I'm asking since I have installed many free antivirus programs out there and some gave me BSOD's, while others were intrusive with ads or just made my pc slower. I'm kinda burnt out in them right now and just wanna know if Defender along with malwarebytes is good enough.
I'd second that. Not only does Defender perform adequately, it does not have the "side effects" that many 3rd party antimalware applications do.
I must disagree. Windows 10 Defender, by itself, is not good enough. The biggest protection against viruses/malware/ransomware is the level of common sense and careful habits on the part of the user. I've seen computers heavily infected with all kinds of malware and at the same time were running multiple anti-everything programs because the user lacked the basic knowledge about how to detect something that they really should not click on.
But with a somewhat knowledgeable user who doesn't click on every box that pops up claiming that their PC needs optimized or repaired, then Windows Defender is sufficient to protect against the threats that the user would not have to click on.
As I mentioned in another thread:
It depends on the type of browsing you do. If you're a "normal browser" then Windows Defender is perfectly adequate. But if you download torrents, you might want something a bit more advanced.
Yup Defender is fine. I went though the same thing with the best AVs of the month according to the testing sites. Slow computer performance, occasional disasters brought on by a bad signature update, intrusive upsell, concern with what a given AV is really doing with some of those files and just the paranoia that industry as a whole sells. And I'd still get something from time to time because you think the program with the 100% detection rate and 101% elimination rate will keep you safe no matter what you do. I remember reading many AVs game the testing - they program for it. The best A/V really is the user. Just use common sense. Don't click on links in emails. Avoid dangerous sites. Careful with what you download and read through the custom menus. Keep the computer up to date. Take a look at some of the browser add-ons available that can "encourage a smoother internet experience with less confusion and malware", stop tracking and known malware sites etc.
Maybe keep the free malwarebytes on demand program on the side along with adwcleaner. This can be used for occasional scans if something unusual happens or just in general to double check and make sure all is okay. Another site to keep in the bookmarks is bleepingcomputer.
I'll add that a modified hosts file goes a lot further than antimalware in preventing your system being unknowingly directed to, contacting, or being contacted by, sites that are known to broadcast malware. However, I cannot discuss it here because of Forum rule 12.
Oh another thing to do is to make image backups using an easy program like Macrium reflect (free) and keep them off the network. Keep them on the side. The idea being if the disaster happens - malware/virus/system gets borked somehow, you can boot up through usb or disk and restore the image you have saved wiping out the infected image in minutes.
I've used MSE and later defender for years and never had a single virus or malware or pup even (except one that was later called a pup). I put the "best stuff" on my dad's computer because he just clicked on everything you gave him and there was always a problem. Malwarebytes has saved me many times.
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