If you re looking for a free option that works great go with kaspersky security cloud free.
Windows security software reddit.
Or you can opt for bitdefender free.
I started using microsoft s av back when it was still called security essentials.
Except for windows defender the free ones usually emphasize converting to the paid version.
First keep in mind that upgrade is and update is not.
Both are highly effective products but my personal recommendation definitely goes to kaspersky security cloud free because of its great signatures behavior detection cloud access ransomware rollback feature and overall usability.
Also if there is a free offer it s probably for a 30 day trial version of the paid version.
It was inevitable for third party av software to become bloated they had to have something to differentiate themselves once windows started offering the basic service out of the box.
Controlling outgoing traffic is not only difficult basically all commercial firewalls still can be bypassed by malicious software it s also rather pointless.
It s a shame but yes you still need antivirus software.
By the time any unwanted software communicates with the outside it has already bypassed your av scanner and.
Mse aka windows defender has been recommended countless times on reddit because it doesn t nag you much but it s actually very poor at detecting and removing viruses.
Windows defender is improving but you still shouldn t rely on windows 10 s security tools as your sole means of protection.
Many free third party security apps are more effective at keeping you safe.
Much of our lives now take place online and even in 2018 there s no such thing as being too careful.
The windows firewall is 100 sufficient.