How to keep my system safe without buying a third-party anti-virus?
Premium third-party anti-virus software products are both heavy on the system (i.e. slow down the system) and costly. Furthermore, they are known to interfere with genuine applications. Thus most home users prefer not to install third-party antivirus on their systems.
One good alternative to these products is Microsoft's own free anti-virus Windows Defender. However, it is not sufficient. Read more about the same here: thewindowsclub.com/is-windows-defender-sufficient-enough-windows-10
Another option could be installing these free antivirus software products: thewindowsclub.com/recommended-free-anti-virus-software-for-windows-7
Again, they are not sufficient, but good enough.
If you are not using a paid antivirus, it is strongly advised not to install any suspicious freeware or otherwise any unverified software on the system. They push malware on the system.
Furthermore, create a restore point on your system so you could restore your system in case anything goes wrong.
BT Broadband gives free McAfee Antivirus and its very good. I put it on a new Laptop. You can use it on one more computer/device for free then third computer/device you have to pay.
You can run Benchmark programs to see how performance is affected. For examples, go to the PC Security Channel in Youtube and search it for videos on Defender performance.
Ideally, your computer’s security should have five layers of defense, being;
Network Firewall. This is basically the gatekeeper of your internet connection. Anything online that wants to reach your system has to get through here first.
System Firewall. This is basically the same thing, but it’s on your computer, not your modem.
Updated Software. You know that Java update you keep ignoring? Well, stop ignoring it! Outdated software almost always has lots of holes in it - allowing malware to reach your system without you doing anything.
User Caution. Obviously. Don’t download anything at all you don’t trust, and always have good reason to trust something. In other words - don’t download that free game Facebook told you about.
YOUR ANTIVIRUS. Here we are. The very bottom. Theoretically, nothing should get here, but it always happens anyway. Think you’ll notice malware? You won’t. Well made malware is undetectable to the average user. I’d be willing to bet that anyone who’s been without an antivirus for more than two years has some form of malware.
Ideally, your computer’s security should have five layers of defense, being;
Network Firewall. This is basically the gatekeeper of your internet connection. Anything online that wants to reach your system has to get through here first.
System Firewall. This is basically the same thing, but it’s on your computer, not your modem.
Updated Software. You know that Java update you keep ignoring? Well, stop ignoring it! Outdated software almost always has lots of holes in it - allowing malware to reach your system without you doing anything.
User Caution. Obviously. Don’t download anything at all you don’t trust, and always have good reason to trust something. In other words - don’t download that free game Facebook told you about.
YOUR ANTIVIRUS. Here we are. The very bottom. Theoretically, nothing should get here, but it always happens anyway. Think you’ll notice malware? You won’t. Well made malware is undetectable to the average user. I’d be willing to bet that anyone who’s been without an antivirus for more than two years has some form of malware.