Almost since the beginning of computing, there have been computer virusesmaliciously created tools with various and obscure purposes, and practically from this same time there are the antivirus software who oppose them. However, it has been over a decade since I decided not to use any type of antivirus software on my Windows PC and I have never been infected by viruses, malware or Trojans. In this article, we tell you about the experience and the precautions you should take to prevent the PC from getting infected.
It’s true that antiviruses are powerful tools for staying protected against viruses, Trojans, and malware, and in this article, we’re not going to detract from their usefulness or effectiveness. We just want to tell you that you too can live in peace without any type of antivirus as long as you take some precautions.
Why I decided not to use antivirus on the PC
I have been a PC user since 1996, and at that time, as an inexperienced user, I used all kinds of antivirus to feel more protected, because in the end you always have this “fear” that your PC is infected and you could lose everything you have inside. Antiviruses work well, but many times they’re too intrusive, and most importantly they slow down your PC in the effort to scan everything to make sure it’s virus-free.
In addition to slowing down your PC (and if you have an SSD, they begin to “eat” its life at high speed), and in order to protect you, antivirus software will prevent you from performing certain tasks on your PC which are, shall we say us, “suspicious”, even if it’s really the least of things.
But honestly, slow down or SSD lifespan they were the last thing to make the decision to go without antivirus software. In these more than 25 years of using PCs, the type of use I have made of them has varied over time, and there came a time when I no longer wanted to complicate my life with anything. either and I started to use original software (well after all, today you can even have original Windows for 10 dollars) as much as possible. This meant two things: firstly, I never went to “unethical” websites again, and secondly, I regularly received all security updates for the operating system.
And it is precisely since Microsoft has included Windows Defender on your operating system, that’s when I decided I didn’t need any antivirus software. It’s true that they don’t update it every day as is the case with independent antiviruses, but it’s also true that Defender works quite well and also protects you, at least to some extent and “from the worst” that can happen to you.
Windows Defender is much less intrusive than standalone antiviruses, much faster and consumes much less PC resources (that does not mean that sometimes the PC slows down with its sporadic scans in the process). Antimalware service executable, although it’s very rare), and it’s built into the operating system so you don’t have to worry about anything. In addition to that, it is very easy to disable temporarily if you need to perform some tasks.
Recommendations if you do not use antivirus
After more than a decade of not using a standalone antivirus, only with Windows Defender, I can tell you that I have never been infected by any type of virus, malware or Trojan, and that’s also partly because that I take some precautions when using the PC, or rather I use it with common sense and always with caution.
Here are our recommendations in this regard:
- Use the original software whenever possible.
- Avoid unsavory websites, especially those that promise freeware, cracks for programs or games, etc.
- Never click on a link or attachment in an email unless you are sure the sender is legitimate. This is usually the main goal of PC infections, especially Ransomware.
- Be very careful with Torrent web pages, especially those that require you to “swallow” advertisements to access files.
- If you turn off Windows Defender just once, remember to turn it back on when you’re done.
- Always keep your operating system up to date.
As you can see, the recommendations aren’t anything out of the ordinary either, just use your PC wisely and be a little careful, no more, no less.
