Do you need paid antivirus?

For most home users, the built-in Microsoft Defender in Windows 10 and 11 gives solid protection when it is kept up to date and combined with good habits.

Paid products can help when

• You want extras such as a password manager, VPN or identity monitoring
• You manage several devices from one dashboard
• You run a business and need central reporting and management

What matters more than the brand

• Keeping Windows and your apps updated
• Using strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication
• Being sceptical of unexpected emails, attachments and calls
• Having a tested backup

Avoid running two full antivirus programs at once - they can slow the system and conflict with each other.