Windows 10: Is paying for antivirus a waste of money?

LOL.. How can offering an alternative to paying be OT?

,,, Ah well, I think we are done with the debate... time to watch us give the Aussies a hiding in T20 cricket.

 

What then is the reason you have backups if not to recover your missing/damaged files after a virus/malware attack. I'm missing something obviously.

 

I haven't noticed any issues (apart from being annoyed for ~1 week by a popup I accidentally triggered).

I can't remember the last time I actually got hit by any malware (maybe 2009 or 2010).
The weird thing was, despite using multiple different products, no malware/spyware was detected (not even false positives).

 

Of which Defender has one of the lowest chances of "finding"*Wink

 

What I would like to know (is Windows 10 Firewall and Defender) enough protection for the average user ?

 

@Stephanie: For me it has certainly been sufficient *Wink

 

It depends, average home user, or, average business user?
Does this user make financial transactions over the net, or like me and prefers not to(you are a bit hand tied then, but...)?

Windows firewall is more than adequate. Just like with GNU/Linux, all ports are closed until the user gives permission, including installing software and drivers. Most(not all but...) maleware needs "permission to run" given from the user. This is why social engineering is on the rise. Many 3rd party firewalls(including those in 3rd party AVSuites) are just frontends to Windows own Firewall.

 

Thank you Craig *Smile

Average home user I would say Cliff and thank you for your answer *Smile

 

You are very welcome, Stephanie *Smile
When i initially installed Windows 10, i thought that the firewall and Windows Defender protection would PROBABLY be sufficient.

After the three virus encounters i had over those months (which i outlined in an earlier post here) i was so impressed by the way Defender handled them that it went from PROBABLY to DEFINITELY...

I am also an "average home user" like yourself...

 

That is very reassuring Craig *Smile

 

i dont trust the free software, they are using user information to fund their business same as AVG

 

You're welcome Steph*Smile
3rd party Suites definitely have their place, but Windows 10 has more than just Defender & firewall.
Don't forget App containers, UAC Credential Manager, Security Accounts Manager, Device Guard:

Read more here at TechNet: What's new in Windows 10 security (Windows)

 

Thank you for the link Cliff *Smile

 

You are welcome.
One additional thing I can do as I have the Pro version,
like Wolfgang, I have Linux on Hyper-V(Ubuntu) and I can then surf the Great Unknown, AND, open email add-ons & click links I'm curious about. If something should happen, delete the VM and a 10 minute reinstall.*Nerd*Cool

 

I have decided to uninstall my 3rd party Firewall and AV and just go with Windows FW and Defender *Smile