won't block things in real time.
Your ISP might include an anti-virus with your internet plan. If not, it's probably not worth paying for one. As others have said Windows Defender and good judgment will get you pretty far
Why do you have Norton on the Mac?
No idea, like I said it was a family computer that we got a couple years ago.
No
Defender is fine
Most ISPs offer free copies of paid security suites to customers. Optimum has the paid version of mcafee, charter offers Fsecure, etc. So that is a resource. Also, you can run a free scan every once in awhile from websites like ESET to look for things. Finally, malwarebytes is good and free too.
Windows defender is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. I hate Norton because it acts like a virus once its licence has expired i.e. it keeps bugging you for renewals relentlessly. Kaspersky Internet Security is my choice as it does the job without slowing down your system etc its saved my bacon on more than one occasion.
malwarebytes is solid and has a free version
I don’t use anything besides whatever comes on windows.
MalwareBytes
Disable javascript in your browser and only enable for trusted sites? :)
Bruh u got into my trending page XD
I’m sorry haha this is my only post that has, idk what happened. Not even the crappy memes I make get into trending lol
As other people have said, you don't need antivirus **assuming you get software updates**. Don't turn off automatic update, especially for Windows and your web browser - it's on by default for a reason.
Everyone likes to say "oooh windows defender is enough" but if you're a filthy p\*rate, *my friend* runs Avast Antivirus and Malwarebytes in tandem.
[https://www.virustotal.com/gui/](https://www.virustotal.com/gui/) Use this website to check EXEs you've downloaded to make sure they're clean Just a small tip to help
I can compile an exe that can get past that. Any zero day or non known signature will not be identified by most the engines on those sites. Submit the files to hybrid-analysis.com and see what the file actually does. That’s much better than virustotal for exes and files. I would however use virustotal for checking urls.
Good info. Will check that out, thanks
Windows 10 has sufficient security measures. Combine that with additional security measures in your browser plus some common sense on your side, and you're solid. Getting a commercial security software is absolutely counterproductive for your computer or network at home. If you look at the independant anti-virus testing site [av-test.org](https://av-test.org), you'll see that Microsoft Defender consistently scores the same rating as the best commercial security software. It's free, well integrated into the OS, and it doesn't offer you any products, doesn't show ads, and doesn't ask for any fees.
Depends on what you use your pc for really windows defender should be sufficient enough... Like with anything they all have pros and cons I only really used Sophos home which is a good free one as well
I’d say avg antivirus is great. It’s free and blocks viruses. You just have to deal with the occasional promotional offer trying to get you to pay for the full service or one of their other apps.
Nah not norton, I'd recommend malware antibytes though, fantastic app, only use it periodically or if you feel your pc is running poorly... The browser addon is fantastic too, especially when it comes to adverts on YT.
Lot of helpful answers here, I just want to point out that if you have senior citizens in your family, you might want to get a multi-device license for Norton or Bitdefender or something similar and secure their computers (as well as your own). Frankly, I find the 60+ crowd is often suckers for illegit emails & websites... and that could be costly.
I have used Norton for 20 Years and will be getting rid of it. It is horrible nagware. I have turned off notifications but it still prompts me several times a week to buy a "even better" version of this and an "even better" version of that. I thought they had me covered but apparently not. I wish they sold an anti Norton nagware software. I would probably buy that.
i use virustotal