{"id":6085,"date":"2015-09-27T12:00:30","date_gmt":"2015-09-27T11:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.markwilson.co.uk\/blog\/?p=6085"},"modified":"2015-09-28T09:42:05","modified_gmt":"2015-09-28T08:42:05","slug":"dont-waste-time-money-third-party-security-software-windows-defender-just-fine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markwilson.co.uk\/blog\/2015\/09\/dont-waste-time-money-third-party-security-software-windows-defender-just-fine.htm","title":{"rendered":"Don’t waste time and money on third party security software: Windows Defender is just fine!"},"content":{"rendered":"

So far in my “series” of Windows 10 posts, I’ve written about refreshing or resetting the PC<\/a>\u00a0(to get a clean configuration)\u00a0and about getting an Office 365 Home subscription for some productivity apps<\/a> but\u00a0I\u00a0skipped\u00a0one area that many people are sold products for… security\u00a0software.<\/p>\n

Actually, this is one of my major bug-bears. In the enterprise, I\u00a0often see third party\u00a0security products used but there’s only one reason I can see for that: management. Not just of the updates, but of quarantine for any infections that are caught.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, in the consumer space anti-virus products are often foisted onto\u00a0unsuspecting consumers. Both the PCs I’ve bought for family in recent years have come with McAfee products installed (removed soon afterwards) and high street PC shops\/office suppliers\/supermarkets will happily sell\u00a0alternatives. \u00a0I was particularly annoyed to see that, after my parents in-law went to a local “PC specialist” (because they thought I was too busy),\u00a0Microsoft Security Essentials had been removed (from their Windows 7 PC) and replaced by AVG. Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with AVG, except that, the last time I used the free version, it kept nagging to be upgraded to a paid one – and there’s simply no need to clog up the system with third party apps like this.<\/p>\n

Reputable providers of consumer advice seem to be caught up in the trap too:\u00a0I took a look at the Which? report for security software best buys<\/a> and\u00a0even their best free antivirus software<\/a>\u00a0guide doesn’t include\u00a0the software\u00a0built into the operating system\u00a0– indeed\u00a0it says:<\/p>\n

“Two programs could interfere with one another causing problems. If you are installing a third party piece of security software make sure you uninstall Microsoft Defender.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I’d put it a different way:\u00a0don’t waste time and money on third party anti-virus software\u00a0– just use Windows\u00a0Defender<\/a>!<\/p>\n