Is paying for antivirus a waste of money?

I haven't used anything but Windows Defender/MSE for donkeys years but do have a backup system going, incl a USB drive in a safe.

A recent experience with an 80 year old's comp (win 10 and Defender, only) might be of interest. He got an email saying it was from the NSW Police with an infringement notice. So, he clicks the button, answers the captcha test and whamo, the ransomware gets cracking.

Defender jumped into action quite quickly but there were still files encrypted, including his USB drive's image backups. Luckily all the other hits were on a big folder of stuff that didn't matter and google earth files.

I did have a backup of his here with me that was a month old so that would have been a reasonable backstop but it does illustrate a couple of problems. When you get vague you can't be trusted not to do what are clearly stupid things and you can't be trusted to switch on the backup drive once a week and do the backup then unplug it.

It would be nice to have a cheap foolproof non intrusive system to defeat these b***tards but it isn't here yet and probably never will be, at least in my lifetime.

And, no, I just can't be convinced to switch to Linux!!

I have not switched to Linux either, but for internet work in uncharted territory I use Linux. If that blows up (which is unlikely) there is no real damage done.

Sounds like a plan!

In my experience, yes it is a waste of money. The last time i got any viruses was 6 years ago. I haven't paid or used any antivirus programs since 2011. Windows defender and the free Malware Bytes have been more than enough. Plus i am now a more experienced user and i know where not to click.

Hi there.

I think my views on this topic are well known --I've said for AGES that the days (for HOME not corporate users ) of 3rd party AV vendors is over.

Most problems aren't caused by things AV software can easily (or if at all) detect.

I'll spell again clearly my reasons.

1) More money to be made in SCAMS - fake emails, etc. People giving out too much info on Social media sites so data can get hacked -- such as Bank accounts etc. People do SILLY things like assume if they get an email from a Bank to say please change your password they actually do it !!!!!!. Opening emails from unknown people containing attachments is another very common problem --especially those of a current scam -- you get an email purporting to be an invoice or a payment acknowledgement that contains a dubious attachment. Just sling it -- .

2) A lot of websites have so many green arrows and confusing information that inexperienced people invariably make the wrong download - such as a piece of trial or adware etc. These programs while not Viruses in any sense are mega annoying but an AV program really has very little chance to intercept these -- remember these are "legitimate programs" and some people - unbelievably IMO might actually want them !!!!.

3) A lot of PUPS have the same problem - as far as windows is concerned they are legitimate programs and not "Classic" viruses so AV software has a real battle on its hands here. You could so it via a database but that database needs to be updated very frequently.

4) Most Torrent sites these days don't want rubbish on their sites so much better control over what gets uploaded. Also if you download a legitimate mkv/mp4/avi/mp3/flac file your music player / video player will only handle it if the file is good. Windows won't get corrupted even if their is a nasty in this type of file. If you must use torrents don't download rar/zip/exe/msi type files.

I've made several challenges to people on these forums to send me a music or video file containing a virus to see if it can affect the computer --no one has risen to the challenge yet. Note no .zip/exe/rar etc files. must be flac/mp3/mp4/mkv/avi r recognized video / audio codecs.

5) Windows defender is built right into the kernel -- and Ms update their data base of viruses etc almost daily -- most small companies don't have the resources to do this or even "reverese engineer" the Windows kernel - remember any Windows update could render a lot of 3rd party AV software ineffective or simply breaks it.

My advice is play safe, take plenty of backups and stick with Ms Windows defender.

Any previous period comparison reports are also meaningless-- a new threat could potentially arise AT ANY TIME so any data collected over a previous period as you often see in some technical magazine is useless when you need it on basing a decision for TODAY for example.

3rd party AV software --R.I.P

@linw -- just proves my point -- User opening Email with attachment from what he thought was a legitimate source. Police IMO NEVER will send emails to anybody !!!!! nor will Govt Tax offices etc etc. No AV system will prevent you against that type of scam.

Everybody has a built in system to defeat the so call "Bar Stewards" !! It's called A BRAIN. !!

Note "The price of Education is expensive - but the Price of Ignorance is Astronomical".

Cheers
jimbo

You have said it for me, Jimbo.

But everyone has to make their own decision on this which is why the AV purveyors will still keep in business.