Home Computer Security in 2026 - What Actually Matters?

A practical guide for ordinary home users

Several people have asked me to write a few words about antivirus software, firewalls, and improving computer security in general. This article is aimed at home users and focuses on Windows, macOS and Linux computers rather than business environments or mobile devices.

You still occasionally hear people ask: “Have you bought antivirus software for your computer yet?”

That question reflects a security model from twenty years ago.

Modern computer security is no longer about buying an antivirus package. Antivirus software and firewalls are still important, but today they are only small pieces of a much larger picture.

Real security consists of multiple layers working together, including:

• Regular backups

• Keeping software up to date

• Strong passwords & A password manager

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

• Browser security

• Sensible online behavior

• Disk encryption

• Limited administrator privileges

• Antivirus protection as the final safety net

Think of antivirus software as your last line of defense rather than your first.

Do You Need to Buy Antivirus Software?

For almost everyone, the answer is no.

If you’re running a supported version of Windows 10 or Windows 11, Microsoft Defender (which includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus and Windows Firewall) provides excellent protection for everyday home use.

Similarly:

• macOS includes built-in security technologies such as XProtect, Gatekeeper, Notarisation and a software firewall.

• Linux distributions generally include firewall capabilities and benefit from a fundamentally different security model, although security still depends on proper system maintenance.

For the vast majority of home users, there is no need to pay an annual subscription for a third-party “Internet Security Suite.”

If you’re paying every year for antivirus software simply because someone told you that Windows is “unsafe without it”, you’re probably paying for something you don’t actually need.

Modern operating systems already include effective protection.

Security Is Like an Onion

Good security is built in layers. Imagine an onion. Each layer adds another obstacle for an attacker. Antivirus software is simply the thin outer skin. The inner layers - backups, software updates, browser security, strong passwords and user awareness - are significantly more important. 

The goal isn’t to make attacks impossible. The goal is to make attacking your computer so difficult that criminals simply move on to someone else’s.

Antivirus Is Reactive

One of the biggest misconceptions is believing that antivirus software prevents attacks. In reality, antivirus software is mostly reactive. It attempts to detect and remove malicious software after something has already gone wrong. Think of spilling milk on the kitchen floor. Antivirus software is the cloth you use to wipe it up afterwards. Real security is preventing the milk from being spilled in the first place.

• You buy a sturdy fridge.

• The shelves don’t collapse.

• The bottle has a proper cap.

• You don’t wave an open carton around the kitchen.

Preventing problems is almost always better than cleaning them up afterwards.

Windows vs macOS

People often ask whether Macs can get viruses. Yes, they absolutely can. No operating system is immune. However, macOS is generally targeted less frequently than Windows, partly because it has a smaller desktop market share and partly because of its security architecture and Apple’s tight control over both hardware and software. That doesn’t mean Mac users can ignore security. Good security habits matter just as much on a Mac as they do on Windows.

Owning the safest car in the world doesn’t guarantee you’ll never have an accident. The driver still needs to stay alert and make sensible decisions. Exactly the same principle applies to computers.

Be Careful with Third-Party Antivirus Software

This may be a controversial opinion, but I’d avoid most third-party antivirus products unless you have a specific reason to use one. In particular, I’d avoid installing “free” antivirus software simply because it’s free.

Many free security products make their money by displaying advertisements, collecting telemetry, bundling additional software or constantly trying to upsell premium subscriptions. Some have even been criticized over the years for questionable privacy practices. Ironically, software that’s supposed to improve your security can sometimes become part of the problem.

Today’s Microsoft Defender performs extremely well in independent security tests and integrates cleanly with Windows without slowing the system down or covering it with pop-ups.

Don’t Buy Security Through Fear

One thing that has always annoyed me is fear-based selling. If you’ve ever bought a laptop, tablet or phone from a retailer or mobile operator, you’ve probably seen something like this: “Would you like to add our Security Package?”

If you decline, the wording sometimes makes it sound as though you’re choosing to expose your computer to viruses. That’s simply not how modern operating systems work. Salespeople are doing their job, they’re selling products. Unfortunately, security software is often one of the easiest add-ons to sell because fear is a powerful marketing tool.

If You Really Want Extra Protection

If you genuinely want another layer of protection on Windows, Malwarebytes Premium is one of the few products I’d recommend. It works well alongside Microsoft Defender and provides additional protection against various types of malware. If you already suspect your computer is infected, the free version of Malwarebytes is also an excellent malware scanner and cleaner. That said, don’t install security tools “just in case.” Every additional program increases complexity. Install software because you actually need it, not because it sounds reassuring.

