Many clients often ask me, “Do I need to buy antivirus for my computer?” The simple answer is no. Windows 10 and 11 include Windows Defender, a strong antivirus. Plus, all antivirus programs are quite similar – they use a database to spot known bad files and stop them from causing harm.
Some antiviruses have a cool feature called anomaly detection. It’s supposed to block a program if it acts suspicious. But, in my experience, it doesn’t always work right. Sometimes, regular programs get blocked, causing more trouble for users.
Here’s my best advice: get an ad-blocker for your web browser, at the very least. Nowadays, most viruses need you to do something, like download and run a malicious program. AdBlock can stop a lot of these bad websites. Even better, set up a Pi-hole device at home to block all ads and known bad sites on your whole network.
Another common question is whether you need a VPN to protect against hackers. My answer is also no. Using a VPN at home doesn’t really make you safer, and it can slow down your internet. Save the VPN for when you’re on public WiFi while traveling. Though, even then, I’d say you might not need it much. Back in the day, it was necessary when websites weren’t secure, but now, most websites use HTTPS, securing your data from end to end.
In summary, don’t waste money on antivirus. It’s become a bit of a scam in the tech world. They use scare tactics to get more money, and some charge up to $80 a month. That’s crazy, considering they often slow down your computer without giving much benefit.
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