Windows Defender Antivirus....

[Spicerack]

Is it any good? Is it free?
Just had a message saying Macafee? antivirus needs renewing. If you don't renew, we'll switch you to Windows antivirus. If it works and it's free wouldn't that be the way to go?
I don't do anything important on here. (like, if I had to go back to factory settings or something)
I wouldn't normally care about such things but this one was a present so I'd like to look after it in some fashion for a while. Cheers.

[douglas9401]

It works and it's free.

[dannyk13]

If you have Windows 10.But no mention of it being free.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/microsoft-defender-antivirus/microsoft-defender-antivirus-in-windows-10

[aelmpvw]

never had a problem with windows defender

[jno]

https://www.safetydetectives.com/best-antivirus/windows-defender/

///Windows Defender comes pre-installed on all PCs, and for a free antivirus, it’s not bad. It’s definitely not the best free antivirus (there are better), but it’s OK if you’re not doing anything important on your Windows machine. That said, it’s still a free antivirus///.

[Spicerack]

Great. Surprised people pay for other ones.

[Spicerack]

Thanks all.

[ichkeria]

It depends what you are doing or what you want.
It doesn't have as many security features as something like McAfee

[Khandro]

Save your hard-earned Spicey. Echoing Douglas; it works & it's free.
Windows have some of the best technicians in the world working on it 24/7.

[Togo]

It comes embedded in the w10 programme, is free and it works. It is not resource hungry(important on a laptop or tablet). If you download or run third party programmes they nearly all switch off Defender, which then switches back on after system upgrades and then you can get conflict. I use defender on 3 machines that run two accounts and have no trouble. The only thing I do is run IBM's Trustee Rapport, which runs happily alongside defender, and is an additional payments protection piggy back. This is a hangover from when my bank used to insist on it with online banking or transactions and is now probably not necessary. If you decide to run with Defender, it is a must that you uninstall all other third party "security" or they run in the background and keep popping up. They gobble up your system resources and slow down laptops and tablets.

[Khandro]

Who told you that ichi, Macafee ?

[Spicerack]

Talking to you is about the most important thing I do on here, ichi.
Sad, innit.

[Spicerack]

I had a virus on a computer once. Just reset it to an earlier date and had no more trouble. Of course, I can see that wouldn't be an option for everyone.

[Ellipsis]

John McAfee has led an interesting life:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McAfee

Especially interesting are his "legal issues":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McAfee#Legal_issues

For this reason, and perhaps unfairly to his old company, I steer clear of McAfee antivirus products when there are so many others to choose from.

[douglas9401]

Cheers, Spicerack. :-)

[jno]

I had McAfee yonks ago but it blocked the AB Adverts section.

[derekpara]

Mind if i Muscle in with a question for Togo, Spice ? I'm interested too.
Togo, what do mean by ' other third party " security" ?
I have W10 with Avast Free AV, Malware Bytes, ADWCleaner. Do these come into that category ? What would you advise me to do ? Many thanks to you both.

D

[Togo]

Yes Derek, third party is not Microsoft's own and sometimes not compatible with Defender by design, they are all add ons or extensions and you certainly never needed 3 of them. If your system is a well maintained desktop with plenty of ram and a good hard drive you could get away with it. If you are running w10 you need none of them if you are taking sensible care about the sites you visit or to who you allow access to your mail. I have to wonder how it is when they are all popping up pressing the premium system, and giving you warnings about each other. A laptop must be at a standstill I would think. Myself? I would bin the lot and run with Defender, and if the adverts bother you a blocker. Free Malwarebytes can be installed, a scan run, and uninstalled if you think you have a real problem. You will only get a problem though if you open dodgy, links or visit sites that are unsafe and if Defender is switched on and you have the settings designated to, warn you before you enter a dodgy site. Just for info, I have used them all. Norton and Macafee were the worst offenders and I wouldn't touch a Russia, or Chinese site with someone else's pc.

[derekpara]

BA as far as I'm concerned, Togo. It's answers like yours that make this site so popular.

Thanks again - and good luck !

D

[Spicerack]

So, are you saying not to go on, say, gay porn sites, togo?

[Togo]

That is nice of you Para. I am just happy to help if I can. Stay safe and if you are looking for extensions and add ons always look in the Microsoft Store first. There are plenty of free ones there and if they are it means that they are approved and supported by Microsoft. There never was any need to prove how clever you can be by having as many of piste browsers, programmes, or "security" logjams as possible. Have your privacy settings at the highest level that suit your family needs and remember there is an "in private" facility supplied with w10 and you can use that without your history being saved and exploited. (*_^)