Is Antivirus Software Necessary in 2024?

Getting antivirus software can be expensive, but unfortunately, most devices don’t have adequate protection. This can leave your devices vulnerable to hackers, so we believe antivirus software is still necessary in 2024. Case in point: In 2023, around 116 million people were impacted by health data breaches.[1]

If this statistic seems scary, keep reading to learn why you still need antivirus software, how it protects you and your loved ones, and whether you can avoid paying high prices by using free antivirus programs.

Is antivirus software necessary?

Antivirus software is necessary even in 2024. When you invest in antivirus software protection, you're ensuring your sensitive information remains private. You can think of it as a shield that surrounds all your critical data.

Most iPhone users don’t have issues with virus attacks, but all other operating systems and smartphones need protection. Many viruses can inflict incredible damage to your devices. Over 6,000 new viruses get created every month.^[2] 

With so many unwanted programs out there, you don’t want to be vulnerable to a cyber attack.

Are computer viruses still a threat?

A computer virus is like an illness to your device. It goes throughout the system, causing destruction everywhere it touches. Many of us use external hard drives or flash drives for storage. A virus can spread to these like a disease spreads throughout the human body. 

There are new viruses and malware released every day. As one fades out, another one takes its place. Another issue with viruses is that they can spread before you even know they're present.

Computer viruses run rampant through programs and files. The instructions for the computer virus get set up in code. The code gets carried throughout the computer when the infected program gets booted or launched.

Some viruses get programmed to infect by certain triggers. These can be specific functions, dates, or other events. Imagine typing along on your keyboard and entering your wedding anniversary or birthday on a form. Once you type the number, your computer freezes and nothing you do fixes the problem. 

The table below illustrates how quickly new viruses present themselves and wreak havoc on any device or operating system.

New malware by operating system in 2021 and 2022

Operating system	New malware in 2022	New malware in 2021
Windows	30.53 million	116.85 million
Android	599,258	3.33 million
macOS	16,809	2,741

Do you need antivirus for Windows?

You need antivirus for Windows if you’re concerned at all about internet security. Although you’ll get Windows Defender when you buy a PC, that might not be enough to protect your data. Windows Defender is a good, basic antivirus that helps keep your information safe, but it lacks important features you could get with another antivirus program.

And if you want to get all the benefits of Windows Defender, you’ll need to use other Microsoft products along with it. For example, Defender doesn’t protect browsers other than Microsoft Edge. It’s also hit or miss with phishing protection, and you won’t get extras like a password manager or a virtual private network (VPN).

The fact is that Windows operating systems are more susceptible to malware than other systems. That could be due to the popularity of the platform. Windows computers got hit with 91% of all ransomware in 2020, according to managed services providers.^[3] 

So we recommend getting reputable, Windows-friendly antivirus software, like Norton or Bitdefender to help protect your data.

Do you need antivirus for macOS?

Some users believe Mac computers are exempt from needing antivirus, but that isn’t the case. If you want to be sure your information stays safe, antivirus is imperative, even for macOS.

Apple does a great job of using tools to improve security on macOS by making it harder to download malware. One type of malware Mac users need to be especially cautious of is phishing emails and scams. 

It’s also a good idea not to make a habit of using public Wi-Fi without an antivirus and VPN to help protect your device. Although Apple stays on top of security, having that extra layer of protection always helps. A good Mac-friendly product that offers phishing protection is CleanMyMac.

Do you need antivirus for Android devices?

Although Google removes malware when it finds it in the Google Play Store, that still leaves a security gap. The malware can sometimes still reach the store, allowing you to download it before it gets removed. Another potential issue is the use of sideloading on your Android device, or the process of installing an app from a source other than the Google Play Store.

If you want to maintain security on your Android device, it’s best to use antivirus software since Google Play Protect may not catch all the malware that comes through. Two antivirus products with Android apps, Bitdefender and AVG, both received perfect scores with third party tester AV-TEST.

Do you need antivirus for iOS devices?

iOS could be the one device that doesn’t need antivirus. Apple has designed iOS in a way that makes it hard for malware to invade the system — especially since iPhones and iPads can only use apps that come from Apple’s App Store. These apps get reviewed and approved before they even enter the App Store.

Your iPhone apps also get sandboxed, which means they’re isolated from your operating system and other apps. That makes the risk of getting a virus on your iPhone extremely low. As long as you don’t plan to jailbreak your phone and bypass Apple’s security, your iOS device likely doesn’t need antivirus protection.

If you opt for extra protection, you should look for an antivirus that alerts you immediately if something isn’t right with your operating system or if it spots a suspicious link or app. We recommend Norton Mobile Security for iOS, which comes with built-in Wi-Fi and device security features.

How does antivirus software protect your device?

Antivirus software works by scanning your computer files and hard drive. It also checks the programs on your computer. As the software runs the scans, it looks for any suspicious behavior.

Antivirus quarantines infected files

If the antivirus software finds malware or viruses present, it will give you the option to remove or quarantine the offensive files. Most antivirus programs will allow you to automate scanning and run manual scans at your preference.

Some antivirus programs block remote access

Some astute hackers know how to gain control of your devices remotely. They create a backdoor into your computer that gives them access without you knowing. Some antivirus applications come with premium features that will block remote access.

