What is the best free virus guard for windows? do we need one?

Draco Malfoy

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  • Feb 9, 2019
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    Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England.
    if you keep your pc connected internet most of the time & update virus guard everyday, windows 10,11's defender is good enough.
    (make sure to enable all the features in defender settings, in default config most of the stuff disabled)

    but if you don't connect to the net or don't like to update your virus guard everyday, then use bitdefender, kaspersky free version.
     

    BernieSanders

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  • Jun 11, 2016
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    if you keep your pc connected internet most of the time & update virus guard everyday, windows 10,11's defender is good enough.
    (make sure to enable all the features in defender settings, in default config most of the stuff disabled)

    but if you don't connect to the net or don't like to update your virus guard everyday, then use bitdefender, kaspersky free version.
    Thanks. Does it slow the system?? Windows updates?
     

    greenthunder

    Well-known member
  • Jul 24, 2010
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    I've been using Windows Defender with Malwarebytes for years now. I've a 4th gen intel CPU, 8gigs of ram and a cheap no brand ssd (basically a potato PC). System boots up in like 8 seconds. Almost no noticeable difference in performance.
     

    Draco Malfoy

    Well-known member
  • Feb 9, 2019
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    Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England.
    Thanks. Does it slow the system?? Windows updates?
    Doesn't slow down but it needs ram. Better if you've 8gb or more ram for defender. Ms defender is great if you update virus guard daily or at least two, three days a week. If you don't update ms defender virus guard frequently and not connected to the net, then Kaspersky, eset, bitdefender would be better. Defenders capabilities highly depend on cloud connectivity.