Is paid antivirus actually a waste of money for your PC in 2026?

Paid antivirus software is no longer essential for basic PC protection, as Microsoft Defender is built into Windows and now performs strongly in independent tests. The article argues that paid suites are mainly worth considering for their extra services, particularly if those features address risks a user finds difficult to manage.

Defender scans files and apps automatically and receives regular security updates. The article cites July–August 2026 testing in which it detected 100 per cent of threats in both real-world and widespread malware tests, against industry averages of 99.9 and 100 per cent respectively. Paid plans may add scam protection, VPNs, password managers, parental controls or cloud storage, but the author says many users may not need or use them.