OT: another question regarding my new PC

[eddief]

Do I need to purchase virus protection software? If so, what's the best budget and non-budget brand for me the basic home user?

[bikinchris]

Microsoft built in virus protection is pretty good from what I've seen,
.

[huck*this]

I echo the above. Microsoft creates the OS so they are pretty on top of the updates and vulnerability patches.

[tbike4]

Originally Posted by eddief

Do I need to purchase virus protection software? If so, what's the best budget and non-budget brand for me the basic home user?

You say you are a "basic" home user. Is that complete newb basic or do you have some knowledge for example, have you picked which web browser to use & if it's not Edge can you download and install it?
Do you know how to navigate the nasty outside world so you don't infect yourself? If you do I say no, use what comes with Windows. If you do not know anything about protecting your PC then would you know how to properly implement paid virus/malware protection?

I ask that to friends/relatives when they unbox their shiny new PC that comes with a 30 day trial of xyz virus protection. Some of them keep and pay for it but don't know what to do with it. Think mother in law for example.

In the office we manage a few hundred PCs and when we buy new ones the first thing to do is remove all the bloatware including the "free" AV software.

Learn what NOT to do on your PC. Then you should be fine. Or get a MAC.

[vespasianus]

Originally Posted by tbike4

You say you are a "basic" home user. Is that complete newb basic or do you have some knowledge for example, have you picked which web browser to use & if it's not Edge can you download and install it?
Do you know how to navigate the nasty outside world so you don't infect yourself? If you do I say no, use what comes with Windows. If you do not know anything about protecting your PC then would you know how to properly implement paid virus/malware protection?

I ask that to friends/relatives when they unbox their shiny new PC that comes with a 30 day trial of xyz virus protection. Some of them keep and pay for it but don't know what to do with it. Think mother in law for example.

In the office we manage a few hundred PCs and when we buy new ones the first thing to do is remove all the bloatware including the "free" AV software.

Learn what NOT to do on your PC. Then you should be fine. Or get a MAC.

How vulnerable are Macs to viruses and other malware? I have heard people say they are better, but is that still true? I often felt it was simply because the OS was less common...

[martl]

Originally Posted by vespasianus

How vulnerable are Macs to viruses and other malware? I have heard people say they are better, but is that still true? I often felt it was simply because the OS was less common...

The gods of IT sent Steven Jobs to earth to allow lay people to assess the quality of IT Experts. If you run into one such and that person wont stop about how Apple products are always better, this is a tell to nod politely and disregard all further info coming from that expert.

To answer your question, Microsoft Defender is the least terrible option when it comes to virus protection on a Windows machine. The third party products add next to no benefit, but cost money, often have annoying subscription methods, and in the worst case, actually increase your exposure to being attacked.

(another tell for lay people about software companies: if a software comes as a "freebie" pre-installed, but wont stop nagging you for a subscription, your credit card details, your E-Mail etc, this means that the software is so crappy no one wants to buy it for its quality, and that the company providing the software has the ethics of a squirrel named Ponzi)