Antivirus lets you run apps in a sandbox

There are multiple new apps available for use. Some may look suspicious at first glance. You can get antivirus software that will let you run these apps in a “sandbox” so they won’t affect your other programs and files. The new apps get held away from your other apps until scanned.

Look for antivirus with permanent file deletion

When you buy an antivirus software program, you may want the benefit of permanent file deletion. Many people delete old files that contain sensitive data. Sometimes you might forget that putting a document in the recycle bin does not permanently delete it. That could be detrimental if you decide to sell your device or throw it away. 

How much does antivirus cost?

To get a general idea of the price ranges you might find, we compared four of the most popular antivirus programs. But it’s important to note that antivirus prices change frequently — keep looking and you may even find a special limited-time price.

	TotalAV	McAfee	Bitdefender	AVG
Price range	$29.00–$49.00/yr (first year only)	$29.99–$249.99/yr	Free–$40.99/first yr	Free–$34.99/first yr
Free version
Learn more	Get TotalAV Read TotalAV Review	Get McAfee Read McAfee Review	Get Bitdefender Read Bitdefender Review	Get AVG Read AVG Review

When you’re looking for antivirus software, you want to look for a product with the features that matter most to you. In general, these are the antivirus features we recommend:

• Real-time protection
• Manual and scheduled scans
• Phishing and ransomware protection
• Easy-to-use interface
• Automatic malware definition updates
• Coverage for all your devices

You may want software that has all the fancy bells and whistles, like a password manager and VPN, included. If you travel or use your device on public Wi-Fi, a VPN is worth paying a little extra to maintain secure browsing.

Many reputable antivirus products also offer free trials or money-back guarantees, so you can change your mind if the security suite doesn’t meet your needs.

Is built-in antivirus enough?

Most devices will come with a trial version of antivirus software preloaded. Some of these trials last for a specific time frame and end afterward unless you pay to extend it. Still, the built-in antivirus software that gets pre-installed on your device may not be enough.

Most built-in antivirus software programs offer minimal protection. When you consider how much damage a virus can do, you may want more from your antivirus application.

Preloaded antivirus software may not provide endpoint protection or remediation, which businesses need. If an organization receives a cyber threat, endpoint protection or remediation will contain it. Additionally, you most likely won’t get software that blocks against adware or potentially unwanted programs.

Some free antivirus software also only offers on-demand scanning. That means you essentially must remember to run scans to check for malware or viruses. If you forget, you could have a virus that replicates itself throughout your computer system. 

If you use a device that has Windows 10, it will come equipped with Windows Defender security software, also called Windows Security. 

A newer Mac computer will have the macOS operating system. It comes with XProtect antivirus software built-in. Apple designed this software to run in the background so that the user has nothing extra to do. It scans without you noticing any changes. 

Microsoft Defender Antivirus and Firewall

Microsoft Defender Antivirus claims real-time protection against malware, viruses, and spyware. The software looks for threats in email, apps, cloud storage, and the web. To get endpoint protection for Windows 10, you would need to buy Defender for Endpoint. Also, if you have an older version of Windows, you will not be able to use Windows Defender. 

For new versions of Windows, you will get Windows Defender Antivirus and Windows Defender Firewall pre-installed, but you will have to go through a few steps to enable it.

To assess threats, Microsoft recommends running Defender Vulnerability Management. This program is supposed to protect against data breaches and predict the likelihood of them happening. One of the shortcomings of Windows Defender is that it has some trouble blocking phishing attacks.

macOS XProtect antivirus

XProtect is the built-in antivirus software that Apple designed to run in the background while users work. The problem is that this does not block potentially unwanted programs that can sneak in without the user knowing. XProtect also won’t block adware, so some malware can still get by it and bog down the device.

Is free antivirus still good?

Some people argue that free antivirus software is the way to go because it can work as well as anything else. You should remember that not all antivirus software systems are created the same. Also, depending on your operating system, the one you choose may not work at all. There are specific antivirus software programs designed to work with Windows and some are for macOS only.

We don’t discourage the use of reputable free antivirus software programs. Avast, AVG, and Bitdefender are some of the more popular options. Having more protection is certainly not a bad idea. In addition, free antivirus software can be a foundation for a more premium antivirus program. That alone can make using a free program worthwhile.

Many free antivirus options come with a time window. You can use them for a limited time, usually 30 days. Then, you will need to buy the license or forfeit coverage. Free antivirus options often only protect one device.

Some programs also change your computer’s default functions, which can be annoying to say the least. Many free antivirus software programs will install bloatware you may not want or need. These can contain offers to buy other programs, and ads will pop up at inconvenient times.

FAQs

Bottom line

With so many threats floating around and more malware created every day, you need antivirus software to safeguard all of your devices. You never know when you could make your computer susceptible to the next bit of malware. Internet searches, traveling with your device, and opening emails can pose potential risks. 

If you have children that use any of your devices, getting an antivirus software program is a good decision, as they are often the target of internet scams since children often don’t know much about internet safety. Extra protection may make parents feel more comfortable with their loved ones using devices online.

Check out our website for more on which antivirus software programs could offer the best protection for you.