Hot Take Microsoft quietly reveals whether you need a third-party antivirus software in Windows 11

[piquiteco]

Well... last infection I had was back in 2011... I think... when I was 13. But I will make sure to post here if I ever get infected again.

Just for the reference, this was me when WannaCry attack happened: (yes, I never got to experience any ransomware)

View attachment 297359

The WannaCry attack took place in May 2017, not in 2011. More precisely, it began on Friday, May 12, 2017, targeting outdated versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system, and WannaCry spread to more than 200,000 computers in over 150 countries. WannaCry exploited an unpatched vulnerability in networks around the world. Did I misunderstand your post?

 

[Sampei.Nihira]

The WannaCry attack took place in May 2017, not in 2011. More precisely, it began on Friday, May 12, 2017, targeting outdated versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system, and WannaCry spread to more than 200,000 computers in over 150 countries. WannaCry exploited an unpatched vulnerability in networks around the world. Did I misunderstand your post?

Just out of curiosity, I went back and looked up my security setup from that time.
It was January 2017, and I changed it in October 2017.
It was a very simple security setup running on Windows XP, with no real-time antivirus.
If you're interested, I can post it.

 

[Marko :)]

Did I misunderstand your post?

Yeah...

I meant, in general, last infection I had on my PC(s) was somewhere around 2011. I am aware WannaCry attack happened much later and my point was it didn't affect me at all.
I mentioned WannaCry specifically because it was one of the largest attacks and it spread indiscriminately, didn't matter if you were business or private user. As I was closely following local IT forums, I read how it spread through malvertising and popular, legit news portals. I clearly remember forums were crowded with user requests for help.

 

[lokamoka820]

If Microsoft says that I don't need a third-party antivirus, it's because I DO NEED IT. Microsoft's opinion is irrelevant, as is its quality of Windows updates. I will never use WD. Their opinion is so irrelevant that they themselves use third-party antivirus.

And what is the third-party antivirus program that Bill Gates personally uses? Bitdefender, I suppose.

 

[oldschool]

And what is the third-party antivirus program that Bill Gates personally uses? Bitdefender, I suppose.

He uses a Mac.

 

[RansomwareRemediation]

¿Y cuál es el programa antivirus de terceros que usa personalmente Bill Gates? Supongo que Bitdefender.

CrowdStrike Falcon

 

[Parkinsond]

He uses a Mac.

Kali Linux

 

[Acadia]

PCMag's opinion:

Microsoft Says Defender Antivirus Is Good Enough. I Say Nope

Microsoft claims Windows Defender is all the protection you need. The evidence from real-world testing—and competing security tools—says otherwise.

www.pcmag.com

Acadia

 

[Alexhousek]

PCMag's opinion:

Microsoft Says Defender Antivirus Is Good Enough. I Say Nope

Microsoft claims Windows Defender is all the protection you need. The evidence from real-world testing—and competing security tools—says otherwise.

www.pcmag.com

Acadia

I'm not sure that I agreed with their conclusion, especially because I use DefenderUI.

 

[oldschool]

PCMag's opinion:

... is worth every dollar they get from their sponsors and advertisers and not much else.

 

[blackice]

As Umbra used to say…I don’t trust that so and so Neil Rubenking.

 

[Zero Knowledge]

As Umbra used to say…I don’t trust that so and so Neil Rubenking.

Oh man I'd love to find out where Umbra is now, probably working for a intelligence agency or some sort. Curious about mirimir too, but I think we know where he is now.

Two legends of the security forums/privacy scene who checked out early

 

[Parkinsond]

Security center suddenly refused to launch, not from taskbar, not from start menu!
Sign out and restard did not help.
Exiting Fort firewall did not help neither.

 

[Andy Ful]

Security center suddenly refused to launch, not from taskbar, not from start menu!
Sign out and restard did not help.
Exiting Fort firewall did not help neither.

Do you use ConfigureDefender? It includes the option to hide Security Center.

 

[Parkinsond]

Do you use ConfigureDefender? It includes the option to hide Security Center.

No; it stopped spontaneously.
Not the first time; also after fresh install the last month it worked fine and after a while stopped for no obvious reason!

 

[Marko :)]

PCMag's opinion:

Microsoft Says Defender Antivirus Is Good Enough. I Say Nope

Microsoft claims Windows Defender is all the protection you need. The evidence from real-world testing—and competing security tools—says otherwise.

www.pcmag.com

Acadia

The site advertising paid antivirus suites and getting commission for it, is saying free Microsoft Defender is bad???? Shocking!!!!1

 

[Andy Ful]

The statement "MD is enough" means a different thing in Microsoft's article and in the PC Mag article.
Microsoft considers MD on Windows 11 as a part of Windows built-in security:
1. MD antivirus.
2. Edge + SmartScreen in the web browser.
3. Block at First Sight integrated with Chromium browsers.
4. SmartScreen integrated with File Explorer.
5. Windows Firewall.
5. Core Isolation.
6. etc.

Microsoft says that in this configuration, MD is enough for most users.

In the PC Mag article, the author has some doubts based on Real-World tests. However, in the Real-World tests, SmartScreen for Explorer (point 4) is disabled. So, the test results show lower scores for files downloaded from the Internet.
Of course, the PC Mag conclusion can be justified for users who do not care about SmartScreen alerts.

 

[lokamoka820]

The statement "MD is enough" means a different thing in Microsoft's article and in the PC Mag article.
Microsoft considers MD on Windows 11 as a part of Windows built-in security:
1. MD antivirus.
2. Edge + SmartScreen in the web browser.
3. Block at First Sight integrated with Chromium browsers.
4. SmartScreen integrated with File Explorer.
5. Windows Firewall.
5. Core Isolation.
6. etc.

Microsoft says that in this configuration, MD is enough for most users.

In the PC Mag article, the author has some doubts based on Real-World tests. However, in the Real-World tests, SmartScreen for Explorer (point 4) is disabled. So, the test results show lower scores for files downloaded from the Internet.
Of course, the PC Mag conclusion can be justified for users who do not care about SmartScreen alerts.

So, according to the Microsoft article, I must use this chain to be secure? For instance, if I use Firefox rather than Microsoft Edge, am I not secure, or is it better to use a third-party antivirus program?

 

[simmerskool]

So, according to the Microsoft article, I must use this chain to be secure? For instance, if I use Firefox rather than Microsoft Edge, am I not secure, or is it better to use a third-party antivirus program?

run @Andy Ful Run by SmartScreen along with firefox...

 

[Marko :)]

So, according to the Microsoft article, I must use this chain to be secure? For instance, if I use Firefox rather than Microsoft Edge, am I not secure, or is it better to use a third-party antivirus program?

I think Microsoft just advertised their own security components that make entire security suite. But no, just because you're not using some security feature, that doesn't make you any more vulnerable. In fact, I'd trust more combination of Firefox + Google Safe Browsing + Bitdefender Trafficlight (or similar extension) than Edge + SmartScreen.