Do you need 3rd party AV ?

[#1]

well windows defender , built into win 8 & win10  maybe its all you need

some 3rd party AV may be causing you problems http://www.techradar.com/news/could-windows-defender-be-the-last-antivirus-you-will-ever-need

[#2]

Personally Defender is all I use on my windows machines and then run periodic scans against my filestores and servers, as long as you are smart about how you use the internet you are generally quite safe  

[#3]

I don't know about earlier versions of Windows but for Win10 it has certainly made big improvements and the latest test for Win 7 here is good  http://chart.av-comparatives.org/chart1.php?chart=chart2&year=2017&month=6&sort=1&zoom=2

as compared to a year ago

http://chart.av-comparatives.org/chart1.php?chart=chart2&year=2016&month=Feb_Jun&sort=1&zoom=2

[#4]

I think Defender (MSE) is the best of the free AV software; not least because it does not bug you to buy the 'pro' version or buy various 'add-ons'.  Of the AV software you have to pay for, some is good and some is very poor.  

[#5]

I wonder if there is an element of perceived on-line safety when paying for an AV against something that is free.

I use MSE with the addition of the free versions of Malwarebytes, Spybot S&D and Ccleaner.

[#6]

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@ReedRichards wrote:

I think Defender (MSE) is the best of the free AV software; not least because it does not bug you to buy the 'pro' version or buy various 'add-ons'.  Of the AV software you have to pay for, some is good and some is very poor.  

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In addition, Windows Defender doesn't slow down your PC.

[#7]

I tend to agree with you there @Mav, its a bit like buying Tesco’s Finest -v- Lidl, where there is a perceived presumption that the more expensive product will always be better, but we know this certainly isn’t the case.

I don’t use any AV on any of my machines, with the exception of Defender on my Windows 10 VM and only then because it’s built-in. As @Darkfire says, and what has been said many times on this subject, the best form of AV is Common Sense v1.0.1.

The consensus here is that Defender is all you need and I tend to agree with that, installing anything over and above that is, for me at least, a waste of clock cycles. However, for those running Common Sense v1.0.1 then that must also include regular system updates and offline backups of your data, as nothing is perfect.

[#8]

Looks like most here agree thet windows defender is ok as a standalone AV

But as @Anonymous says common sense is the best AV to use

i also use Malwarebytes and Ccleaner

[#9]

Just to say there is one down side to running Common Sense v1.0.1; as it is part of the Wet Ware Kernel there is no ability to flash upgrade it, the version you run is the version installed during the manufacturing process.

Some have tried to ‘upgrade’ it based on A.I. methods, and for some it works but others have found it fails to retain state over a period of time.

[#10]

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@MartyPop wrote:

In addition, Windows Defender doesn't slow down your PC.

actually it does https://www.av-comparatives.org/performance-tests/ https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/ just not as badly as some others

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[#11]

Years ago I decided not to bother with AV like some of you. After six months I noticed strange behaviour so installed avg. On scanning it picked up hundreds of infections presumably from flash powered drive by downloads.

I'm not exactly a big surfer either.

If you want to use the Internet like that then do it using a virtual machine. This will lower your disk of infection to your main machine and can be backed up /restored quickly. 

[#12]

I use Kaspersky but have considered Windows Defender.

Kaspersky gives me things like Password Manager, On screen Keyboard and Safe Money for when doing online transactions.

I tend to think that these 'extras' are there in an attempt by Kaspersky to set their products aside from the likes of Windows Defender and other freebies, recognising the threat to their business.

[#13]

I actually use Kaspersky on most of my machine - a multi user license - but on my Win 10 laptop I use defender because I can't be bothered (too mean) to get another license

[#14]

Another vote for Kaspersky here. I like the safe money facility for banking etc.

[#15]

You might like to peruse this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL4BJoA9L7M

 If you want something a little better than Defender for free than you could try Sophos Home.