The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #173659   Message #4211692
Posted By: Stilly River Sage
15-Nov-24 - 11:01 AM
Thread Name: Tech: Combining computer security programs?
Subject: RE: Tech: Combining computer security programs?
My hair is still ash, not silver, but I'm not paying for antivirus. (I used the version that comes with the IP service.)
Why you don't need to pay for antivirus software anymore
Americans over 65 are twice as likely to pay for third-party antivirus software than those under 45. If you're still doing it, here's why you can stop.
How to protect your tech in 2024
Regardless of which device category we're talking about here, you're likely to be just fine with the default protection that's included as part of the platform. On a mobile device (iOS or Android), that means the app store that the OS developer manages. On a Mac, the XProtect antimalware technology has been around for over a decade and is effective against mainstream threats.

As for Windows? Well, Microsoft Defender Antivirus, which is included with every Windows PC, routinely aced the tests from third-party labs that measure the effectiveness of security software. The leveling-up process started about seven years ago, and the Microsoft solution has regularly scored between 99% and 100% since then, making it every bit as effective as third-party rivals, free or paid.

Even that result understates the case.

So I guess in that I'm set, no extra antivirus (not even the one from the company this time.)

The article below that one compares Malware and VPN offerings, different from anti-virus. Two companies, Bitdefender and Malwarebytes. It also somewhat contradicts the article above by talking about antivirus to consider. I got Malwarebytes for two years, four devices, 35% off the normal price so not that much more than Bitdefender. I'll make a note to revisit this in two-years time.