Use Windows 10 firewall with third party antivirus
I have a Windows 10 computer and am planning to buy antivirus software (Bitdefender antivirus plus).
However, this one does not include a firewall. So my question is can I install this antivirus software and use Windows' (Windows Defender I think?) firewall along with it?
Will the Windows firewall automatically turn on when it sees the antivirus software I'm installing doesn't have one?
This might be a very beginner question, thank you!
The best Windows 10 antivirus software in 2022
By installing one of the best Windows 10 antivirus programs on your PC, you can protect your system and your data against malware and other cyberattacks without breaking the bank.
While some of these programs feature a two-way firewall to supplement the one that ships with Windows, others provide a secure browser for online banking and shopping. At the same time, some come equipped with the ability to “rollback” files that have been encrypted by ransomware along with advanced protection to stop phishing emails, malicious links, fileless malware or boot-sector infections. Fortunately, all of the antivirus programs on this list support both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Windows 10 antivirus news and alerts — Chrome and Edge patched a very serious zero-day flaw actively being exploited by hackers. — Elden Ring is safe to play again after FromSoftware fixed a flaw that let invaders run malicious code. — The German government warned against Kaspersky antivirus software because it could be weaponized by the Russian government.
It’s worth noting that these antivirus programs don’t offer the same level of protection as one of the best internet security suites since only a couple of them include a VPN or password manager though none of them ship with parental control software .
We’ve taken a hard look at the best Windows 10 antivirus software to see how well they can protect your Windows PC against malware. However, we’ve also examined how much they slow down your system and how much you should be paying for the features on offer. As everyone has different security needs, we’ve provided some tips on how to choose the best Windows 10 antivirus software for you.
The best Windows 10 antivirus you can buy
(Image credit: Kaspersky)
(opens in new tab)
1. Kaspersky Anti-Virus The best protection, with few frills Specifications Backup software: No Firewall: No Game mode: Yes Hardened browser: No Password manager: Limited Ransomware rollback: Yes Virtual keyboard: Yes VPN: Limited Wi-Fi scanner: Yes Reasons to buy + Excellent malware protection + New stalkerware protection + Light load during scans Reasons to avoid - Not many extra features - VPN, password manager just teases
If you want the very best Windows 10 antivirus protection, Kaspersky Anti-Virus should be your first choice. No other brand of antivirus software matches its nearly impeccable record in third-party lab tests.
The company's entry-level package, Kaspersky Anti-Virus, covers up to three Windows PCs for $60 per year, or up to five for $80, though you'll often get half off for the first year.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus doesn't give many of you the extra bells and whistles you'll find with more expensive security suites. There are no parental controls, the password manager holds only 15 entries and the VPN service is limited to 300MB per day. (You can pay extra to get unlimited versions of those.)
But Kaspersky Anti-Virus does give you what you need: dedicated protection against encrypting ransomware, a filter against phishing emails, browser extensions to beef up web safety and a security scanner for your home Wi-Fi network.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus also has new protection against "stalkerware" spying programs that the company is rolling out across all its antivirus products.
Read our full Kaspersky Anti-Virus review.
(Image credit: Bitdefender)
(opens in new tab)
If you want some extra features with one of the best Windows 10 antivirus programs, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus offers a lot for its low pricing, which ranges from $40 per year for a single PC to $80 for 10 machines.
There's an unlimited password manager (Windows-only for now), a secure browser with an onscreen keyboard for online banking and shopping, a file shredder and new web-privacy software.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus also has a VPN service, but it's limited to 200MB per day unless you pay extra. And of course, there are no parental controls. However, the program is easy to use, its malware-detection record nearly matches Kaspersky's and it also rolls back ransomware and guards against fileless malware and rootkits.
Read our full Bitdefender Antivirus Plus review.
(Image credit: NortonLifeLock)
(opens in new tab)
Norton sells nine different antivirus packages, but we'll focus on the two cheapest here. Norton AntiVirus Plus protects one PC or Mac for a rather pricey $60 per year, but it does come with a two-way firewall, an unlimited password manager, backup software and 2GB of online storage.
The next rung up, Norton 360 Standard, puts you in internet-security-suite territory by adding an unlimited VPN, webcam protection, dark-web scans for your personal information and 10GB of online storage. But at $85 per year for a single PC, it might a bit rich for some customers. Other brands cover up to 10 PCs for that price.
