I use Windows Defender ... don't see a point in spending money on a third party security system when Defender is free and designed alongside the OS.

I have been using Comodo Internet Security (antivirus + firewall) for several years, at least until the free version was also released.
For the past couple of years I have been using the Spybot Search & Destroy version with integrated antivirus (paid of course).

I am using Eset Internet Security and it changes sometimes but always Eset. The reason it not too much pop up and disturb me and i think it protects, i have no idea what antiviruses does but if i am being so special important person then i can use Kaspersky cause i think its the best. Like i say all is in my opinion. What u suggest ? Don said that using windows defender, hmm is it good ? enough ? I am trusting everybody here and i can change my that thing (by the way i finding keys to use it free and its always 30 days ) Thank you for topic

Don Von Alpha Dom wrote:

I use Windows Defender ... don't see a point in spending money on a third party security system when Defender is free and designed alongside the OS.

Then why do so many of them exist? This is a legit question. If that is sufficient, why do others exist, simply a money dump that looks good?

I've asked myself that exact same question and came to the following reasoning:

1) Many of them were created before Windows Defender was made a part of the Windows OS. Originally Windows Defender was stand alone software, not included with the OS. Further back than that, Windows Defender was not even a thing yet. This before-time was a much more open market, with many equally suitable options, at variable price range. Many people stuck with what they purchased, even once better free options were available for home use.

2) Profit. Not everyone knows Windows Defender comes with Windows. Third party security vendors pay electronic stores to pre-install their security system on PC's, set as the default security, and including a free trial ... so a year after someone buys a PC, they start getting popups demanding money to renew their security subscription. You get a lot of people who just pay for quick ease of mind and ignore other options.

3) Windows Defender is US made. Some people, specially those working for govt entities, prefer a security system manufactured in their own country. Imagine trying to protect sensitive data with a security system made by your rival. - Might not work out so well for you.

4) Back in one of my college security classes, they taught us that a wide variety of security systems on the market makes it harder for hackers to find a single security hole to bypass the security on all computers. What works against one security system, probably won't work against all of them. For this reason, you get people who go out of their way to use something other than what the majority of users are using, to avoid being a part of the larger more enticing target.

5) Corporations tend to prefer paid software over freeware, because paid software comes with a level of support and enterprise level subscriptions with features made for large businesses rather than individual users.

6) Varying levels of aggressiveness in the software's AI. Too aggressive, and it becomes hard for the user to complete legitimate tasks due to false positives. Not aggressive enough, and you start getting false negatives. There's normally a middle point, a singularity you want to hit between the two. That point fluctuates however, based on the type of user. For example, McAfee is extremely aggressive, which works well for work computers, which perform the same monotonous tasks day in and day out using paid software. However, that same level of aggressiveness would prevent a home user from taking advantage of freeware and entertainment based software without considerable custom configurations of the security.

7) Many people choose to purchase a copy of what they use at work / school, to also use at home, despite the product not being suitable for home users.

I kinda hate McAfee lol.
I've left a few pcs without extra security though, and they have been just fine. I always wondered "why" lol, I expected them to get all virus infected and be shit after awhile. That being said, I'm smarter than the average bear, I don't go clicking stupid links, pop ups, things that said I won anything, fake emails, and I always check the site urls to make sure I'm going to the correct site and not a fake site that looks like a real site.

I chose not to use an antivirus at all, including Windows Defender. I rely on protections in my browser as a first line of defense. Namely a script and ad blocker. You'd be amazed at how many web threats are thwarted simply by preventing javascript from running or blocking an advertisement. Outside the browser I rely on my own common sense, knowledge of my OS and virtual machines.

I have a few reasons for this that I will explain below:

1) I do not like software that scans your filesystem and sends information about what files/software you have off to some server somewhere. I consider that a huge breach in privacy and anyone who knows me knows I'm big on privacy. Even if the data they collect is just a hash of the file. Governments/Corporations keep databases of file hashes they do not like.

2) I work with a lot of files that antivirus software and Windows security try to block. Whether it be a game crack or my own software I write for personal use or our community. Nothing is more annoying than having my computer treat me like an idiot making me jump through hoops just to run a file it thinks I need protected from.

3) This last point may not be as big of an issue as it once was with modern hardware and better software but there was a time where running antivirus software did slow the system down. Especially during automatic scans. I like being the master of my own system. I do not like having processes running in the background eating up resources that I did not chose to run or allow.

This has suited my needs for over a decade now, however I do not recommend anyone do what I do. My approach requires experience and knowledge of many aspects of IT from networking to system administration to hardware. It's also extremely important to have a good understanding how the internet as a whole works and you have to maintain this knowledge as the world evolves. It defiantly helps to have an interest in all of this.