It is one of the most common questions we get at the counter: “Do I still need to pay for antivirus?” The honest answer is more interesting than a simple yes or no.
What changed
Fifteen years ago, viruses were everywhere and Windows had almost no built-in protection, so third-party antivirus was essential. Today, Windows ships with Microsoft Defender built in, and it is genuinely good. Independent testing labs regularly score it alongside the paid products. Macs have their own built-in protections too.
At the same time, the threats have shifted. Classic “viruses” are less common than phishing emails, fake websites, scam text messages, and sneaky browser extensions, which antivirus alone cannot fully stop anyway.
So do you need paid antivirus?
For most home users on a modern Windows PC or Mac: probably not. If your computer is up to date and you are not in the habit of clicking strange links, the built-in protection plus sensible habits covers a lot of ground.
Paid antivirus makes more sense if:
- You run a small business and handle customer or financial data
- You want extras like a password manager, VPN, or identity theft monitoring bundled in
- You have family members (often kids or older parents) who click on things they should not
- You are running an older version of Windows that no longer gets full protection
What antivirus cannot protect you from
This is the part that matters most. The scams that hurt people around Bribie Island and Moreton Bay are almost never viruses. They are:
- Fake phone calls claiming to be Telstra, the ATO, or your bank. No antivirus stops a convincing voice on the phone.
- Phishing emails that trick you into typing your password into a fake website. Antivirus might catch some, but not all.
- Remote access scams where someone talks you into installing “support” software. You installing it willingly means antivirus stays quiet.
Your best protection against these is knowledge and healthy scepticism, not software.
What actually protects you
If you do want a paid product, this is where we put our name on something: for home users we supply Bitdefender, which consistently tops the independent tests and stays out of your way instead of nagging you. If you do nothing else, do these:
- Keep Windows or macOS updated, so the built-in protection stays current
- Turn on two-factor authentication for email and banking
- Use a browser that blocks dodgy sites (Edge, Chrome, and Safari all do)
- Be suspicious of urgency. “Act now or your account closes” is always a red flag
Already paying for antivirus?
Check if it is earning its keep. Some paid suites are heavy, slow your machine down, and nag you constantly. If it is more annoyance than protection, you are allowed to cancel it. Just make sure Windows Defender turns itself back on afterwards (it usually does automatically).
