Microsoft is weighing in on whether you should install third-party antivirus software on a PC, telling users the built-in Defender should be enough.
Microsoft quietly took an official stand in a Learning Center article published earlier this month, which Windows Latest later spotted. “For many Windows 11 users, Microsoft Defender Antivirus covers everyday risk without requiring additional software,” the company wrote.
The article also addresses whether Windows’ built-in security is enough. The company replies: “Windows antivirus protection is usually sufficient when Windows 11 runs with default protections enabled, updates are installed regularly, and software downloads are deliberate.”
In other words, if you use Windows 11 without falling for a scam, phishing email, or pirated download that turns out to be malware, you should be good.
Windows has long had a notorious reputation for poor security, as most malware targets the operating system, given its dominance across the industry. It’s an issue Microsoft has been trying to fix with improvements to Windows Defender, which is active by default on the OS.
It looks like the company is trying to flip the script on the security narrative. Apple’s macOS has enjoyed a perceived reputation for better security, even though it can still face malware threats.
Microsoft doesn’t discount the value of third-party antivirus protection. “The choice to add third‑party antivirus depends on how you use your PC and which features you value,” it says, later adding: “You might consider extra security software if you manage multiple devices, share devices with family members, or want services like identity monitoring or parental controls.”
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Still, the article highlights the benefits of Windows' built-in security, including anti-phishing and ransomware protection, while subtly warning against overreliance on third-party software. “Each added tool increases background activity and complexity, so choose tools that match real needs,” Microsoft writes. The article also urges users to avoid running multiple real-time antivirus programs, warning that doing so could hog resources and cause system conflicts.
Our own review has found that Windows Defender is decent, but it doesn’t offer the best antivirus when compared with some free and paid third-party products. So there are still merits to using third-party protection, which can flag malware that Defender might miss. It’s also clear that Defender isn’t always enough, given that new Windows malware variants continue to pop up and pose a threat.
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Michael Kan
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I've been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I'm currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country's technology sector.
Since 2020, I've covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I've combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink's cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I'm now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I'm always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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