Anytime I got a computer with windows, the first thing I usually do is remove McAfee or Norton.. Whatever virus protect software it comes with. Back in the day I used to use a free virus protector that didn't take up as much space, but I have a new computer with windows, which i haven't had in years. Is the virus protection/firewall that's in windows all I need to keep my computer protected?

shite.. this might get me banned. I am not supposed to start threads, I am not sure if that applies to only the OT.. But admins, this is a legit question. Can you forgive this?

This post was edited on 11/4/25 at 7:44 pm

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Posted by Hogkiller10

Member since Jan 2010

1538 posts

Posted on 11/4/25 at 7:56 pm to OweO

Yes. They have made it very easy.

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Posted by LemmyLives

Texas

Member since Mar 2019

13160 posts

Posted on 11/4/25 at 8:34 pm to OweO

MS Defender is fine. Don't do dumb shite like click on links in emails or ads that request elevated privileges, and you'll be fine. I haven't had paid AV on my systems for 15+ years.

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Posted by OweO

Plaquemine, La

Member since Sep 2009

119989 posts

Posted on 11/4/25 at 8:37 pm to Hogkiller10

Okay, then why do they still put antivirus software on it?

Its a rhetorical.. I know its "advertisement", but to the people who might know very little about computers and is just looking to get it set up for basic things, they are not looking into whether or not they really need to use McAfee, they just know their computer can get viruses and they need to protect it.

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Posted by OweO

Plaquemine, La

Member since Sep 2009

119989 posts

Posted on 11/4/25 at 8:39 pm to LemmyLives

Thanks.

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Posted by Ace Midnight

Between sanity and madness

Member since Dec 2006

94676 posts

Posted on 11/5/25 at 7:54 am to OweO

It's one of those weird things - if you're reasonably cautious about sketchy sites and attachments, you're probably okay with default Windows Defender.

If you are careless, virtually nothing can protect you from modern threats.

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Posted by Joshjrn

Baton Rouge

Member since Dec 2008

31468 posts

Posted on 11/5/25 at 9:22 am to OweO

quote:
Okay, then why do they still put antivirus software on it?

"They" is the company that built your PC, not Microsoft. "They" get a tremendous amount of money from software vendors to preload bloatware onto the PC you bought. The fact that it's there is an indictment of the company that built your PC, not of Windows Defender, which is perfectly fine for the average user.

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Posted by dblwall

Member since Jul 2017

1083 posts

Posted on 11/5/25 at 9:56 am to OweO

As others have said don't click on links that you don't trust. They might look legit but don't trust them. Windows Security is pretty good for a free defender.
Years back I was able to obtain the keys to Malwarebytes, which keeps you protected better than anything out there.

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Posted by notsince98

KC, MO

Member since Oct 2012

21283 posts

Posted on 11/5/25 at 2:51 pm to OweO

If you are concerned about the risks, Windows Defender is fine but not the "best." If you want the best protection from free software, try bitdefender free. It has better protection scores but is a bit heavier on the system than windows defender.

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Posted by Twenty 49

Shreveport

Member since Jun 2014

20811 posts

Posted on 11/6/25 at 6:09 am to dblwall

quote:
Years back I was able to obtain the keys to Malwarebytes

I was able to snag one of those lifetime licenses many years ago. I figured they would screw me eventually--like happened to a friend who paid about $500 for lifetime XM radio--but I've been able to transfer it to new PCs about three times now.

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