Antivirus functions in Windows are built in and routinely updated through the Windows Security app and Windows Defender Firewall, so do you really need separate PC antivirus software? The short answer is yes, and this guide discusses why you can no longer rely on Windows Security alone.
Content
- Do You Need Separate Antivirus for Windows?
- Windows Security: How Good Is It Really?
- Benefits of Protecting Your PC With Windows Security Alone
- Protections that Windows Security Doesn’t Provide
- Recommended Antivirus Programs for Windows in 2024
- Verdict: Should You Purchase a Separate Antivirus?
Do You Need Separate Antivirus for Windows?
It wasn’t very long ago that Norton, McAfee, AVG, Avast, and other antivirus software dominated Windows PCs. They are now used less often, due to a built-in protection feature: Windows Security (formerly Windows Defender). However, paid antivirus software is still prevalent, raising the question of whether it deserves your money.
Some people think Windows Security and Windows Defender Firewall are enough to protect their Windows PCs from threats, while many cybersecurity experts believe that today’s threats need the added protection of antivirus programs that Windows Security doesn’t offer.
Tip: don’t let the Windows Defender security warning scam lead you astray.
Windows Security: How Good Is It Really?
Microsoft’s Windows Security is the best free option for advanced PC protection. It has an abundance of useful features and capabilities to detect and neutralize PC threats in real time.
- Real-time Virus and Threat Protection: the antivirus uses constantly updated security intelligence to detect, silently quarantine, and isolate threats in the background. It maintains up-to-date signatures of zero-hour threats.
- Multiple Scanning Options: use a quick scan, full scan, custom scan, or Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan to protect everything from your registry keys to files and folders.
- App and Browser Protection: a combination of smart app controls, reputation-based protection, and exploit protection secures your device from phishing, Trojans, rootkits, malware, and other online attacks.
- A Robust Firewall: Windows Defender Firewall does an excellent job at securing your Wi-Fi connection.
- Core Isolation and Secure Boot: core isolation protects your Windows computer from kernel-level malware. Secure boot prevents any malicious software from loading during device startup. The processor is protected using a Trusted Platform Module (TPM).
- Ransomware Protection: turning on Controlled folder access prevents malicious apps from making unauthorized changes to your files, folders, and memory areas. Further, you only need to turn on OneDrive for file recovery in case of a ransomware attack.
Benefits of Protecting Your PC With Windows Security Alone
Windows Security is always on by default, making it the main antivirus on Windows devices. Use it without the need to install another antivirus program. It’s well-integrated into your Windows operating system and always in sync with Windows updates. It works seamlessly with other Windows features, such as Dynamic Lock and Windows Hello.
The program is also very easy to use, and most PC users don’t need to do anything, as it works silently in the background. It also does not interfere with your regular browsing activity. You can allow specific apps, such as Google Chrome, to bypass Windows Firewall Protection. If you download any malicious apps, you have the choice to keep or discard them.
The biggest drawback of third-party antivirus programs is that some of them are difficult to uninstall and can slow down your system. Windows Security causes far fewer issues, and you don’t need to pay anything to keep it running.
Tip: you don’t need to keep Microsoft Defender, you can permanently disable it.
Protections that Windows Security Doesn’t Provide
You can no longer solely rely on Windows Security, due to new malware strains and state-level threat actors using ransomware and DDoS attacks to bring systems to a complete halt. Many security threats have recently started emerging on the dark web.
One of the problems with Windows Security is that you need to be constantly online to receive updates from Microsoft servers. This creates an opportunity for offline malicious software to act up when you’re not connected during a PC restart or while running certain applications. Windows Security also fails to assist you with BIOS recovery if the system firmware is hit by new malware.
Apart from the usual malicious agents, Windows systems have recently shown a vulnerability to error-prone app updates. In July 2024, a bad software update from CrowdStrike caused major problems for the travel industry worldwide. All of these examples offer ample proof that Windows Security alone can’t handle new, unexpected threats in real time, as it’s not an endpoint security provider.
Tip: use one of these dark web scanners to browse for information leakage and protect your sensitive data.
Recommended Antivirus Programs for Windows in 2024
The threats to your Windows device have grown more advanced. It’s a good idea to use antivirus programs for real-time protection against new threats. Not all antivirus programs are the same, and free ones are not always trustworthy. You need full endpoint protection like these antivirus programs.
- Top-Tier VPN Providers: We have seen a drastic shift in the antivirus purchasing trend, with antivirus programs being bundled with VPN software, and vice versa. VPN providers like NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN provide an advanced level of threat protection on top of what you get with Windows Security.
- Malwarebytes: it offers powerful features, such as identity protection, dark web scanning, and a full-featured VPN. Malwarebytes also has proven ability malware protection, especially ransomware, in real time.
- TotalAV: TotalAV is a decent antivirus program for the Web, email, and local file protection needs. The scanning takes place very fast, and the results are impressive, as there are small false positives. It comes with a system cleanup that, thankfully, does not burden the system. The app also features a VPN.
Some paid antivirus applications can rapidly scale to consume 100 percent of your Windows CPU, as it slows down the device performance, so avoid installing them.
FYI: find out why ExpressVPN could be the right VPN for you.
Verdict: Should You Purchase a Separate Antivirus?
Antivirus software has always been an essential component to keep your computer safe from online and offline threats. Although Windows Security is a complete protection package, it currently has its flaws, due to the latest threats.
Antivirus protection on a Windows device is once again important. To avoid the latest threats from compromising your device and user account data, consider purchasing an antivirus program with endpoint protection.
Image credit: Pixabay. All screenshots by Sayak Boral.
Sayak Boral –
Staff Writer
Sayak Boral is a technology writer with over eleven years of experience working in different industries including semiconductors, IoT, enterprise IT, telecommunications OSS/BSS, and network security. He has been writing for MakeTechEasier on a wide range of technical topics including Windows, Android, Internet, Hardware Guides, Browsers, Software Tools, and Product Reviews.
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