Leave a Healthy Computer Alone

This is probably the single most important piece of advice in this entire article. If your computer works properly…

Leave it alone.

Don’t spend hours trying to “optimize” Windows because a YouTube video promised 15% more performance. Don’t install registry cleaners. Don’t install miracle optimization tools. Don’t disable random Windows services because someone on the internet told you to.

In my experience, these “optimizations” cause far more problems than they solve - and those problems often appear weeks or months later, making them difficult to trace back to the original cause.

If your computer is healthy, resist the temptation to fix what isn’t broken.

In the next section we’ll move on to what is, in my opinion, the single most important layer of modern computer security:

Layer 1: Backups - The Foundation of Everything

Everything else comes second.

If you only remember one thing from this entire article, let it be this: Backups are more important than antivirus software.

That may sound surprising, but it’s true. No security product can guarantee that your computer will never be infected with malware, fall victim to ransomware, suffer hardware failure, be stolen, or simply stop working one day. A good backup, however, can recover from almost all of those situations. Think of backups as home insurance. Most people hope they’ll never need it, and many never will. But when disaster strikes, you’ll be incredibly grateful you had it.

Ask Yourself One Simple Question

Imagine that your computer suddenly became unusable. Perhaps the SSD failed. Maybe ransomware encrypted every file. Or perhaps your house suffered a fire, flood or burglary while you were away. Would you be able to recover everything that actually matters? Your family photos? Your videos? Important documents? If you’re not completely sure, your backup strategy probably needs some work.

Backups Should Be Automatic

One of the biggest mistakes people make is creating backups manually. The intention is good “I’ll remember to back everything up next weekend.” Then life gets busy. Weeks become months. Before long, the backup is already hopelessly out of date. The best backup is the one you don’t have to think about. Automate it whenever possible.

The 3-2-1 Rule

Security professionals often recommend the 3-2-1 backup rule, and for good reason. Keep:

• 3 copies of your important data

• on 2 different types of storage

• with 1 copy stored off-site

For example:

• the original files on your computer

• an external hard drive at home

• a cloud backup

If your computer dies, you’re covered. If your external drive fails, you’re covered. If your house burns down, you’re still covered. You don’t necessarily need an expensive enterprise backup solution, just avoid keeping all your eggs in one basket.

Cloud Storage Is the Easiest Solution for Most People

For the average home user, cloud storage is by far the easiest and most practical backup solution. Technically it’s not a real backup though.

Services such as:

• Microsoft OneDrive
• Google Drive
• Apple iCloud Drive

can automatically synchronize your important files to secure data centers around the world. Documents, photos, school work and personal files are ideal candidates. Cloud storage also makes it much easier to replace a computer. Simply sign in on the new machine, and your files reappear.

But Cloud Sync Isn’t Always a Backup

This is an important distinction. Services like OneDrive, Google Drive and iCloud primarily synchronize files between devices. That isn’t exactly the same thing as a traditional backup. If you accidentally delete a file, many cloud services allow you to recover it from the recycle bin or version history, but only for a limited period.

Likewise, if ransomware encrypts your local files, those encrypted files may also synchronize to the cloud. Fortunately, modern cloud services include features such as version history and deleted file recovery, which significantly improve your chances of recovering your data. Still, they shouldn’t be considered a complete replacement for a proper backup strategy.

What If You Have Terabytes of Data?

Cloud storage is fantastic for documents and photos. Video editing, however, is a different story. If you’re working with several terabytes of video footage, cloud storage can quickly become expensive and may require a very fast internet connection. In those situations, external hard drives remain an excellent solution. Personally, I use large external hard drives to back up my video projects whenever I’ve finished editing for the day. It’s inexpensive, simple and reliable.

Don’t Trust a Single External Drive

This is a mistake I’ve seen far too many times. Someone buys one external USB hard drive and moves all their precious photos onto it. Years later, the drive fails. Everything is gone. Hard drives fail. SSDs fail. USB enclosures fail. Nothing lasts forever. An external drive should be one copy of your data - not the only copy.

Keep One Backup Somewhere Else

Imagine your house catches fire. Or you’re burgled. Or lightning destroys everything connected to the mains. If both your computer and backup drive are sitting next to each other, you’ve lost everything. Always try to keep one backup somewhere else.

That could be:

• cloud storage
• another building
• a trusted family member’s house
• or another secure location.

Personally, I keep one external backup drive in a separate building. It’s a simple and inexpensive solution that protects against many worst-case scenarios.

Dedicated Cloud Backup Services

If you need to protect an entire computer, including large amounts of data, dedicated cloud backup services are worth considering.

