Do You Really Need Antivirus Software? I Don’t—and Here’s Why

Let’s get this out of the way: I’m not saying antivirus software is useless. I’m just saying I’ve never really needed the classic third-party stuff—and that’s still true today.

Except for a few edge cases, I’ve stuck with what’s built into the system. And honestly? It’s worked just fine.

Built-in is good enough (for most)

Windows Defender has come a long way. It’s light, it’s quiet, and it doesn’t try to upsell me anything. Combined with SmartScreen and regular updates, it covers the basics really well.

I’ve never been the kind of person to install one of those full security suites. No “Avast 14 Pro Premium Ultra Whatever.” Just didn’t see the point.

When I did use something else

There were a few rare situations—mostly helping other people—where I ran Malwarebytes for a full system scan. You know the type: someone downloads some random “free tool” from a sketchy-looking website and actually runs it, and then wonders why the system is acting weird.

Or maybe the computer starts behaving oddly—random slowdowns, weird pop-ups, or the browser default suddenly changes. That’s when I’ll grab a second-opinion scanner like Malwarebytes, just to rule out anything serious.

But on my own machines? Almost never.

macOS, iOS – and what about Android and Linux?

On macOS, I’ve never even considered a third-party antivirus. Maybe Malwarebytes in case something really suspicious came up—but that never happened.

And iOS? We don’t even have to talk about that. There’s not really any antivirus culture there, and that’s probably a good thing.

I don’t use Android or Linux as daily drivers, but here’s what I’d say:
Android has some solid built-in protection now—like Google Play Protect—and it’ll catch most shady apps from the Play Store. But if you’re sideloading random APKs from Telegram groups or sketchy websites, you’re kind of asking for it.
On Linux, most users tend to know what they're doing, and the attack surface is smaller by design. Tools like ClamAV or system snapshots exist if needed, but most desktop Linux setups don’t run real-time antivirus—and usually don’t need to.

Less software, fewer problems

The more third-party “security tools” you install, the more complexity you add. Some of them interfere with browsers, dev tools, local servers, even certificates. I’ve seen them do more harm than good.

That’s why I keep it simple.

What I rely on

• Windows Defender + SmartScreen
• Keeping the system clean and updated
• Common sense before clicking stuff
• Backups
• Occasionally: Malwarebytes (for others, or if something feels off)

At work: different story

In enterprise environments, third-party solutions often make sense. Something like Sophos Central is a good example—offering central management, policy enforcement, and features like ransomware protection. When you’re managing dozens or hundreds of systems, that kind of control matters. But for personal use? Overkill.

Stay cautious online

Most threats don’t come out of nowhere. They start with a bad click, a shady file, or an attachment you shouldn’t have opened.

It’s not just about the sketchy websites anymore. Sometimes it's that “totally safe” ZIP your friend sends you over Discord. Or a fake invoice that almost looks legit. Or a cracked tool that comes with a bonus payload.

Being careful about where you go, what you download, and what you open is still one of the best security practices. That, plus a healthy amount of skepticism, goes a long way.

Final thought

Modern systems are more secure than ever. The real risk isn’t what you’re running — it’s what you trust.