On the upside, Norton's track record at finding and defeating malware is second only to Kaspersky's. If you don't mind paying a premium price for an entry-level antivirus package, or if you were planning to pay for a VPN or password manager separately, you could do a lot worse.
Read our full Norton AntiVirus Plus review.
(Image credit: ESET)
Compared to other best Windows 10 antivirus programs, ESET NOD32 Antivirus is like a street-racing hot rod — light, cheap, fast and effective, but with few extra frills.
It's got the smallest drag on system performance of any paid antivirus product we've seen, it zaps malware with the best of them, and it's got a unique per-device pricing structure than ensures you pay no more than you need to.
ESET's extra features are under the hood. It scans a PC's start-up sector, running memory and Registry for hidden malware and also blocks known malicious websites. But if you're looking for user-friendly goodies like a password manager, VPN or firewall, you'd better look elsewhere.
Read our full ESET NOD32 Antivirus review.
(Image credit: McAfee)
(opens in new tab)
McAfee AntiVirus Plus is a bargain among the best Windows 10 antivirus programs if you have a lot of computers and smartphones to protect. For $60 per year, you can cover up to 10 devices running Windows, Mac, Android or iOS, and McAfee doesn't mind if you add a few more.
Windows users get a file shredder, ransomware rollback, a firewall and protective browser extensions. McAfee AntiVirus, without the "Plus," delivers the same features to a single Windows PC for $40 per year.
McAfee's malware protection hasn't always been the best in lab tests, but it's improved a lot in the past year. The only big downsides today are very heavy system slowdown during active malware scans, plus the fact that you can't stop threat-data collection from your PC if you choose not to have it.
Read our full McAfee AntiVirus Plus review.
(Image credit: Trend Micro)
(opens in new tab)
Trend Micro does very well in some lab tests, but its Antivirus+ Security package is even more Spartan than ESET's among the best Windows 10 antivirus programs. For $40 per year for one PC, you get a gaming mode, a secure web browser for online banking, ransomware rollback and an email screener to guard against phishing attempts.
The downsides are that you'll see a pretty heavy system slowdown during scans, so make sure to run them during off hours. You may also get a lot of false positives, or benign items flagged as suspicious, which may indicate that Trend Micro's malware-detection engine is a bit overtuned.
Read our full Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security review.
How to choose the best Windows 10 antivirus for you
As is the case with other types of software, you need to choose Windows 10 antivirus programs according to both your needs and budget. The best bang for your buck is Bitdefender Antivirus Plus as it’s fairly inexpensive and has an unlimited password manager, a file shredder and its own secure browser.
If you have more money to spend and only a single PC to protect, you might want to consider Norton AntiVirus Plus or Norton 360 Standard. Both give you access to an unlimited password manager and Standard adds an unlimited VPN and dark web personal information monitoring.
If you have Macs and Android devices to cover in addition to Windows 10 machines, McAfee AntiVirus Plus can meet your needs at a bargain rate – $60 covers 10 devices. However, McAfee’s malware defenses are not quite as good as those of Norton, Bitdefender or Kaspersky.
To get the best Mac antivirus software or the best Android antivirus apps as part of a bundle, you've often got to upgrade to midrange antivirus software, if not the premium tiers.
Of course, if all you want to do is keep your PCs free from malware, then Kaspersky Anti-Virus is the best choice. It doesn’t do much besides block malware, phishing emails and dodgy websites, but it does these things better than the rest.
How we test the best Windows 10 antivirus programs
We evaluated each Windows 10 antivirus program based on its interface, performance, protection and extra features.
Was the program intuitive and user-friendly? Did malware scans badly slow system performance? Was it effective at detecting and removing malware? Did the program come with any useful additional tools?
Our tests were performed on a Lenovo ThinkPad T470 (opens in new tab) with a 2.5GHz Core i5-7200U processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solid-state storage containing 43.3GB of files.
To gauge each program's impact on system performance, we used our custom Excel test, which measures how long a PC takes to match 20,000 names and addresses on a spreadsheet. The longer the task takes, the heavier the system impact.
For malware-detection performance, we referred to the results of tests conducted by three independent labs: AV-TEST (opens in new tab) in Germany, AV-Comparatives (opens in new tab) in Austria and SE Labs (opens in new tab) in England.
Each lab periodically subjects major antivirus programs to stress tests involving thousands of pieces of malware, including hundreds of "zero-day" samples that the software has to learn to recognize.