Two of the best-known options are:

• Backblaze
• IDrive

Unlike normal cloud storage, these services are designed specifically for backups. Backblaze is particularly attractive because it offers unlimited backup storage for a single computer. Personally, I’d much rather pay for a reliable backup service than a third-party antivirus subscription.

NAS Devices

For enthusiasts, a NAS (Network Attached Storage) can be an excellent investment. A NAS allows multiple computers to back up to a central location and can also provide media streaming, file sharing and many other services. Some NAS systems can even replicate themselves securely over the internet to another NAS installed at a friend or relative’s house. This creates an automatic off-site backup without relying on a commercial cloud provider. It’s more expensive to setup and requires some technical knowledge, but it’s a fantastic solution if you’re willing to invest the time.

Mac Users: Use Time Machine

If you own a Mac, enable Time Machine. Seriously. It’s one of the best backup systems Apple has ever created. Time Machine automatically creates incremental backups of your entire Mac, making it remarkably easy to recover deleted files, or even restore the entire computer. When you buy a new Mac, Time Machine can restore almost everything exactly as it was, including your applications, settings and documents. However, remember that Time Machine is usually a local backup. If both your Mac and the Time Machine drive are destroyed in the same incident, you’ll lose both. Ideally, combine Time Machine with iCloud Drive or another off-site backup.

Disk Images

Sometimes you don’t just want your files back, you want your entire computer back exactly as it was. That’s where disk imaging comes in. A disk image is a complete snapshot of your entire drive. If your SSD dies tomorrow, you can replace it and restore everything:

• Windows or macOS
• applications
• settings
• drivers
• personal files

Everything returns to exactly the same state as when the image was created. It’s essentially a giant “undo” button for your computer.

Test Your Backups

A backup you can’t restore isn’t a backup. It’s just a collection of files that hopefully works. Every now and then, try restoring a few files. If you’re using imaging software, make sure you understand how the recovery process works before disaster strikes. The worst possible time to learn how your backup software works is after your computer has already failed.

File Backup or Full-System Backup?

There’s no single correct answer. For many people, backing up important files to the cloud is perfectly adequate. If the computer breaks, you can reinstall Windows or macOS and download the files again. Others prefer creating full system images so they can restore everything exactly as it was. Neither approach is wrong. In fact, many enthusiasts, including me, use both.

Final Thoughts

No antivirus software can guarantee complete protection. No operating system is immune to hardware failure. No SSD lasts forever. Backups are the one security measure that protects you regardless of what went wrong. Hopefully, you’ll never need it. But if you do, you’ll wonder how anyone ever lives without one.

Layer 2: Keep Everything Up to Date

If backups are the foundation of good security, keeping your software up to date is a close second. Every day, security researchers and software vendors discover new vulnerabilities in operating systems and applications. Most of these flaws are quietly fixed through software updates long before the average user ever hears about them.

Cybercriminals, however, pay close attention. Once a vulnerability becomes public, attackers often begin exploiting computers that haven’t yet been patched. Sometimes this happens within hours. The good news is that staying protected is easier than ever. For most home users, the safest approach is also the simplest:

Keep your operating system and applications up to date, and don’t disable automatic updates.

Keep Automatic Updates Enabled

Many people still disable Windows Update because they had a bad experience years ago. That advice is largely outdated. Modern versions of Windows, macOS and most Linux distributions do an excellent job of keeping themselves updated automatically. You can certainly postpone a major feature update for a few weeks or months if you’d like to let others discover any early bugs first, but security updates should be installed as soon as reasonably possible. If your computer is connected to the internet, automatic security updates should almost always remain enabled.

It’s Not Just Windows

One of the biggest misconceptions is that updating Windows is enough. It isn’t.

Your browser…
Your PDF reader…
Your password manager…
Your media player…
Your communication apps…
Your office software…
…all need security updates as well.

Many successful attacks don’t target Windows itself, they target outdated third-party applications. Fortunately, most modern software updates automatically. Still, it’s worth checking every now and then to make sure nothing has been left behind.

Windows Store Updates

If you use Windows, don’t forget the Microsoft Store. Applications installed through the Store are updated separately from Windows itself. Open the Microsoft Store, select Downloads, and click Get updates. It only takes a few seconds and ensures all Store apps remain up to date. I normally check this about once a month.

Winget: One of Windows’ Best Hidden Features

One of the most useful features Microsoft has added to Windows in recent years is Winget. Think of it as Windows’ built-in package manager. Instead of opening every application individually and checking for updates, Winget can update almost everything with a single command.

Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell as Administrator and run:
winget upgrade --all

If you’d first like to see which applications have updates available, run:
winget upgrade

I recommend doing this roughly once a month.
It’s quick, simple and one of the easiest ways to keep your computer secure.

Patch My PC Home Updater

If you prefer a graphical interface, I can highly recommend Patch My PC. I’ve used it for years, both personally and professionally. It scans your installed software, detects outdated applications and updates supported programs automatically. It’s free, lightweight and extremely easy to use. For people who don’t like command lines, this is probably the best solution available for Windows.

macOS and Linux

Apple handles software updates exceptionally well. System updates are installed through System Settings, while applications from the Mac App Store update automatically. Applications installed outside the App Store usually include their own update mechanisms. Advanced users often use Homebrew, which makes updating many third-party applications remarkably easy. There’s also a software called “Mac Updater”. Linux users have enjoyed centralized software updates for decades. Whether you’re using Ubuntu, Fedora, Linux Mint or another distribution, keeping your system updated is usually straightforward through the distribution’s package manager or graphical software centre.

Firmware Matters Too

Applications aren’t the only things that receive updates. Modern hardware contains firmware that occasionally needs updating as well.

Examples include:

• Motherboard BIOS or UEFI
• SSD firmware
• Router firmware
• NAS firmware
• Docking stations
• Some monitors
• Wi-Fi access points

Unlike application updates, firmware updates don’t need to be installed immediately. If everything is working perfectly and an update only adds support for hardware you don’t own, there’s usually no need to rush. However, if the update fixes security vulnerabilities, improves stability or solves problems you’re experiencing, it’s definitely worth installing. When updating a motherboard BIOS, always download the update directly from the motherboard manufacturer’s website and follow their instructions carefully. Avoid beta BIOS versions unless you specifically need a feature or fix they provide.

Don’t Chase Every Driver Update

Driver updates are a little different. Graphics drivers are worth keeping reasonably up to date, especially if you play games. New releases often improve performance, fix graphical glitches and add support for new games. For most other hardware, such as your chipset, audio, network adapter or storage controller, there’s usually no need to update drivers unless:

• you’re experiencing a problem,
• there’s an important security fix,
• or the manufacturer specifically recommends it.

The old saying “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” often applies surprisingly well to drivers.

Eventually, Hardware Becomes Obsolete

Even the best-maintained computer won’t last forever. If your operating system is no longer receiving security updates, it’s time to consider replacing the machine. Running unsupported software means newly discovered security vulnerabilities are no longer being fixed. Windows 10, for example, reached the end of mainstream support in October 2025. While Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) program is available in some scenarios, most home users should be planning to move to Windows 11, or another supported operating system, rather than relying on an unsupported installation. The same principle applies to macOS and Linux distributions. Unsupported software eventually becomes a security risk.

One More Thing…

A surprising number of people postpone updates because they’re worried something might break. Ironically, delaying updates for months often creates a much bigger problem. Installing hundreds of pending updates all at once is more likely to cause issues than installing small updates regularly.

Think of software maintenance like servicing your car. A little maintenance every now and then is much easier, and usually much cheaper, than fixing something after it has failed.

In Summary

Keeping your software updated isn’t exciting. It doesn’t make your computer faster. It doesn’t add flashy new features every week. But it quietly closes security holes before attackers have a chance to exploit them. Along with regular backups, keeping your operating system, applications and firmware up to date is one of the simplest - and most effective - ways to protect your computer.

Layer 3: Use a Password Manager and Multi-Factor Authentication

If I could recommend only one security habit besides keeping backups, this would be it. A good password manager combined with multi-factor authentication (MFA) provides one of the biggest security improvements you can make, yet it only takes a few minutes to set up. It protects you from one of the most common causes of compromised accounts: weak or reused passwords.

Never reuse passwords

Many people still use the same password for multiple websites because it’s easy to remember. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the easiest ways to lose multiple accounts at once. Imagine you use the same password for an online forum, your email account and your online banking. If the forum suffers a data breach and your password becomes public, criminals will immediately try the same email address and password combination on hundreds of other popular websites. This is known as credential stuffing, and it is one of the most common forms of account compromise today.

The solution is simple:

• Every account should have its own unique password.
• Every password should be long and randomly generated.
• You should never need to remember any of them yourself.

That’s exactly what a password manager does.

What is a password manager?

A password manager securely stores all your passwords in an encrypted vault protected by one strong master password. Whenever you create a new account, it can generate a long, completely random password - something like:

Jr9!wM8$ZQvL4x#7nTpR

You never have to memorise it. The password manager remembers it for you and fills it in automatically whenever you log in. This means you can have a different, extremely strong password for every single website without making your life more complicated.

