Can registering F-secure be selected during setup? never used before.
Is Windows Defender Enough in 2025, or Do You Still Need a Third-Party Antivirus?
- Thread starter Bot
- Start date
I recently decided to increase the security on my primary windows pc by making MS Defender the registered AV, DeepInstinct is now unregistered but continues to work in real-time, and Cyberlock. The response time on that pc slowed just a tad in this confg, I notice it but not annoying, (yet) meanwhile, my VM(s) continue to run normally fast. But MSD with Cyberlock is probably enough, but I have the license for DeepInstinct and its website encourages you to run it with MSD.
I use F secure in combination with Windows Defender and it works great so far!
How are you doing that? F-Secure on install takes over Windows Security, with the possible option of running the Periodical scan?
By the way, I use it with GlassWire free, it's my favorite combination
"Security is always excessive until it's not enough." - Robbie Sinclair, Country Energy, NSW Australia
Acadia
Yes, here you go... It does everything perfectly...How are you doing that? F-Secure on install takes over Windows Security, with the possible option of running the Periodical scan?
By the way, I use it with GlassWire free, it's my favorite combination
View attachment 289852
View attachment 289853
Attachments
I still prefer a 3rd part AV + additions, maybe because Defender was all but useless for years & maybe old habits die hard? Actually as I remember Windows 3 & 3.11 had a basic AV scan that was not updatable but you could do a scan with it - Have I dreamt this??
I lose data by hdd failure before malware manages to touch
We don't need to have an antivirus, you need to be the antivirus, if you want to protect who you are.
RoboMan
Level 38
Verified
Honorary Member
Top Poster
Content Creator
Well-known
High Reputation
Forum Veteran
I second this. Defender may be alright for an advanced user, since it should be paired with hardening software. Usually, regular users don't want to deal with these tools, so a solid third-party AV is usually the better choice.
Windows Security with Smart App Control works for me, but I get that average users may want or need 3rd party AVs. The optional diagnostics requirement, and improvemnt to SAC, have made it more user friendly, even without the ability to make exceptions. In any case, Defender has improved enough to provide decent protection for those too lazy, or who don't bother, to look for another product.
Its enough for MalwareTips users and users with a "more than average" knowledge and by that I mean someone that knows how to use tools like ConfigureDefender
My personal setup has WD set to High paired with Bitdefender trafficlight, Cyberlock and WFC
My personal setup has WD set to High paired with Bitdefender trafficlight, Cyberlock and WFC
I used Novabench to test WD and found it the slowest, Avast free one of the fastest, Kaspersky Standard only slightly slower (but Kaspersky Free, which I'm told has been phased out, the fastest), and Bitdefender free in the middle.
Meanwhile, based on feel, WD feels fast initially, and then after that I can sense the slowdown when browsing folders, etc. Meanwhile, for some reason, Kaspersky Free and Standard feel faster than Avast free.
When I tried to harden WD, it led to several complications, like not being able to access some folders containing documents. I think this is one reason why the features are not yet turned on by default, as the company is probably still working on making WD better.
About browser security extensions, someone told me in another thread that they're not good enough, and that man-in-the-middle's still needed. In this case, WD protects Edge, and you have to figure out what to do for other browsers.
Meanwhile, various threads reveal that more malware attack without user interaction, are also found in "legitimate" websites and software, can sometimes not be detected, felt, or seen, can stay in the background and steal information, can go for embedded software, and where damage like stealing personal data can't obviously be reversed by data backup and recovery.
That means one wants the best security programs, and that means with lots of features. But they also slow down the system, and the costs can be very high: they give you some promo rate for the first year, and then later charge you a regular rate the next. If you have to buy for several devices, it'll be like buying a new hard drive each year, and that's even with a discount for volume sales.
Meanwhile, several have been warning about privacy, but I think all security programs violate privacy by default: they have to investigate every part of the system, and to fix unidentified malware, report to servers, etc. It's like bringing your PC to a shop for repairs. Hopefully, you can see them working on it while you wait, or you have to put in guest accounts, or bring only the part that needs testing or replacing, etc.
Given that, the best I can do is to use a fast, highly-ranked AV that allows me to stack licenses to an account and buy cheap licenses from online stores. The second option is to use what's free and still faster than WD, and finally WD with browser security extensions.
While making backups regularly.
Meanwhile, based on feel, WD feels fast initially, and then after that I can sense the slowdown when browsing folders, etc. Meanwhile, for some reason, Kaspersky Free and Standard feel faster than Avast free.
When I tried to harden WD, it led to several complications, like not being able to access some folders containing documents. I think this is one reason why the features are not yet turned on by default, as the company is probably still working on making WD better.
About browser security extensions, someone told me in another thread that they're not good enough, and that man-in-the-middle's still needed. In this case, WD protects Edge, and you have to figure out what to do for other browsers.
Meanwhile, various threads reveal that more malware attack without user interaction, are also found in "legitimate" websites and software, can sometimes not be detected, felt, or seen, can stay in the background and steal information, can go for embedded software, and where damage like stealing personal data can't obviously be reversed by data backup and recovery.
That means one wants the best security programs, and that means with lots of features. But they also slow down the system, and the costs can be very high: they give you some promo rate for the first year, and then later charge you a regular rate the next. If you have to buy for several devices, it'll be like buying a new hard drive each year, and that's even with a discount for volume sales.
Meanwhile, several have been warning about privacy, but I think all security programs violate privacy by default: they have to investigate every part of the system, and to fix unidentified malware, report to servers, etc. It's like bringing your PC to a shop for repairs. Hopefully, you can see them working on it while you wait, or you have to put in guest accounts, or bring only the part that needs testing or replacing, etc.
Given that, the best I can do is to use a fast, highly-ranked AV that allows me to stack licenses to an account and buy cheap licenses from online stores. The second option is to use what's free and still faster than WD, and finally WD with browser security extensions.
While making backups regularly.
I use F secure in combination with Windows Defender and it works great so far!
Yes, here you go... It does everything perfectly...
But, that (image from the 3rd post) doesn't mean that Window Security is running its real time AV protection along side of, with F-Secure, only that WS is acknowledging that the PC is secure, in our case with F-Secure. In the F-Secure Settings, disable Virus Protection and we do get a notice from WS that the Virus Protection is off. If WS was running in tandem with F-Secure, why would it notify us if its, WS real time protection was still running and protecting us?
The Bot - 'So do we really need to pay $40–$80/year for that extra 0.03% and some bundled tools? Or is this mostly about peace of mind and convenience?'
The Bot is a tight ass & is hording money in a Swiss account to live on a pacific isle with the female Apple Assistant Siri ?
The Bot is a tight ass & is hording money in a Swiss account to live on a pacific isle with the female Apple Assistant Siri ?
Windows defender settings are all enabled by default.. And F-Secure is on a 6 month license, everything is turned on from the engine.. And it works perfectly. I haven't touched the system for 2 years! Believe it or not people!
You may also like...
-
Microsoft quietly reveals whether you need a third-party antivirus software in Windows 11- Started by Gandalf_The_Grey
- Replies: 93
-
Do Free Antivirus Solutions Still Offer Enough Protection in 2025?- Started by Bot
- Replies: 35
-
Best Free Antivirus in 2026 – Windows Defender, Avast, or Something Else?
- Started by Bot
- Replies: 86