You are wasting money without knowing it

Anti-virus software is something that is very familiar to computer users. Especially in the current context of online fraud, high awareness of self-protection on the internet makes these tools indispensable.

There was a time when Vietnamese users installed anti-virus software as a requirement when they first installed a computer. They have to pay several hundred thousand to millions to buy official software or if they don’t have enough money, they turn to pirated versions.

But in this day and age, are antivirus software really necessary and should we pay for them?

May not be necessary

A recent Security.org survey found that about 54% of Americans use the default antivirus protection software that comes with their devices (Microsoft Defender Antivirus is available on Windows computers), while 46% use a third-party antivirus program.

But of those who installed additional third-party protection, just over half paid for it. Norton and McAfee account for 52% of paying customers, while Kaspersky only accounts for 4% of the market.

Of these, older Americans are significantly more likely to use third-party antivirus programs and pay more. Accordingly, people over 65 years old are twice as likely to sign up for a paid anti-virus service than people under 45 years old.

However, this does not reflect that older people tend to be more careful and safe, but simply because anti-virus software is something that has been with them for many years. Paying for them simply gives them peace of mind, not that security software is necessary.

According to ZDNet expert Ed Bott, in fact, paying for antivirus software is a big waste of money.

Today’s security era is much different than it was 10-20 years ago. Paying for anti-virus software is not necessary. Regardless of the type of device, whether computer or phone, users already have default protection that provides the same safety as third-party antivirus software.

On mobile devices (iOS or Android), the app has been strictly monitored through the app store. On Macs, XProtect anti-malware technology has been around for more than a decade and is effective against mainstream threats.

What about Windows? It is Microsoft Defender Antivirus, built into every computer running Windows. The tool regularly passes tests from third-party testers to measure security effectiveness.

Since the upgrade began about seven years ago, Microsoft’s solution has consistently scored between 99% and 100%, performing on par with third-party competitors, whether free or paid.

We are much safer than before

In the early 21st century, when Windows computers were wild and chaotic, most malware appeared on computers as email attachments or over the network.

Today, the pathways for transmission have been effectively closed. Automatic updates protect against newly discovered vulnerabilities. The email client blocks all types of executable attachments, including script-based files.

And network firewalls have made a lot of progress since 2002. Recent testing results show that Microsoft Defender is effective at blocking all of the most common attack vectors for ransomware and information theft.

On average, a modern antivirus application blocks 99.2% of the most sophisticated threats after they have bypassed all other layers of protection. And even if the virus still gets through the narrow door, each person’s vigilance is the last layer of defense.

This is why the average user’s modern, fully patched personal computer is not really a target for the criminal gangs behind modern malware.

The attacks you hear about are mostly aimed at businesses, using vulnerabilities in third-party software rather than in the operating system itself.

Some typical examples include hackers using SolarWinds management software to attack Microsoft. Or through the popular application MOVEit to compromise thousands of large companies and government agencies last year.

Shell, British Airways, BBC were victims of the MOVEit attack, not random computer users.

Nowadays, cybercriminals are focusing on bigger and more valuable targets instead of investing a lot of effort and money to break into your computer with nothing but your personal photos.

On one hand, individual users are quite well protected through default security measures. The downside is that attackers don’t see the financial benefit in targeting such single victims.

ZDNet recommends that, as a normal user, just Microsoft Defender is enough. If you’re still paying Norton, McAfee or Kaspersky for protection on your home computer, it’s time to stop.

Of course, if you work in a sensitive field and have important information, and are recommended by your workplace’s information technology department to install additional advanced protection measures, listen for the best security results.