// BUYER’S GUIDE
How to choose antivirus & online protection
There are dozens of security products all claiming to be the best. Here’s a plain-English guide to what actually matters — and what’s a waste of money — so you can choose with confidence.
- ● Plain English
- ● What actually matters
- ● No scare tactics
// WHAT GOOD PROTECTION INCLUDES
Look for these, ignore the rest
Real-time malware protection
Stops viruses, ransomware and spyware as they try to land — the core job of any security product.
Web & scam-site blocking
Warns you off dangerous and fake websites before they can do harm.
Email & phishing filtering
Catches dodgy links and attachments — where most attacks actually start.
A VPN (sometimes)
Useful on public Wi-Fi for private browsing. Handy, but not essential for everyone.
Free vs paid — what’s the difference?
Windows comes with Microsoft Defender built in, and for a careful user it’s a decent baseline. Paid products add stronger web and scam protection, better support, and bring everything into one place. For most people — especially anyone who banks, shops or emails a lot — a good paid product is worth it for the extra layers and peace of mind.
Do I need a VPN?
A VPN keeps your browsing private, which is genuinely useful on public Wi-Fi in cafes, hotels and airports. At home on your own connection it matters less. Some security bundles include one, which is a nice bonus.
What we recommend — and why
As a Malwarebytes Partner we supply, set up and manage Malwarebytes Premium with VPN — award-winning protection against malware, ransomware and scam sites, with a private VPN built in. The real value isn’t just the software, though: it’s having it set up properly, kept updated, and a real person to ask ‘is this safe?’ The independent experts at Which? and the UK’s NCSC have good independent guidance too.
Avoid these traps
- Scary pop-ups claiming you’re ‘infected’ — those are usually the scam (see Spot the Scam).
- Paying for several overlapping products — one good suite is plenty.
- Free tools from names you don’t recognise — stick to reputable brands.
- Forgetting that software is only one layer — strong passwords, 2FA and backups matter just as much.
// GOOD QUESTIONS
Frequently asked
Is Windows Defender enough on its own?
For a careful, well-updated user it’s a reasonable baseline. A good paid product adds stronger scam-site and phishing protection and brings everything together — worth it for most people, especially if you bank and shop online.
Do I really need to pay for antivirus?
Not always, but paid protection adds layers that matter — and the real value is having it set up and managed properly so it actually protects you.
Will antivirus slow my computer down?
Modern security is light on resources. If a computer feels slow, it’s more often clutter or age — try our fault checker.
Can you sort all this out for me?
Yes — we supply and manage Malwarebytes Premium and layered cybersecurity, all kept updated and looked after.
Let us handle your protection
Award-winning protection, set up and managed by your local team — with a real person to ask whenever you’re unsure.
01202 775566 · help@365techies.co.uk · MON–FRI 9AM–5PM