Some people worry that using a password manager will make their digital life more complicated. In reality, the opposite is true. Once everything has been set up properly, it actually makes life far less stressful.

Think about how many times you have clicked “Forgot password?” because you simply could not remember which password you used for a particular website. Or how often you have wasted time trying three or four different passwords before finally getting the right one. Imagine never having to do that again.

A good password manager remembers your passwords for you, fills them in automatically on your trusted devices, and can even generate new, highly secure passwords whenever you create a new account. Instead of trying to remember hundreds of different passwords, you only need to remember one strong master password.

Why this matters

Suppose one website gets hacked and your password is leaked. If every account uses the same password, attackers now have access to everything. If every account has a unique password, the damage is limited to that one website. That’s the difference between changing one password and spending weeks trying to recover your digital life.

One more thing: don’t try to outsmart attackers by making only small variations to your passwords or by following your own “clever” pattern. Passwords such as Summer2026!, Summer2027!, MyDog123!, or Password-Netflix, Password-Gmail, Password-Facebook are not considered unique or secure.

Unfortunately, these kinds of patterns are extremely common, and cybercriminals know them all. Modern password-cracking and credential-stuffing tools are specifically designed to detect predictable variations and human-created patterns. What may feel random to us is often highly predictable to a computer.

That’s why the best approach is also the simplest: let your password manager generate completely random passwords (or random passphrases when appropriate) and resist the temptation to invent your own system.

Simply installing a password manager isn’t enough

Unfortunately, simply installing a password manager does not automatically make your accounts more secure.

Most people already have dozens - or even hundreds - of existing online accounts. Those accounts are still protected by your old passwords, which may be weak, reused, or have already appeared in previous data breaches.

To gain the full security benefits of a password manager, you’ll need to update those passwords one by one. It can take a little time, but it’s a task you only have to do once, and it’s well worth the effort.

Think of a password manager as a powerful tool rather than a security solution by itself. It enables you to create and store strong, unique passwords, but you still need to replace your old ones.

Passwords or passphrases?

For most websites, I recommend letting your password manager generate long, completely random passwords. However, most password managers can also generate passphrases - a sequence of random words, such as:

correct-horse-battery-staple

or

Purple5-River1-Coffee9-Planet-Window9

Passphrases are generally easier to read and type correctly than long strings of random characters, while still providing excellent security when they contain enough random words.

In most situations, you won’t need to type your password manually anyway. Your password manager can usually autofill login details in your browser or apps, or you can simply copy and paste the password.

However, there are occasions when manual entry is unavoidable. A good example is setting up a brand-new computer or smartphone, before your password manager has been installed or synchronised. In situations like these, a passphrase is often much more convenient than a completely random string of letters, numbers and symbols.

For that reason, I generally recommend using random passwords for most accounts, but considering passphrases for particularly important accounts that you may occasionally need to type by hand, such as your password manager itself or your primary device ID account.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Even strong passwords aren’t perfect. That’s why you should enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever it’s available. With MFA, signing in requires two things:

• Something you know (your password)
• Something you have (usually your phone or a hardware security key)

Even if somebody somehow learns your password, they still cannot access your account without the second factor. Whenever possible, prefer:

1. Hardware security keys (such as YubiKey)
2. Authenticator apps (Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator, Authy, etc.)
3. SMS codes (better than nothing, but less secure)

SMS-based authentication is still far better than having no MFA at all, but authentication apps or security keys provide stronger protection.

Which password manager should you choose?

There are many excellent password managers available, including:

• Bitwarden
• 1Password
• Apple Passwords (Apple ecosystem)
• Google Password Manager (Google ecosystem)

Personally, I use Bitwarden, and it’s the one I usually recommend.

Why?

• Excellent security reputation
• Open source
• Independently audited
• Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iPhone
• Browser extensions for all major browsers
• Free version includes virtually everything most home users need
• Optional paid plan is inexpensive and adds useful extras

Once you’ve used a good password manager for a week or two, you’ll probably wonder how you ever managed without one.

Don’t forget your recovery options

Your password manager becomes one of your most important digital assets. Protect it carefully.

I strongly recommend that you:

• Choose a strong, memorable master password.
• Enable multi-factor authentication on your password manager.
• Store your recovery codes somewhere safe, such as a printed copy in a secure location or another trusted backup.
• Ensure a trusted family member knows how to access your passwords in an emergency, if appropriate.

Losing access to your password manager can be just as problematic as having your accounts compromised.

