Anti Virus Software

I need to make a change with antivrus software and I am seeking opinions.

1. Are there AV brands that do not work well with EQ? I just read a comment about BitDefender that worries me.
2. What do you folks use, and why?
3. Are there brands to just avoid?
4. Cost matters to me (no surprise there) but are there brands that just aren't worth the price?
5. Is the free AV software in Windows good enough?

Thank you for any and all input.

P.S. If any dev. wants to jump in they are welcome.

I own a small IT company that looks after several schools and SME's across the UK.

Windows standard security is fine for home use. It's light, fast and doesn't get in the way. Also it regularly is in the top 5 of protection ratings for machines that are already virus free (it's not so hot at removing them from already-infected systems though). For risky environments (my daughter through her teens for example when she'd click on any damn thing), we've regularly added Malwarebytes as an additional layer that compliments rather than replacing Windows Defender

Where other solutions are required is more for managed service - so if an IT department needs notifying that a machine has an issue, that kind of thing - but then the paid MS version is still pretty good if you are already in an Intune / Azure environment.

Third-party antivirus is not recommended for Windows. Windows' own antivirus/antimalware is perfectly fine.

ZDNet article: Do you still need to pay for antivirus software in 2024?

Third-party antivirus software is just more (unnecessary) stuff that can cause problems.

If you are using windows 11 you dont need any third party antivirus. Look it up. Its pretty decent.

As long as you have a modern version of windows (not sunset) you don't really need one. If your computer is to old to use modern windows, I recommend spending the money on a better computer rather than a AV subscription.

I use Norton only because it's provided by our company based on SOC2 requirements. It also has a software updater feature which is kinda neat, and keeps letting me know that my Zoom is about 2 years out of date since I never use it.

Antivirus software is problematic because they can be spyware, do slow down the system performance, and many viruses got developed by antivirus software companies, so that there is a reason to use and buy their products. They do abuse the principle of the Hegelian dialectic: 1. Define a goal (sell antivirus software + spy on people), 2. then create a problem to achieve that goal (virus), 3. then do offer a solution (antivirus software). Problem -> reaction -> solution. Or: thesis (argument) + antithesis (contradiction) = synthesis. That way they made the users dependant on antivirus software.

I use Norton but may soon stop. Yes it has an updater for drivers but that costs more on top of antivirus. Since your company provides it you don't see it. Norton also pushes hard with intrusive ads etc trying to get you to buy more of their products. I would not advise anyone to get Norton unless its free as in your case.

Windows 10/11 anti virus will be fine in almost every situation so long as you exercise common sense and don't click on suspicious links, and don't run files like not_a_virus.jpg.exe.

If you're suspicious you have malware and think Windows might be missing it, you can download a free trial of Malwarebytes and see if its scans find anything Windows didn't.

there is a newer twist on malicious file names.

Thank you all for your input.

I think the big thing is whatever you use if you want to not lag to hell in EQ and have logs on is to exclude your log directory. Personally I use the built in windows stuff. I also don't do a whole lot on this computer (EQ, web browser, eq related apps like gina, discord) so YMMV.