Does a Windows PC Need Antivirus

Windows 10 comes with its own antivirus software, yet many wonder if Windows Defender is enough to keep your PC safe. We tell you everything you need to know to keep your PC and your data safe. For years, the perception of users of computers with Windows operating system was the need to add antivirus software to their computer at the first change if you really wanted your PC or laptop, as well as your data, to be safe.

With successive versions of Windows, improvements in the security area have been coming. So, is it still necessary to install antivirus applications on your Windows 10 PC? We explain if you need to install a solution, or if the one provided as standard is enough.

Doesn’t a window 10 have its own security software built in?

Yes, of course. Windows has had protection against viruses and malware over the last few years, since security became a fundamental element in the field of cybersecurity to guarantee secure connections to the Internet.

So much so, that the latest version released by Microsoft of Windows 10 is the one with the most robust solution that has ever existed in versions of Windows, which makes many people choose to stick with Windows Defender as their main security software. It is almost as good as the free antivirus offers from companies like AVG, Avast or Bitdefender and by combining it with certain precautions in the field of use, we can honestly get to guarantee certain levels of security.

Microsoft's offering has the advantage of being integrated into the operating system, so it theoretically has a low impact on system resources. As a result, you shouldn't see a significant performance impact on your computer when running in the background.

Nor will you need to install or configure it, not even in the fact of updating it, since everything will be carried out automatically with the updates of the operating system itself, a real advantage for the user.

Is it enough to use Windows Defender?

Windows Defender is a well-endowed tool, updated regularly, and in tests conducted by highly regarded labs such as AV-Test, it received 100% scores when it comes to detecting viruses.

However, it is not just about the scores. Defender currently has features such as 'Exploit Guard' that help protect your files against ransomware if you have updated Windows 10 to the latest edition.

But if you take a look at the rest of the paid antivirus software available on the market, you will see that the concept of security has evolved in such a way that it is necessary to have new, more advanced features.

In fact, the vast majority of these antivirus programs use artificial intelligence technology to offer better detection against threats, in addition to guaranteeing your security on any of the devices that you can use throughout the day. 

They also offer great extras such as password managers, email security plugins, web browsing, as well as detection of malware and suspicious attachments that try to infiltrate our computers. Parental Control is another great extra to supervise the computers of your children and minors.

If what you want is to encourage yourself to use a paid version of antivirus with all the advantages, we recommend you consult our article of the 10 best antivirus for Windows of 2018. You will also find interesting offers of security software with the latest applicable discounts. 

Do not use the administrator account

In Windows, you must make the recommendation of not working regularly with an account with administrator privileges yours. This simple modification can eradicate many of the existing threats since malware, spyware and other threats will not be able to install themselves on the PC.

To do this, you will need to create a new administrator account to go back to the original one and change the existing account to a standard account. You can do it through 'Settings> Accounts> Family and other people', to add more family members.

Set it as administrator and then log out of your existing account. Log in as the new one, click on the regular account and when the option to 'Change account type' appears, click on it. Here you can set whether you want a standard or administrator account. With these simple adjustments carried out, you will have managed to increase the protection of your PC or laptop against accidental downloads that may contain malware.

Use a dedicated browser for Flash or Java

Another common weak point in Windows comes from the installation of third-party software. Everyone knows that both Flash and Java are the route that many malware programs take to access your system, so you should limit their use.

In some cases it is somewhat difficult since it is very likely that you browse web pages such as banks or online stores where you cannot completely disable the programs if you want to be able to interact.

Here our advice is to try to download another additional browser (Chrome, Firefox, Opera or another), and have Java and Flash enabled in that one. When you need to use the website that requires them, open that browser, but the rest of the time you spend online do it with another browser in safe mode.

Pay attention to everything you do

A large percentage of people who see their security compromised when handling devices is given by clicking on links in fraudulent emails with which malware is downloaded. By clicking on fake website versions that then ask you to log in, they proceed in such a way that without you knowing they are stealing your account details.

A good habit is to always navigate by manually entering the address and not using links. If you receive an email saying that the password needs to be changed or add more personal data, be suspicious and don't click. Instead, go to your browser and type the address by hand. If the sale is real, then you will be able to locate it naturally.

In general, be very careful with links in emails or social media messages, as they can be just as dangerous. Basically treat every link or download as suspicious to avoid a lot of trouble.

Make constant backups

The last essential part of protecting yourself and no less important than the ones above is doing regular offline backups. For this, you can use both local storage devices and cloud storage solutions. Take a look at our report on the best services to save your files in the cloud.

There are many options, but since ransomware is a huge threat that directly impacts every computer, we strongly recommend creating your own and local backups without any internet connection

So I don't need any other antivirus software ?

Yes and no. If it turns out that you are a fairly careful and cautious user who does not do things without first reading them well and uses the methods described above, it is still enough. Make sure you configure Windows Defender correctly, enabling the Smart Screen and Ransomware functions to get the most out of Windows protection.

But, and this is important, there will always be a possibility that something sneaks into your computer through the network. So if you want the highest levels of defense, do all of the above and license a full security suite. Check out our report on the 10 best antivirus for Windows to be able to make a wise decision that suits your needs. And remember that no software will prevent you from recklessly revealing your account details or data online.

Always stay alert and you will be safer on the net.