The bottom line

A password manager and multi-factor authentication dramatically improve your online security with very little effort. Instead of trying to remember dozens of passwords, you only need to remember one. Instead of worrying about data breaches, you can simply change the password for the affected account and move on. In my opinion, after regular backups and keeping your devices up to date, this is the single most valuable investment you can make in your personal cybersecurity.

Layer 4: Choose Your Browser Wisely

Your web browser is probably the application you use more than any other. It’s where you read the news, shop online, access your bank, log into social media, manage your email and, increasingly, where you do your work.

In other words, your browser has become your primary gateway to the internet.

For that reason alone, choosing the right browser is one of the easiest ways to improve both your security and your privacy.

Not all browsers are created equal

Modern browsers are generally very secure. Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Brave and Safari all receive regular security updates and are vastly safer than browsers from ten or fifteen years ago.

However, security is only part of the story.

Privacy, built-in protections, tracker blocking, phishing protection and advertising all play an important role in your overall online safety.

My recommendation: Brave

For most Windows users, my first recommendation is Brave.

Brave is based on Chromium, the same browser engine used by Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, which means websites work exactly as you would expect, and nearly all Chrome extensions are compatible.

Where Brave differs is its default configuration.

Out of the box it includes:

• Built-in ad blocking
• Tracker blocking
• Third-party cookie blocking
• Fingerprinting protection
• HTTPS upgrades where possible
• Protection against many malicious advertising networks

Most of these features are enabled automatically without requiring any configuration.

This means you spend less time installing browser extensions and tweaking settings, while enjoying a noticeably cleaner, faster browsing experience.

A small caveat

No software is perfect, and Brave is no exception.

Over the past few years, Brave has gradually accumulated a number of additional features and services that many users simply don’t need. Some of these are enabled by default and can make the browser feel unnecessarily cluttered.

Fortunately, there’s an easy fix.

If you’re using Windows, Chris Titus Tech’s Windows Utility includes an excellent Brave Debloat option that disables or removes most of the unnecessary extras with just a few clicks. It’s a quick and convenient way to streamline the browser without affecting its core functionality.

I also recommend spending a few minutes reviewing Brave’s settings manually. There are several options that can be adjusted to improve privacy, reduce distractions and simplify the overall browsing experience.

The result is a cleaner, lighter browser that stays focused on what it does best: browsing the web quickly, securely and with minimal tracking.

Why ad blocking improves security

Many people think ad blockers exist only to remove annoying advertisements.

That’s certainly one benefit, but from a security perspective, they’re arguably even more valuable.

Online advertising is one of the most common ways cybercriminals distribute scams and malware.

Search engine advertisements are a good example. Criminals regularly purchase sponsored search results that impersonate legitimate companies. Someone searching for software may accidentally click a fake advertisement instead of the official website and end up downloading malware or entering passwords into a convincing phishing page.

An ad blocker prevents many of these advertisements from loading in the first place.

It isn’t a guarantee that you’ll never encounter a malicious website, but it removes an entire category of risk before you even have a chance to click on it.

What about Microsoft Edge?

Microsoft Edge is actually a very capable browser.

Its security is excellent, it integrates well with Windows, and Microsoft’s SmartScreen protection is among the best phishing and malicious download protection systems available.

If you prefer Edge, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with using it.

However, I would still recommend installing a reputable content blocker, such as uBlock Origin Lite (for browsers that support Manifest V3 extensions), to reduce advertising, tracking and malicious sponsored content.

What about Google Chrome?

Chrome is still one of the most secure browsers available. However, my hesitation isn’t about security, it’s about privacy.

Google’s business is built around advertising, and Chrome naturally integrates into Google’s broader ecosystem. If you’re heavily invested in Google services, that may not concern you.

Personally, though, I prefer browsers that collect as little information as possible while still providing an excellent browsing experience.

For that reason, I no longer recommend Chrome as my first choice.

Firefox deserves credit

Firefox remains an excellent browser and is backed by Mozilla, a non-profit organisation.

It offers strong privacy protections, a highly configurable interface and an independent browser engine that helps maintain competition on the web. If you’re comfortable with it, Firefox is a perfectly sensible choice. For many technically minded users, it’s still a favourite.

Mac users

If you use a Mac, Safari is an excellent option.

Because Apple develops both the browser and the operating system, Safari is exceptionally well optimised for macOS. It generally uses less memory, consumes less battery power and integrates seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem.

Brave is also an excellent choice on macOS, particularly if you use both Windows and Mac and want the same browsing experience on every device.

Browser extensions: less is more

Browser extensions can be incredibly useful, but every extension also becomes part of your browser’s trusted environment.