For even more information, check out our guide on how we test antivirus software and apps.
Does Windows 10 Need or Come With Antivirus in 2022?
It’s no secret that Windows PCs come with their own form of antivirus software called Windows Defender or Microsoft Defender Antivirus. However, many people wonder if Windows Defender alone is sufficient to protect against viruses, malware, and the like. Is Windows Defender enough? Kaspersky is the Top Antivirus for Windows 10 View Plans
Does Windows 10 Come With Antivirus? We’ll get straight to the point: yes, Windows 10 PCs come with antivirus software called Windows Defender. But you may be wondering, “Do I still need antivirus?” To find out, let’s take a closer look at Windows Defender itself. Windows Defender / Microsoft Defender Antivirus Windows Defender, also called Microsoft Defender Antivirus, provides real-time protection against: Malware
Spyware
Viruses Windows Defender scans a user’s email, internet browser, cloud, and apps for the above cyberthreats. However, Windows Defender lacks endpoint protection and response, as well as automated investigation and remediation, so more antivirus software is necessary. That can come in the form of either Microsoft’s Defender for Endpoint or another third-party antivirus software for Windows. How to Turn Windows Defender On and Off Turn Windows Defender on: In the Start Menu, search for “group policy”. Click Edit Group Policy. Click Computer Configuration. Click Administrative Templates. Choose Windows Components. Click on Windows Defender Antivirus. At the bottom of the screen, select Turn Off Windows Defender Antivirus. Select Disabled / Not Configured. Click Apply, then OK. 1 We know these instructions sound like turning Windows Defender off rather than on, but trust us, as this information is coming straight from Microsoft (aka the horse’s mouth). Turn Windows Defender off: To turn Windows Defender off, here are the steps: Click Start. Click Settings. Click on Update & Security. Click on Windows Security. Click on Virus & Threat Protection. Select the Manage Settings option. Click on Virus & Threat Protection Settings. Switch Real-Time Protection off. FYI: When you turn off Windows Defender, scheduled scans will still run, but files you download or install won’t be scanned until the next scheduled scan. How to Check Status Icons Just like a traffic light, Microsoft shows status icons that indicate safety levels. Here’s what they mean: Green: The PC is protected and Microsoft has no recommended actions. Yellow: There is a safety recommendation. Red: Something needs immediate attention. How to Scan for Malware If you’re set with Windows Defender, here’s how to scan for malware. Manually If you want to scan for malware in a specific file or folder: Go to File Explorer. Right-click on the item. Select Scan With Microsoft Defender. Windows Security Quick scan: In the Start Menu, click Settings. Click on Update & Security. Select Windows Security. Click on Virus & Threat Protection. Select Current Threats. Select Quick Scan/ Threat History. Hit the Scan Now button.
Advanced scan: In the Start Menu, click Settings. Click on Update & Security. Click on Windows Security. Click on Virus & Threat Protection. Click on Current Threats. Choose Scan Options / Threat History. Run a New Advanced Scan. Choose one of the following: Full scan : This scan checks all of the files and programs running on your PC. Custom scan : Custom scans only scan specific folders or files. Microsoft Defender Offline scan : Only use this scan if you think your PC has been infected by malware or viruses. Click Scan Now.
How to Schedule Scans Scheduling scans automatically means more protection for your PC and less work for you. Click on the Start Menu. Search for “schedule tasks”. Select the Task Scheduler. In the left pane, click the arrow next to the Task Scheduler Library. Click Microsoft. Click Windows. Select the Windows Defender Folder. In the top right pane, select Windows Defender Scheduled Scans. Select Properties. A window will appear — select Triggers. Click New. Set a time and frequency for your scheduled scans. Click OK. Review what you selected. Click OK again. Scans will happen automatically (if you choose to go with Windows Defender, that is).
