1. Windows Defender with Configure defender in High
good points - out of the box protection, simple, no renewals, installs, just silent protection, perfectly adequate for anyone with common sense and a good layered Protection (Security gateway/firewall/IDS... pihole or adbocking at network level.... Firmware & OS updates rigorously maintained, secure randomized passwords on every device and every website)
bad points - not many beginners know how to enable its security features!
bad points2 - relies heavily on the cloud
2. Kaspersky KAV (AV only) none of the other bundled junk..... this is my number 2 is cheap and effective and not so reliant on cloud
good points - light on resources, good detection, cheap!
bad points - messes with https traffic, bundles crappy VPN software, also adds a browser extension silently without asking..... also all your data is trundled off and trusted to Russians.....
bad points2 - is cheap but not free, renewals to deal with etc
to be honest any antivirus nowadays is good.... but IF your antivirus got a hit then there is something seriously wrong with you
either
no gateway level security, no common sense, no ad blocking/pi-hole, no HIPS, OS or firmwares out of date... no segregation of network (Vlans) getting untrusted devices off your main network!!!
i honestly cant remember the last time I saw a virus pop up.... I would quite happily run without, but its always nice to know its there as the "LAST LINE" of defense, many peoples misconceptions is its the ONLY or first line of defense