Will paid antivirus be enough when Win10 support ends?
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Will paid antivirus be enough when Win10 support ends?
Wouldn't a paid for antivirus (like BitDefender Total Security) be enough to protect Win10 PCs that are not eligible for Win11, after Windows 10 support ends?
IOW, what does Win10 support do, that a paid for anti-virus does not do?
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Yes and no.
When windows 10 support ends it means that the OS becomes vulnerable because they are no longer maintaining it so any new vulnerabilities that come along you are at a disadvantage and susceptible. The longer the OS ages after support ends the worse it becomes because people have time to sit there and work out any exploits and also knowing those exploits will never get patched.
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Hello @mck,
Win 10 support does NOT end until Oct 2025. By that time, you may have decided to either buy a new computer or change to Win 11, so there isn't a great rush for this. It may well of course, depending on the number of users still using Win 10 at that stage, be extended.
As far as Win 10 [ Win 11 ] is concerned, Windows Security [ Microsoft Defender, formerly Windows Defender ] has come a LONG way over the past few years and is now VERY good and more than capable. Unlike other AV software, it does NOT throttle your Internet connection, or give FALSE Positives like other AV's may.
It receives frequent Definition Updates through Windows Update [ or you can updated them manually ] to keep them current and up to date.
From what I have read, Microsoft Defender also works quite nicely with Malwarebytes.
For added security in case of infection, it is STRONGLY recommended that you regularly create a System Image along with the addition of backing up important data that you do NOT want to lose such as Folders, Files, Photos, etc, BOTH to an external drive.
I hope this helps.
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But none of them will fix holes that are discovered after EOL as @Malneb says in post 2.
Will paid antivirus be enough when Win10 support ends?
The question is not about a piddling contest between packages but is about a more fundamental issue. The package sellers can only plaster over the symptoms of such issues - they cannot solve issues that require fundamental changes to the code.
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Will paid antivirus be enough when Win10 support ends?
The accurate answer is, "Maybe it will, maybe it won't and you will never know.".
All the best,
Denis
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my best guess would be "NO" ,
one should always use an up to date supported OS , in my opinion
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To make things even worse. not a free as windows defender or the most expensive paid antivirus out there will help you even now.. if its a zero-day malware.
The best antivirus system you have is behind the keyboard..... that is you and your habits online. 
if you have bad habits as shady websites, clicks on strange links, adds and so on... have a isolated computer for that with no personal information on it, no webcam or microphone attached and no other computers/smartphones/IoT connected on the network.
Then when you are finished on the shady sites.. turn of the computer and disconnect it from the network.. Reset the router and then reconnect the clean devices again.
or.... just don't go to shady sites and do not click on strange links. 
Edit
To give some good advice on the question.
When you get to 6months before win10 has its EOL date.. and you dont have the money to upgrade your hardware for win11 or 12 (that is planed to be released before win10EOL)... anyway.. then if that is the question then.. Have a look at Linux Desktop as an option.... Linux Mint is a kind of easy step-over as it in some ways reminds of windows feeling. It isn't windows so it will have a bit learning curve, so it is good to "convert over time" so to speak.
Have it in mind as a "Plan-B" solution so you can avoid using a EOL system online.
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Windows 11 will run on most ( but not all ) systems that run Windows 10.
If you are going to use Windows 10 after its EOL date. At the very least you should stop using Defender and get some other AV solution that will at least be updated.
I suggest you check with your Internet Provider. Most of them offer their customers some sort of Free AV solution.
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I hope sources are wrong on the windows release timeline why tf are they thinking that windows 12 is going to come out in 2024? and not really sure why Microsoft thinks this is a good idea either if this is the case. it is speculation at this time so they could be wrong.
Three year cycle of updating the OS does not sound fun to me like they need to just make the end all be all windows OS they did say that XP was the last operating system i remember them saying it back at the time. Really like there is no reason not to and they can just keep updating it because why not the logic works in my head.
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