3 ms·
AV software for Windows 10 ... Is it necessary?
By Betteridge's law of headlines[0] the answer would have to be "no", but I'm getting conflicting advice. I personally don't use Windows, and haven't for a very long time, but I'm asked this question by friends, family, and colleagues.
Is there a single, clear, accurate answer? If someone is using Windows 10, should they also use Anti-Virus software? And if so, what do people recommend. Yes, I've gone out and searched around the internet, but I'd rather trust the responses here than "out there."
Thanks
EDIT: As an example, here[1] is an article arguing not to install AV s/w.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge's_law_of_headlines
[1] https://cheapskatesguide.org/articles/no-anti-virus-sw.html
- ColinWright 6y agoClickable: [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge's_law_of_headlines https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge's_law_of_headlines [1] https://cheapskatesguide.org/articles/no-anti-virus-sw.html https://cheapskatesguide.org/articles/no-anti-virus-sw.html
- badrabbit 6y agoYes! Not just AV but exploit guard and other security features. "I am too smart for my browser to open a phishing link" or "windows update will save me from exploit kits" is not a good strategy. At least turn on defender (corporate/server is an entirely different beast).
- brudgers 6y agoWindows has had free anti-virus software for more than a decade. First as an add-on, but it has shipped "in the box" for about a decade or more. Third party Windows AV is mostly spyware at the consumer level. I say mostly because it is logically possible that some of it isn't. At the server/enterprise level, there are commercial offerings that exchange value for money. But for your friends and family, the built in Windows security is the way to go. No third party has the resources of Microsoft and no third party has similarly aligned interests with the security of Windows machines. What ships in Windows 10 is really fucking good. That's why you don't constantly see threads about rampant problems on the Windows machines of the unwashed masses here on HN. Third party security software has mostly been rootkit backed subscription spyware since the 00's.