Do I really need antivirus in 2026?

[Totally]

I've seen people say built-in protection is enough now.

Others still recommend third-party antivirus.

What's actually necessary these days?

[codeberg]

For most people, built-in protection is enough if you're not doing risky stuff.

The bigger factor is behavior:

Don't download random files
Don't click unknown links
Keep your system updated

Extra antivirus can add another layer, but it's not a magic solution.

A careful user with basic protection is usually safer than someone with expensive software clicking everything

[QuantumKnight]

Ironically WindowsDefender and updates kept crashing my pc. So I've had to get AV to allow WindowsDefender to be disabled in order for PC to function. Crackers. but the free AV vs having to fork out for a new pc just yet. no brainer

[VB]

Interesting. Still do virus checks and malware checks

[QuantumKnight]

So many people get themselves in trouble downloading bad software

[QuantumKnight]

Agree, and the implications are bigger than most people realise. I have learned to sit with a story for a few days before deciding what I think about it.

Worth keeping an eye on.

Always rule out the obvious before going further

[QuantumDay]

Cheers for that. Good shout.

Thanks for that

[QuantumKnight]

Cheers for that. Good shout. Thanks for that.

A lot depends on who is making the claim and what they are trying to sell. I find the best analysis usually comes a week or two after the initial coverage settles down.

That is my read on it anyway.

Background processes and startup items cause more problems than hardware failures in my experience

[Quanta]

That is the practical answer rather than the theoretical one. Nine times out of ten it is something boring like a driver or a startup item rather than the hardware itself.

Give it a go and report back

[Lucy05]

A lot of these things sound better than they are. Might save you more than you think

[ElPresidente]

That works in theory but the prep is more involved than it sounds. I have done similar and the prep mattered more than the expensive bits.

Post a photo when it is done.

Always rule out the obvious before going further

[TheRizz]

Yeah pretty much. Thanks for the thread.

Check temperatures first before assuming anything else

[QuietNomad]

Pretty decent summary of it. Worth a try if you get the chance

[Demi-Q]

The stats do not back that up. Ask me again in six weeks

[ElPresidente]

Ended up in the same place, yeah. I have done similar and the prep mattered more than the expensive bits.

Good luck with it.

Check temperatures first before assuming anything else

[RedKnight]

Still think the same, yeah. Home advantage is still massive and gets written off too easily.

Time will tell on this one.

The event viewer usually tells you exactly what is happening if you know where to look.

[error.404]

Pretty decent summary of it. Worth a try if you get the chance.

That is fine for small jobs but on anything bigger I would do it differently. Good luck with it.

The first question I always ask is what changed just before the problem started

[QuietNomad]

The stats do not back that up. Ask me again in six weeks.

Pretty decent summary of it. Multiplayer games live or die on whether the people you play with are decent.

Worth a try if you get the chance.

[Ridge]

I got to the same conclusion a different way but yes. Give it a go and report back.

[Tracey]

I found the same thing. Good to know about.

The first question I always ask is what changed just before the problem started

[Inland Aidan]

Pretty decent summary of it. Worth a try if you get the chance.

I tried that and hit a problem at the second stage. Happy to answer questions if you get stuck

[Jarvis]

Turned out alright in the end doing it that way. Buy slightly more materials than you need, you will always use them.

Turned out alright when I did it.

Disk health is worth running a diagnostic on before spending on anything

[DecentBloke]

Could you explain the bit about that a bit more? That helps a lot actually

[Taker04]

That is about where I am at. Definitely worth picking up

[Sequence]

Hmm, not convinced. Legend

[Amber Tiger]

I work in IT and most machines I clean up already had antivirus installed anyway. It didn't stop phishing or bad downloads, which is where most issues start

[Delulu66]

Mac users always jump in saying they don't need it at all, but they're not immune, just targeted less. Different risk profile, not zero risk

[Connor82]

If you're careful with updates and don't install random cracks or dodgy extensions, you're already 90 percent protected without paying for anything extra

[Idle Mila]

I still recommend antivirus for less tech-savvy family members, not because it's perfect, but because it adds guardrails when they inevitably click something dumb

[VoidRanger24]

The biggest upgrade in security isn't antivirus, it's browser sandboxing and OS-level isolation, that's doing most of the heavy lifting now

[Pilgrim]

I ditched third party antivirus years ago and honestly haven't looked back. Windows Defender plus basic common sense covers way more than people give it credit for these days

[RomoneyWalters]

People underestimate how good built-in protection has gotten. Defender used to be a joke years ago, now it's actually competitive with paid tools

[Louise5]

I tried going without antivirus for a year and the only issue I had was my own stupidity downloading random freeware, so yeah, user discipline matters more

[Forge89]

I think antivirus is less about viruses now and more about bundled features like password managers and VPN upsells. That's where the real product is

[Craig71]

The reality in 2026 is most infections come from user behaviour, not lack of antivirus. Clicking sketchy links is still the real problem, not your security suite

[Oscar73]

I still keep a lightweight antivirus just for peace of mind, not because I think it's magical protection. It's more of a safety net than a necessity

[FairDos96]

Hot take but antivirus software sometimes slows systems down more than the threats it claims to prevent, especially on older laptops

[Kyle99]

That "antivirus slows your system" take is not wrong, but it is also a bit outdated depending on what you are running. Built-in protection like Windows Defender has come a long way and is surprisingly lightweight now.

The bigger shift is that security is less about one tool and more about habits. Safe browsing, updates, and not installing random junk do most of the heavy lifting.

Third-party antivirus still has a place, but usually for specific needs like advanced ransomware protection or managing multiple devices.

For most people, built-in plus common sense covers a lot more than it used to

[TheRizz]

I'd like to revisit this topic after OpenAI test version of ChatGpt hacking a company. Will we all need full security suites going forward?

[Pilot]

There is a bit of a mindset shift needed here. Antivirus used to be the main line of defense, now it is just one layer in a broader setup.

Modern threats often rely on phishing, social engineering, or compromised accounts rather than traditional viruses.

That means things like password managers, 2FA, and keeping software updated are just as important, if not more.

So the question is less "do you need antivirus" and more "what gaps are you trying to cover"

[ProperMadlad20]

Going to push back slightly on the idea that built-in is always enough. It is good, but it is still designed to be a general solution for millions of users.

Some third-party tools offer better web protection, sandboxing, or alerts for suspicious behavior that Defender might not flag as aggressively.

That said, piling on heavy security suites can absolutely drag down older machines, so there is a trade-off.

If performance matters, sticking with built-in and tightening up your habits is often the smarter move

[Cass82]

The answer has changed a lot compared with a few years ago. For many people, the built-in protection in modern operating systems is genuinely good enough now, especially if they keep updates turned on and are careful about what they install.

That does not mean third-party antivirus is useless though. People who download lots of files, manage important business data, or want extra features like identity monitoring and advanced controls may still get value from it.

[ScarletWrench]

The slow-down argument is fair, especially on older machines. Some security suites have a habit of becoming the thing that makes your computer feel ancient while claiming to protect it from every possible danger.

The bigger issue is that antivirus has never been a replacement for good habits. A user clicking every suspicious attachment will eventually find trouble, no matter how expensive the software is. Built-in tools plus sensible browsing habits are a pretty strong combination for most everyday users.