Only install extensions that you genuinely need, and only from reputable developers.

A browser with twenty extensions is often less secure than one with just one or two carefully chosen ones.

Personally, I keep things simple.

For Brave, I usually install just one additional extension:

• AdBlock (primarily for its excellent cookie consent blocking and a few extra filtering features)

Some people may wonder why I’d install another ad blocker when Brave already includes one.

The answer is simple: Brave’s built-in protection is already excellent, but I find that combining it with a well-configured extension provides an even cleaner browsing experience and blocks some annoyances that Brave occasionally allows through.

If you’re happy with Brave’s built-in Shields, though, you may not need anything else.

Recommended browser extensions

Regardless of which browser you use, there are a few extensions that I can genuinely recommend. These are available for all major Chromium-based browsers, and most are also available for Safari.

• Bitwarden – A secure password manager that can automatically fill in your usernames, passwords, and passkeys. In my opinion, this is one of the most valuable browser extensions you can install.
• Malwarebytes Browser Guard – Provides an additional layer of protection by blocking known malicious websites, phishing pages, scams, trackers, and unwanted advertisements.
• AdBlock (the original AdBlock by getadblock.com) – While Brave already includes excellent built-in ad and tracker blocking, the original AdBlock extension offers a few useful extras, such as better handling of cookie consent banners and additional filtering options. Safari users, in particular, may also benefit from installing it.

These three extensions complement each other well without adding unnecessary complexity. Together, they improve security, privacy, and everyday usability while requiring virtually no maintenance once installed.

Keep your browser up to date

Whichever browser you choose, make sure it stays updated. Browser vulnerabilities are discovered and patched constantly, and modern browsers usually update themselves automatically. Don’t disable automatic updates.

The bottom line

The “perfect” browser doesn’t exist.

However, choosing a browser with strong built-in privacy protections, keeping it updated and avoiding unnecessary extensions will significantly improve your overall security.

For most Windows users, I currently recommend Brave.

For Mac users, Safari or Brave are both excellent choices.

Whichever browser you use, remember this:

A secure browser can’t protect you from every scam, but it can remove many of the traps before you ever see them.

Layer 5: Use a VPN When It Actually Makes Sense

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is one of the most misunderstood security tools. Some people believe everyone should use one all the time, while others think they’re completely pointless. The truth, as usual, lies somewhere in the middle.

A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the VPN provider’s servers. This prevents people on the same network, such as users on public Wi-Fi, or your Internet Service Provider (ISP) from easily seeing the websites you visit or the data you transmit. It also hides your public IP address from the websites you access, replacing it with the VPN provider’s IP address.

Years ago, VPNs were considerably more important because much of the web was still unencrypted. Today, almost every major website uses HTTPS encryption by default. That means your connection to websites such as your bank, Google, Microsoft, or Amazon is already encrypted, even without a VPN.

For most people browsing the web from home, a VPN is therefore not an essential security requirement.

However, VPNs are still very useful in certain situations.

When should you use a VPN?

• Regularly use public Wi-Fi networks in hotels, airports, cafés or similar locations.

• Want to prevent your ISP from seeing which websites you visit.

• Value additional privacy from advertisers and online tracking.

• Need to access services that are only available in another country.

• Travel frequently.

• Work remotely and your employer doesn’t already provide a corporate VPN.

• When you do something online that needs a bit of covering up

If none of these apply to you, you can safely skip it.

A VPN doesn’t replace HTTPS

• HTTPS protects the connection between you and the website.

• A VPN protects the connection between you and the VPN provider.

There are trade-offs

• Slightly higher latency.

• Lower download or upload speeds.

• Websites occasionally asking you to complete CAPTCHAs.

• Some streaming services refusing to work from certain VPN servers.

• Certain public or corporate networks blocking VPN connections altogether.

My recommendation

A VPN does not make you anonymous.

It will not stop you from downloading malware, clicking phishing links, entering your password into fake websites, or falling victim to online scams. Many VPN advertisements dramatically exaggerate what these services can actually protect against.

A VPN is one layer in your overall security strategy, not a replacement for good judgement, software updates, backups, strong passwords or multi-factor authentication.

If you decide to pay for a VPN, choose a provider with a strong reputation for privacy.

Personally, I recommend Mullvad.

Mullvad is my VPN of choice, and for several good reasons. First, it has one of the strongest privacy policies in the industry. You do not need to provide your name, email address, or any other personal information to create an account. Instead, you are identified only by a randomly generated account number.

I also appreciate Mullvad’s refreshingly simple pricing. There are no confusing subscription tiers, long-term contracts, or “50% off if you buy three years in advance” marketing tricks. Every customer pays the same fixed monthly price, regardless of how long they use the service.

