Instead of a long-winded explanation and then a confusing conclusion, let me cut straight to the case. Most don’t need to buy a separate antivirus in 2024. Microsoft Defender which is built into Windows is good enough for an average user to prevent the most common of attacks. But getting one does increase your layer of security to keep your data safe from malicious actors. So in this piece, we’ll shortly touch on the pros and cons of investing in a third-party antivirus software to help you make an informed decision. 

Does your device need an Antivirus?

Let’s start with the basics, before even beginning to talk about what an Antivirus does, let’s asses the value of whether your system even needs an antivirus in the first place.  I’d categorize most modern devices into Personal computers and Smartphones:  On the PC side of things, you are likely operating on one of the three operating systems below, and your risk of malware highly depends on which you are rocking. Windows: Windows is the most targeted platform for malware attacks with an overwhelming 60% of threats globally. While it does have Microsoft Defender for protection against the most common and basic attacks, users who work with and store sensitive data on Windows are better off investing in extra layers of security. MacOS: While MacOS is relatively safer than Windows, it’s not as invulnerable as some would believe. There have been several Mac targeting attacks like 'Silver Sparrow’ or ‘Shlayer’ in the past that have caused heavy damage to users. So, although you are pretty safe following basic safety procedures, less techy users might still benefit from third-party antiviruses. Linux-based: Given the permission-based system, relatively small market share, and general user expertise, Linux flavors are the least vulnerable out of the bunch. However, given the fact that most servers in the world run on Linux and any kind of breach or disruption entails a lot of trouble, setting up a third-party security mechanism against targeted attacks might prove to be beneficial. Smartphones are pretty easy. They either fall into Android or iOS.  Android: The risks on Android primarily stem from downloading apps from unauthorized sources or visiting sketchy websites. Although a general user would be fine without any kind of antivirus, you can invest in one with features like VPNs for peace of mind. iOS: iOS is highly secure thanks to its sandboxed app environment and general security measures. Unless you decide to jailbreak your iPhone, downloading a third-party antivirus is not worth it for most people.

Microsoft Defender

Now that we’ve established that you are likely only going to need an Antivirus if you own a Windows system, let’s talk about its first layer of security: Microsoft Defender.  Microsoft Defender is a security package that comes bundled in Windows 10 or later. It’s got a host of features. 

• Real-time protection: Blocks malware, ransomware, spyware
• Browser protection: Blocks and warns against malicious websites through Edge
• Controlled folder access: Locks directories for protection against ransomware
• Application Guard: Browser sessions run in a Virtual Machine

That’s a lot of features, right? And it’s completely free. It has a high threat detection rate with low false positives. And it gets frequent updates! It even scored a perfect 6/6/6 score on the AV-Test's evaluations for (October) 2024. So, what’s the catch?  Nothing really! The reason why regular folks have shied away from paying for expensive third-party antivirus software today is mainly due to how good the default protection is. So does that mean a third-party antivirus is useless today? Of course not! Here’s why. 

Why Third-Party Antivirus Isn’t Dead

Since (Microsoft) Defender is so good on its own, Antivirus companies rarely sell just a malware detection package anymore. They often bundle it with features like file encryptions, VPNs, password managers, and a lot more. That’s what makes them still worth it for a large section of people. Here’s how. Businesses: While regular folks like you and me might not pay too much attention to our data protection, it’s a critical aspect for companies. So, they need to secure each and every potential leak through what’s generally called endpoint protection. Here, the company will install and run a specialized program that will scan for real-time threats, prevent suspicious files from executing, and record a log of suspicions on all of their computers. Here’s where 3rd party antivirus software shines, allowing for robust security, remote access, and a good value proposition. Normal Folks: For retail customers, extra features like VPNs and password managers make their lives convenient and the purchase justifiable. Some who value their data more than others might even find it worth it to buy one just for an extra layer of security and peace of mind. A financial advisor, for example, might be fond of the added encryption tools, while a parent will surely appreciate the parental control features while setting up the device for their child. Paid antivirus solutions have evolved into comprehensive security suites with features like:

• VPNs for secure web browsing
• Password managers for stronger authentication
• File encryption tools to protect sensitive documents

Do you need an Antivirus? 

The answer to this very generalized question is all going to depend on who you are, what you know, and what your priorities are.  Are you just a student who does most of his work on the cloud and doesn’t care about local data? Maybe you know a thing or two about computers too. In that case, paying for a third-party antivirus might seem like a waste of money and unnecessary consumption of system resources. And for you, it’d make no sense to do so as well.  But if you have important files on your system, maybe backups of some other stuff, something work-related, and some that fuel your passion as well, then there’s a simple question to ask: ‘How much would it hurt if all of it suddenly vanish away?’. If it’s a lot, then you should probably look to secure your system a bit more. And all of the other endless scenarios simply boil down to ‘Is it worth the value proposition for me?’. So, if you’re confused, decide by answering the following questions: 

1. What device do I use? (PC, Mac, Smartphone)

2. How do I use my device? Do I often download files from the web or click on unknown links?

3. Do I store sensitive data locally on my device? Would losing it cause a lot of trouble?

4. Am I aware of basic internet habits and security practices?  Do I avoid pirated software, opening suspicious emails, and clicking on shady links? 

5. How valuable is my data and privacy to me? Would I pay extra for added layers of protection?

6. Do I need extra features beyond malware detection? Would having a VPN, password manager, or file encryption benefit my case?

