http://chart.av-comparatives.org...
https://www.av-test.org/en/antiv...
With deep respect, I gotta disagree with Phillip Remaker. His answer was perfectly correct as usual, and on my personal machines, I run exactly the same way he does.
Windows Defender
But Defender/Security Essentials - even when supplemented with Malwarebytes, is not enough for people who are less tech-savvy.
Month after month, every new report, Defender/Security Essentials is not even in the top 20+ rankings of the 2 most respected independent review sites. (provided above) Instead, it's used as a baseline. It's the 'bare minimum' bar that others must rise above to be considered acceptable. And everything they test rises far above that bar.
For experienced users, baseline is fine. Geeks know to avoid most of the crap from experience. And we know how to react if something does get past Defender. We whip out Malwarebytes and/or SuperAntiSpyware or Hijack This! or several other good tools, make a few adjustments to startup processes with Autoruns or msconfig, maybe do a quick regedit, and we are back in business.
Install the browser extension Avira Browser Safety for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera to block tracking cookies and annoying banners on websites. Download the best free Antivirus for Windows 7 and Windows 10 now. Protect your devices with our Windows virus scan. Avast Free Antivirus Windows 10 – One of the most popular anti-virus software for Windows. Download Avast Free Antivirus for Windows PC from Win10Fix.com. 100% Safe and Secure Free Download (32-bit/64-bit) Latest Version 2019. Top protection, performance, and usability on Windows 10. With a low system impact, near-perfect detection rates, and intuitive interface, Avira Free Antivirus delivers a smooth-running solution that doesn’t slow you down and always has your back. Sep 08, 2018 Do I need antivirus for windows 10? If you're looking for an impartial answer, you're not likely to find one in a community forum sponsored by Microsoft. You're asking a 'what is your opinion' question, and everyone has their own opinion. Windows Defender Security Centre delivers a robust suite of security features that keeps you safe for the supported lifetime of your Windows 10 device. When your PC is protected by Windows Defender Antivirus you are receiving comprehensive protection for your system, files and online activities from. This free virus protection software for PC is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10. Moreover, the user can download & install the Kaspersky Free Antivirus for Windows PC on both the 32-bit and 64-bit processor. AVG AntiVirus is perfect for Windows 10. AVG AntiVirus FREE gives you essential protection for your Windows 10 PC, stopping viruses, spyware and other malware. Fully loaded and compatible with Windows 10, it's antivirus made refreshingly simple.
For 'normal' people, that's just not the case.
When Win 8 came out, I was sold. I began gleefully telling all my clients they could do without Avast/Avira/Bitdefender/AVG/Kaspersky etc, because Defender plus Malwarebytes now and again was plenty.
Full Free Antivirus Software For Windows 10
30 - 40 painful machine cleanups later, I changed my tune.
For the average user, the 'normal' people who click yes on everything, and install all the addon crap from Adobe and other offensive bundlers - you know: the people who download stuff from CNET or Softpedia because it's shiny... For them, the very best AV/Malware detection and removal there is - plus the best cloud based backup - is barely good enough.
Install Antivirus Windows 10 Free
And again, Defender/MSE is not in the top 20 of either list.
EDIT:
Best Free Antivirus For Windows 10
In the comments, Phillip Remaker asked me what I recommend instead of or in addition to Window Defender. There’s no simple one-size-fits-all answer, I'm afraid. For AV & Malware, many clients are happy (and reasonably safe) with Avast or Avira or Bitdefender free versions, plus Malwarebytes whenever they suspect something. Others are more comfortable with a paid version of something. BitDefender is my personal paid fave for Joe User. I have used Avast Server on several boxes I admin, for years... As long as it has good stats on the sites I posted, I'm always interested in checking it out.
And here is something I tell all my clients all the time, over and over. ALL hard drives fail. Every drive ever made will fail someday.The only question is: When?
So… I consistently recommend backup with a cloud service such as CrashPlan, AirBackup, or Carbonite. And Google Drive (or similar) for active and/or critical files. Or if the user is an unusually careful type, Google Drive can be sufficient by itself. I try to make my clients aware that often the best (and easiest!) malware removal will be a Windows reload. (Looking forward to Win 10 and better/easier refresh/reload!)
Install Antivirus In Safe Mode Windows 10
No matter how much prevention you use, this is a trillion dollar war we're talking about. No exaggeration! The battleground is on Joe Average's PC, and casualties are inevitable. So data backup is imperative.
Sadly, I no longer trust clients to backup manually with an external drive. Not even if I automate it for them. Too many data losses, usually PEBKAC, but several external drive failures, too. In fact, the average external drive fails more often than internal drives.
Data losses are the bane of my existence. It isn't my data, but I feel their pain!
(That's why I'm such a strong proponent of the Chromebook client/server computing model)
If their machine gets hit even with these measures, (and of course some do) my clients call me. I also spend an inordinate amount of time trying to give people some coherent strategy for avoiding the crap. Virus, Malware, Identity theft, Ransomware, Hackers, etc...
The crap keeps evolving, so we are forced to do the same.
Microsoft Antivirus Windows 10
Last but not least, I consistently recommend LastPass. There are many viable password managers. This is one I trust. I've seen the devastation of too many people when they get hurt by a hacker or even just a lost password & locked out account. Bank/S&L accounts hit, businesses ruined, divorces, etc.
LastPass isn't perfect, and it's biggest weakness is it seems difficult for many people to comprehend, learn and use. But it's light-years better than the norm, which is one idiot-simple password, that they use on every friggin' site.