It doesn’t seem like that long ago that one of the first things I did with a fresh Windows installation was install some antivirus software. At first, I used free software like Avast, but I eventually opted for paid software, especially after my computer was connected to the Internet and I had more to worry about than an infected USB drive.
But, when I switched to Windows 8 in 2012, I didn’t feel the need to do it anymore. Windows got to the point where third-party security seemed like a waste of money and a source of complications.
Why I stopped paying for third-party antivirus
Microsoft used to be good
You may have heard of “sherloque” which is associated with Apple and macOS. It occurs when macOS (or any of the Apple operating systems) lacks a feature that everyone wants. Then a third-party developer creates this feature and it becomes popular. Not long after, Apple clones the feature and makes it a native macOS feature. It comes from the Sherlock software, which allowed Mac users to instantly search for anything on their computers, but then we got Spotlight Search and, well, you know the rest.
The thing is, Sherlocking happens everywhere, not just on the Mac. In the case of Windows, Microsoft began including apps and features that would have required a third-party purchase. In fact, the company got into trouble for including Internet Explorer in every copy of Windows, especially at a time when people bought browser software for money, like Netscape.
Today, in Windows 11, you’ll find software that does what paid antivirus, antispyware, and antimalware packages do. Do some of these paid programs have more features or are they better at their job? Maybe, but that doesn’t mean they’re worth it for the average person.
Microsoft Defender is better than you think
In defense of the defender
You don’t have to look far to find many articles on our site from my colleagues who assure us that no need for third party antivirusand so? It is not absolutely necessary to pay for malware protection..
Microsoft Defender is actually a complete and proper antivirus package. It provides real-time antivirus protection, you can scan files manually, and its virus definition database is constantly updated. Like any of the paid options. In other words, it provides the same fundamental security that paid software does, but it’s not straightforward or packed with additional advanced features.
Whether that makes it better or worse than other AV packages is a matter of opinion, but I personally prefer it if I don’t even know the antivirus is there. In that sense, Windows Defender has all other options surpassed.
I trust layered security, not a single application
Security is more than a software package
Not only is something like Defender not your only line of defense against malware and other similar threats, but It shouldn’t be!
For Internet-based threats, your browser already provides a first line of defense. Chrome and Microsoft Edge are good examples. Features like Safe Browsing and SmartScreen block potentially malicious downloads or sites with compromised security certificates.
Then I have my mesh router system that also has a built-in anti-malware filter. This blocks malicious ads or prevents me from visiting known phishing sites or dangerous sites without the actual website data reaching my computer.
9/10
- Brand
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Unifi
- Range
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1,750 square feet
The Unifi Dream Router 7 is a complete networking device that offers NVR capabilities, fully managed switching, an integrated firewall, VLANs, and more. With four 2.5G Ethernet ports (one with PoE+) and one 10G SFP+ port, the Unifi Dream Router 7 also features dual WAN capabilities in case you have two ISP connections. It includes a 64GB microSD card for IP camera storage, but can be upgraded for more storage if needed. With Wi-Fi 7, you can achieve a theoretical network speed of up to 5.7 Gbps when using the 10G SFP+ port, or 2.5 Gbps when using Ethernet.
Smart habits do more than any antivirus
You are the weakest link
In addition to all this active protection, I also try to practice hygienic computer habits. I don’t visit dubious sites if I can help it, and I don’t download pirated software or unknown executables. When I have to get involved with this kind of thing as part of my job, I sandbox the potential threat or run it in a virtual machine. Common sense measures like these, combined with active protection, are a powerful combination.
Aside from this, the best thing you can do is keep Windows updated with the latest security patches and make sure you use strong, unique passwords for everything, with multi-factor authentication, or access keys.
Additional safeguards that close remaining gaps
When you really think about it, there are only three things you’re trying to prevent here:
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Theft of your information
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Destruction of your data
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Interruption of your work
So far, the measures I have mentioned work well in all three areas, but a little more can be done.
If you are not already, enable full disk encryption using BitLocker and upload your most important data to the cloud to protect it from local deletion or ransomware encryption. There is no foolproof security, but I think what can be achieved for free is suitable for most people. If you are keeping top secret documents or are the target of hackers at the government level, you are in the wrong place for security tips on this!
