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You no longer need to pay for antivirus software. Microsoft Windows Defender, a free service built into Windows 10, is now as powerful as the paid antivirus / antimalware solutions that have been collecting money for years. There, we said it.
Many PC users have become accustomed to paying for antivirus software for two reasons: simple and free alternatives were rare, and Microsoft offered minimal protection via Windows, ceding the category to Norton, Kaspersky, and many other third-party vendors. . The early efforts of Windows against the malware were so abysmal that test agencies such as AV-comparatives.org and AV-test.org used Defender as a basic performance level (ie, Undesirable). In December 2013, for example, AV-test.org tested the ability of 23 antivirus vendors to block real-world malware samples on Windows 8.1. Microsoft finished last.
It was then. In the years that followed, Microsoft began to take terminal security seriously. In 2019, Windows Defender Antivirus from Microsoft, integrated free of charge into Windows 10, often surpasses the paid services. (Windows now blocks Windows Defender Antivirus under what it calls Windows security, which includes Windows firewall and other tools.) It's not perfect: the number of "false positives" when legitimate applications are mistaken for malware, can be high. A test also revealed that it slows down a lower-end PC more than others. You can decide for yourself: are these "costs" more affordable than paying more than $ 60 a year?
We're always looking at the best antivirus apps, and there are still reasons why you'd like one, which we'll discuss later. But first, let's take a look at the path that Windows Defender has traveled and its ability to function as a core antivirus program.
Why should you use Windows Defender to protect your PC
Two separate test companies, AV-Comparative and AV-Test, rank Windows Defender almost at the top of the products tested by both labs.
It is important to note that anti-malware testing takes a lot of time. Even sites like AV-Comparatives use automated tests that crawl the Web, look for malicious sites and URLs, and try to replicate real-life scenarios that each of us would encounter in our daily work.
A key point came out: in the AV-Comparative test, Microsoft was one of four vendors (out of a total of sixteen) not to allow all malware to support its test systems. Vendors whose computers were infected with malware included big names such as McAfee and Symantec. (Malware and protection mechanisms are constantly evolving.) AV-Comparatives conducted its tests from February to May 2019 to demonstrate the "average" level of protection over time.)
Here is an overview of the results of the AV-Comparatives:
AV-Comparatives.org To be fair, the AV-comparative test showed some weaknesses with Windows Defender. The tests revealed three "user – dependent" test cases, in which Defender did not immediately identify the malware and asked the user for permission. install the file. This is not ideal – users would probably be inclined to allow malware on the system. Windows Defender was also unusually heavy with false positives, blocking 74 legitimate applications and services. (This is an example where your his own experience can serve as a sounding board. Think again: Did Windows Defender in Windows 10 block an application you knew to be legitimate?
For its part, AV-test ranked Windows Defender at the forefront of testing for the antivirus group of June 2019. Defender detected all malicious programs launched by the agency, including each "zero-day" sample replicating the tests of the real world, with zero false positive. AV-Test ranked Defender 6 out of 6 for the group test, indicating that Defender was near or near the AV-test tests of April, the February test as well as the December 2018 and October tests. 2018.
Here is an overview of the June 2019 AV test summary:
AV-test.org It is important to remember that Defender scored high (with a perfect score in the June update) in terms of zero day attacks. Historically, this was one of the hard knocks against Defender: Microsoft could not react fast enough and effectively to fight new emerging attacks. Defender's repeated successes in third-party testing prove that Microsoft has overcome these obstacles.
AV-test also ranked Defender above the industry average in terms of performance, such as installing applications and copying files, which is a significant improvement over the test performed by AV-Comparatives in April, where Defender had poor results in the same comparisons.
The UK SELabs are a third source of anti-malware testing. In addition, he places Defender at the top of his list of anti-malware solutions. The report (available only via a downloadable PDF file) gave Defender 100% perfect accuracy. Among the leading anti-virus testing agencies, Defender scored three out of three points.
Several test results show that Windows Defender is powerful enough to protect your computer against viruses and malware. Of course, you should always be familiar with secure Internet practices, such as not clicking on unknown links and attachments, and not walking around the dark corners of the Web. And do not forget, Windows Sandbox (added to Windows 10 Pro computers as part of the May 2019 update) gives you that extra protection just in case make want to explore a site or a risky application.
Large free antivirus options can be added to Defender
OK, maybe you're still not convinced. If you want an extra layer of malware protection, Defender also makes it easier.
Historically, in the process of execution two antivirus programs were considered a bad idea because of potential conflicts. Windows 10 allows you to run the antimalware program of your choice and possibly leave Defender in place to periodically check for threats as a secondary measure. (Go to Settings> Update & Security> Windows Securitythen click Protection against viruses and threats. Scroll up to Windows Defender Antivirus Options and make sure periodic scan is activated.)
There are a number of free antivirus solutions to choose from, although BitDefender is a preferred choice. (Note that this screen comes from the paid security suite.)
Here you have a multitude of free antivirus options, from AVG to Avast, via Avira and many others. The free option of BitDefender Internet Security is however so effective and so discreet that you will forget that it is there. This is really what you want in an antivirus program that protects your PC. It is also ranked among the best products by AV-test and AV-comparatives, although both versions have been tested. (To our knowledge, there is no difference between the paid version and the free version in terms of anti-malware protection.)
Again, we view Windows Defender as sufficient protection for everyday use, with the ability for Windows to overlay additional anti-malware features as a security cover.
Who should buy a paid antivirus product?
Rob Schultz / IDGAntivirus / antimalware products from McAfee, Symantec, and others have diversified to offer VPNs, password safes, and other security services.
If you still want a paid antivirus and antimalware solution, that's if you want more services, bundled into a neat package. Leaders have gone beyond traditional protections by providing related services such as virtual private networks (VPNs), monitoring and credit protection, and online vaults for your passwords and other critical documents. Rob Schultz / IDG
Some attackers just want to crash your system, but remember that attacks like ransomware, which encrypt your PC and then require you to pay the decryption key, pay a lot more. Malwarebytes and BitDefender, among others, have developed free anti-ransomware solutions, which in turn offer a free alternative.
Windows has its own free protections that help stop ransomware, including Windows Defender, as well as locked and secure protected folders. Nothing is perfect, and nobody can say with certainty that a new attack will not be able to break the Windows protections. But this argument also applies to paid services.
You can also create your own security suite, based on the Windows anti-malware service> Search for your preferred VPN provider from our list of the best VPN networks, for example. Subscribe to LifeLock or a credit monitoring service. Google Chrome and other browsers manage your passwords. You can also choose from a list of the best password managers. Paid antimalware suites are validated services, packaged in a clean, manageable package, and peace of mind.
This convenience however comes with a price, a price that will affect your wallet each year as part of a recurring subscription. If you want to continue paying for this type of services, that's fine. However, if you're looking for a way to save money, it's worth taking a look at removing your existing paid anti-virus subscription for Windows Defender.
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