Windows Defender vs. Third-Party Antivirus In digital security, redundancy is a good thing. And while Windows Defender provides built-in antivirus protection for Windows 10 PCs, it has its limits. The Limits of Windows Defender: Myths and Facts Many articles online say that Windows Defender performs poorly, slowing down computers while giving false positives. Well, we’ve investigated these claims to see how well Windows Defender really works. Myths False Positives A false positive is any file or process that an antivirus detects as malicious but isn’t a threat. False positives aren’t exclusive to Windows Defender; they can occur with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or any other antivirus program. And it’s true that Microsoft may not have the information in their database to determine if a so-called threat is safe or not.2 However, 2020 results from AV-Test of Defender Antivirus version 4.18 show that the software had no false positives, unlike the industry average.3 So, while false positives may have been a negative of Windows Defender in the past, Microsoft has cleaned them up significantly. Testing Number of samples Industry average November AV-Test results December AV-Test results False warnings / blockages when visiting websites 500 0 0 0 False detections of legitimate software as malware during system scans 1,322,783 3 0 0 False warnings about certain actions performed when installing and using legitimate software 77 0 0 0 False blockages of certain actions performed when installing and using legitimate software 77 1 0 0 Performance Another common criticism of Windows Defender is that it slows down PCs significantly. But again, AV-Test’s data on Defender Antivirus’ average influence on computer speed in daily usage show that the software slows down standard PCs less than the industry average. That’s also true of high-end PCs, for the most part. The one exception was the speed of downloading popular apps, which was 14 percent slower with Defender Antivirus than the industry average. Still, in general, Defender Antivirus is faster than the industry average, so that myth is busted as well. Move aside, Snopes! Testing Scope Industry average Standard PC Industry average High-end PC Slowdowns when launching popular websites 50 websites 15% 6% 11% 5% Slowdowns when downloading frequently used applications 20 files 2% 2% 2% 16% Slowdowns when launching standard software applications 12 test cases 12% 7% 9% 6% Slowdowns when installing frequently used applications 20 installed applications 28% 26% 23% 19% Slowdowns when copying files, locally and in a network 9,874 files 6% 1% 10% 1% Facts These are the real limitations of Windows Defender: Lack of endpoint protection and response
No automated investigation and remediation Again, to supplement Windows Defender, you can pair it with Defender for Endpoint. Of course, there’s also the redundant option of using another antivirus software from a third party, which we recommend for the most safety possible.
Other Antivirus Software for Windows We’ve tested out a number of antivirus options and found the best antivirus software for Windows. But what will they cost you? Free vs. Paid Antivirus Sure, there are several free antivirus software options available, but they typically have limits, such as these: They may not be compatible with Windows 10 PCs.
They may not have firewalls.
They often limit the number of devices you can connect. While free antivirus software may work for a single device, you want to protect all of your devices against viruses, so you’ll probably want to invest in a paid subscription. Sorry, Charlie! Pro Tip: We found that the best free antivirus software for PCs is Kaspersky Antivirus. It also includes a VPN of up to 200 MB per day, a password manager that stores the credentials of 15 accounts, and data collection blocking. What to Look for in Windows Antivirus Software Not sure where to start? Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re shopping for a great Windows antivirus: Windows 10 compatible software : To state the obvious, make sure the software is compatible with Windows 10, as not all options are.
: To state the obvious, make sure the software is compatible with Windows 10, as not all options are. High ratings in Windows Store : The app should have a rating of four stars or higher in the Windows/Microsoft Store, ideally.
: The app should have a rating of four stars or higher in the Windows/Microsoft Store, ideally. On-demand and on-access scans : The software should scan for malware whenever you ask for it as well as automatically in the background.
: The software should scan for malware whenever you ask for it as well as automatically in the background. Firewalls : Firewalls offer protection against an entire network, not just a single device.
: Firewalls offer protection against an entire network, not just a single device. Behavior-based detection : The software should be able to detect malware even if it’s not in its database by scanning for suspicious behaviors rather than signatures.
: The software should be able to detect malware even if it’s not in its database by scanning for suspicious behaviors rather than signatures. Solid privacy policies : Obviously, antivirus software scans all of the files on your PC and more, so it’s important that the company is keeping this data safe from data breaches; otherwise, you could be at risk of identity theft. Make sure the data is encrypted with AES-256 and isn’t shared with third parties for marketing or advertising purposes.
: Obviously, antivirus software scans all of the files on your PC and more, so it’s important that the company is keeping this data safe from data breaches; otherwise, you could be at risk of identity theft. Make sure the data is encrypted with AES-256 and isn’t shared with third parties for marketing or advertising purposes. Clean history : Between data breaches and class-action lawsuits, companies like Norton, Kaspersky, and AVG have pasts that don’t exactly spark trust. Research not only your antivirus software, but also the company behind it. Of course, you may decide that an antivirus software like Kaspersky may still be worth it, despite its past, but it’s important to get the whole picture.
