Are security software subscriptions a waste of money?

Most people have their favourite anti-virus provider and are happy to purchase software subscriptions, while others will tell you that Windows Defender is all you need to protect your software.  So, what’s the best way to go?

Like most things, there are pros and cons to all of them.  Windows Defender has improved over the years and is good at blocking malware, so some people find they’re happy to use it as their sole security option and it does what they need it to do.  It’s generally a good all-round provider to protect your PC from viruses and spyware, however it won’t necessarily protect you from threats that can come in other guises.   

Subscription providers do offer much more than just the basics.  For example, they can keep an eye on what is being typed into a web browser and you can receive warnings or block certain pages when sensitive information is being entered.  Some allow the owner to lock or erase important information remotely should the computer device be stolen, while other common tools include locking apps, credit card storage, secure shopping, password management, etc.      

At the end of the day, it’s personal preference and some people may prefer to pay for peace of mind, as well as having the flexibility of having additional security tools that they can choose to use or not.