7. Am I tech-savvy enough to stay safe with Defender and good habits alone?

8. Do I handle sensitive work data on my personal machine? If allowed, does it meet the security threshold ensured on the company’s endpoints?

9. Am I setting up a device for someone not as tech-savvy who would benefit from preventive cyber security? 

10. Would the cost of an antivirus fit into my budget and offer peace of mind?

Tradeoffs of an Antivirus

Besides the financial aspect of this, you might have several other concerns about installing third-party software on your machine from performance dips to moral dilemmas. So, let’s talk about that next. Performance Impact: Modern antivirus programs are much lighter on system resources than before. Still, some solutions like Norton and McAfee do push your CPU once in a while lighter alternatives like Bitdefender are barely noticeable. Privacy Risks: Antiviruses need a lot of authority to do what they are intended to. That means having root-level access to many of your computer's functions, which might not sit well with all users. Some free and even paid antiviruses have also been caught collecting user data heavily, so there's always that to look out for as well. I mean, just look at the Avast fiesta that went down a couple of years ago. False Positives: False Positives incorrectly flag legitimate software as malware, which might get annoying, especially if it's a common happenstance. So random popups and download disruption are things you might have to get used to using a third-party antivirus.

Putting my money where my mouth is: I bought an antivirus

So everything I've talked about till now was either research-based or traumas of my past experiences, and it felt unfair to not give third-party antiviruses a second try at redemption. Hence, I installed one of the more popular, less expensive offerings in my area called "K7 Total Security" on a test machine to get a feel for it myself. Note that this is not sponsored or affiliated in any way, and all the thoughts in this piece are mine and mine alone. K7 Total Security: To give you a quick overview, K7 Computing is a hardware and software security company from India that sells a bunch of different solutions, among which is this 'Total Security' package. It's a malware prevention and antivirus program that includes a bunch of other features like a firewall, email spam prevention, and phishing protection. There are also additional useful features like parental controls and USB protection. So, let me walk you through the experience briefly.

• Performance Dips and Popups? I am happy to say that I barely noticed any changes in performance with my Ryzen 5 HP Notebook during my work-related tasks. The antivirus was there in the background just doing its thing while I also didn't bother disabling Microsoft Defender for the first few days. For the next couple of evenings, I ran the program alone and it had no problem identifying all of the test viruses on its own.
• Updates and Support: The support backbone is also great with K7, with the piece of software receiving updates as much as a couple of times a day. I also ran a very interesting thought experiment with them. Here's what I did:

Here in Nepal, downloading pirated content or cracked software via torrent is a common practice regardless of the moral or legal dilemma. After installing K7 Total Security, I was obviously warned against this action. But to truly test its effectiveness, I needed to put it through the ringers of a typical use. So, I asked the technical support chat for a way to "download and watch this movie" and "remain virus-free" at the same time. They told me that if I disabled the protection and downloaded the file, it could be infected with some type of malware, which then would be extremely difficult to remove. But to my surprise, they did offer me a solution, which was to send them a zip file, which they would then test in a sandbox to check for viruses and malware. Luckily, my rip of the "Movie Shall Remain Unnamed" was free from any malicious code, but this could have very well been a crack in the security. Not technically faulty but user error-prone. Against Malware: Now I am not a professional in testing anti-malware software by a long stretch, but K7 detected all of the common viruses, ransomware, and phishing emails that I threw at it for a couple of weeks.

• Special thanks to this GitHub repo for the test files.

Would Defender have done just as nicely? Probably. But once again, I always felt a tiny bit more secure having that extra layer of protection. Some of the extra features, like USB protection, File Lock, and Parental Control gave me some extra assurance that whatever I was paying for was worth it.

Issues?

Throughout my short use, I didn't face any deal-breaking issues, but it was quite annoying to have some of my files insta-deleted, especially if it's a torrent. They get a bad rep, but there are several useful software with lots of seeders that are just more convenient to download using this file system like a niche Minecraft mod pack or a popular Linux distro. Other than that, I wouldn't say the software is as bothersome as something like MacAffe that bombards you with a popup on every new laptop it comes preinstalled in. It's actually quite quiet in the background doing its own thing. I rarely noticed it in my day-to-day use.

So will I keep an antivirus? 

So, after that mini-experiment, what's my thought? I think for me personally, paying for an antivirus is still a bit of a hard pill to swallow. I don't really need all of the additional features, and the default Defender from Microsoft is always reliable enough. Moreover, I don't think I would consider much of my local data valuable enough to pay for a ransom or worry about a wipeout. This confidence mostly stems from the fact that most of my important files and documents are stored in a hard drive physically mounted on a different computer that is not connected to the internet. And, I categorize myself as attentive enough not to fall for your typical phishing email or refund scam.

Should you get an Antivirus in 2024? 

But, and this is a huge one, if you have any kind of doubts about the security of your data, or maybe you don't keep backups as frequently, or maybe you work with sensitive data that absolutely cannot leak, then I see getting an extra layer of security worth it. That's just my 2 cents after learning about it thus far. Ultimately, I do not endorse or affiliate with any antivirus company, and whether to buy or not is your own decision. I just hope you gained some insight after reading thus far. Maybe it helped solidify a decision you already made or maybe it swayed you to the other side! Regardless, I hope the read was fun and worth the time.

• Meanwhile, check out our video comparing the latest flagship smartphone chipsets :