: Between data breaches and class-action lawsuits, companies like Norton, Kaspersky, and AVG have pasts that don’t exactly spark trust. Research not only your antivirus software, but also the company behind it. Of course, you may decide that an antivirus software like Kaspersky may still be worth it, despite its past, but it’s important to get the whole picture. Effectiveness : How effective is the antivirus software at detecting viruses and malware? You can use our virus test data and the malware detection data from AV-Test to find out.
: How effective is the antivirus software at detecting viruses and malware? You can use our virus test data and the malware detection data from AV-Test to find out. Affordability : Antivirus software is certainly more expensive than VPNs, unfortunately. According to our study on the personal antivirus market, most people using antivirus software for personal use spend around $40 a year. No wonder it’s a $1.8 billion industry in the U.S. alone! Learn more about the costs of antivirus software.
: Antivirus software is certainly more expensive than VPNs, unfortunately. According to our study on the personal antivirus market, most people using antivirus software for personal use spend around $40 a year. No wonder it’s a $1.8 billion industry in the U.S. alone! Learn more about the costs of antivirus software. Contract lengths : Another contrast to VPNs is that most antivirus software contracts start at a year, while VPNs typically have monthly options. However, you can save money by signing up for even longer, as some companies offer two- or three-year contracts as well.
: Another contrast to VPNs is that most antivirus software contracts start at a year, while VPNs typically have monthly options. However, you can save money by signing up for even longer, as some companies offer two- or three-year contracts as well. Number of devices covered : Find out not just how much a subscription costs, but also how many devices it covers. Aside from iPhones and iPads, all devices need antivirus software, so count them up!
: Find out not just how much a subscription costs, but also how many devices it covers. Aside from iPhones and iPads, all devices need antivirus software, so count them up! Customer support: Finally, check out the company’s customer support systems. See how you can contact support, and read customer reviews to get an idea of how effective the support system really is.
Best Practices for Security on Windows Installing third-party antivirus software onto your Windows 10 isn’t enough to protect your computer on its own. We have a few other recommendations: Avoid phishing . If a link looks unfamiliar, don’t click on it; the same goes for messages, emails, and attachments, as they may be attempts at phishing.
. If a link looks unfamiliar, don’t click on it; the same goes for messages, emails, and attachments, as they may be attempts at phishing. Back up regularly . In case your PC crashes, always back up your files onto either a cloud server or an external hard drive that is both encrypted and password-protected. Test your password with our secure password checker while you’re at it!
. In case your PC crashes, always back up your files onto either a cloud server or an external hard drive that is both encrypted and password-protected. Test your password with our secure password checker while you’re at it! Don’t use administrator accounts . System administrators who access their emails and the internet using administrative accounts make themselves vulnerable to hacking, phishing, malware, and account takeovers. 4
. System administrators who access their emails and the internet using administrative accounts make themselves vulnerable to hacking, phishing, malware, and Update software . Always perform software updates as soon as possible, despite how long and annoying they might be.
. Always perform software updates as soon as possible, despite how long and annoying they might be. Use a dedicated browser for Flash/Java. Flash and Java are known to have vulnerabilities, so if you run any websites that use them, we recommend doing so in a separate and dedicated browser.
More Windows Security Features Windows didn’t stop their built-in digital security protection at Windows Defender. A few other tools are built into all Windows 10 PCs, such as these: Windows Hello: Instead of using a regular old password, you can log in to accounts using multifactor authentication, such as biometrics like fingerprint or facial recognition. Of course, you’ll still be able to use a PIN as backup, but Windows Hello makes logging in to accounts three times faster than traditional passwords. What will you do with all your saved time? We’re going to take up knitting!
Ask a Parent: Keeping kids safe online is no easy task, from installing parental controls to child-proofing laptops. Fortunately for Windows users, parental controls are built into the Windows 10 PCs. Parents can set limits on screen time and require permission for the purchases of games, movies, or apps. No random transactions showing up in your bank account? Sounds good to us!
Find My Device: Lastly, if you lose your Windows device, Find My Device will help you locate it, whether it’s a PC, a laptop, a Surface, or a Surface Pen.
Recap We’ve thrown a lot of information your way, but the bottom line is that, although Windows 10 is effective in terms of performance, it lacks some key features, like endpoint protection and remediation. In digital security, redundancy is key, so we recommend installing third-party antivirus software. But if you have other devices aside from your Windows 10, read more about whether Chromebooks need antivirus, whether iPads need antivirus, and how antivirus works in general.
