Ask HN: Should I keep using antivirus software?

#1

Post by throwy555 » Wed, May 23, 2018, 4:06 PM UTC

I've lately been noticing a particularly high performance hit on my personal computer from the antivirus software that I run (Avast).

I'm generally careful about what I download and run on my computer -- is there still reason for me to use antivirus software?

Re: Ask HN: Should I keep using antivirus software?

#2

Post by fetus8 » Wed, May 23, 2018, 4:09 PM UTC

If you're running Windows 10, is Windows Defender not enough?

I personally haven't run anything on top of Windows Defender on my personal Windows machine since Windows 7 and have had 0 issue...

Re: Ask HN: Should I keep using antivirus software?

#3

Post by sentamalin » Thu, May 24, 2018, 5:05 AM UTC

fetus8 wrote: post #2

If you're running Windows 10, is Windows Defender not enough? I personally haven't run anything on top of Windows Defender on my personal Windows machine since Windows 7 and have had 0 issue...

Agreed. I usually keep Windows Defender as the default antimalware app on my computer and others' because, IMO, it has the best ratio of Good Enough and Unintrusive Enough compared to others. I've never run into an issue on machines I personally use all the time.

Re: Ask HN: Should I keep using antivirus software?

#4

Post by Blackstone4 » Fri, May 25, 2018, 9:01 AM UTC

Run Win10. Run all the latest updates as soon as you can. Don't click on strange links in emails or go to suspect sites.

With that in mind, I wouldn't run anti-virus. The same again goes to MacOS and Linux/GNU