Mullvad has built a strong reputation among security professionals, privacy researchers, and ethical hackers. It is independently audited, follows a strict no logging policy, and has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to user privacy.

Another feature I particularly like is its built in DNS based protection, which can block malware, trackers, and advertising domains directly through the VPN service. While it is not a replacement for good browsing habits or browser based content blocking, it adds another useful layer of protection.

Finally, I like Mullvad because it does exactly what a VPN should do. It is simple, transparent, and focused on privacy rather than trying to become an all in one “security suite” filled with unnecessary extras.

If you mainly browse the web from home using a modern browser, keep your computer updated, use a password manager, enable multi-factor authentication and maintain good backups, a VPN is a nice extra, not a necessity.

If, however, you travel frequently, use public Wi-Fi regularly, or simply value an extra layer of privacy, a reputable VPN service such as Mullvad is a worthwhile investment.

Personally, I’d much rather pay a monthly subscription for a trustworthy VPN than for a traditional third-party antivirus suite. In 2026, for most home users, that money is generally much better spent.

Layer 6: Use Common Sense

If I had to choose just one layer from this entire article, this would probably be it.

Modern cybercriminals don’t usually break into computers by exploiting highly sophisticated technical vulnerabilities. More often than not, they simply persuade people to open the door for them. This is known as social engineering, and it has become one of the most successful attack methods because it targets the weakest part of almost every security system: the human being sitting behind the keyboard.

You can have the best antivirus software, a secure browser, a password manager, multi-factor authentication and perfect backups, but none of them can protect you if you voluntarily hand your password to a criminal or approve a fraudulent payment yourself. Technology can reduce risk, but it cannot replace good judgement.

One of the biggest advantages you have over cybercriminals is that they almost always try to create urgency. Whether it’s an email claiming your bank account has been suspended, a text message about a failed parcel delivery or a phone call from someone pretending to be Microsoft support, the goal is usually the same: to stop you thinking and make you react emotionally.

Whenever something online demands immediate action, slow down instead.

Take a step back, read the message again and ask yourself a simple question: Does this actually make sense?

That small pause is remarkably effective. Most scams fall apart the moment you stop reacting emotionally and start thinking logically.

Another good habit is to become naturally sceptical, not cynical, but sceptical. The Internet has made it incredibly easy to impersonate people, companies and organisations. An email can look exactly like it came from Microsoft, Amazon or your bank. A website can be visually identical to the genuine one. Even messages from friends or family should occasionally be questioned, because legitimate accounts are compromised every day.

Rather than blindly trusting links, get into the habit of opening your browser yourself and navigating directly to the company’s official website. If you’re unsure, verify it first. A quick phone call can save hours, or days, of unnecessary trouble.

One of the oldest and still one of the most effective security habits is to verify unexpected requests using a different method of communication.

What does that mean in practice? Imagine you receive a Facebook message from a friend that seems even slightly unusual. Instead of replying to the message itself, send them a text message or give them a quick call and ask whether they really sent it. Likewise, if you receive an email at work that appears to come from your manager but feels even slightly out of character, pick up the phone and call them. Don’t reply to the email, use a completely separate communication channel.

This simple habit is remarkably effective because it defeats many common attacks, including compromised accounts, email spoofing and business email compromise (BEC). Attackers may be able to take over one communication channel, but they are far less likely to control several at the same time. Spending thirty seconds verifying a suspicious request can prevent hours, or even days, of unnecessary trouble.

One of the most common questions people ask is whether they’re likely to become a target. The answer is simple: probably not personally, but that’s missing the point. Most cybercrime today is fully automated. Criminals don’t know who you are, and they usually don’t care. They send millions of phishing emails, create thousands of fake websites and wait for someone, somewhere, to make a mistake. Their goal isn’t to hack you specifically. Their goal is simply to find the easiest victim.

This is actually good news. You don’t need perfect security - you only need to avoid becoming low-hanging fruit.

Finally, remember that cybersecurity isn’t something you configure once and forget forever. Threats evolve constantly, and so should your awareness. You don’t need to spend hours reading security blogs every week, but it’s worth paying attention when banks, technology companies or government agencies warn about new scams. Simply recognising the techniques criminals commonly use will put you well ahead of the average Internet user.

Ultimately, the most effective security tool you’ll ever own isn’t your antivirus software, your VPN or your firewall.

It’s the ability to stop for five seconds before clicking “Continue.”

Layer 7: Network-Level Protection (Firewalls, Pi-hole and DNS Filtering)

Everything we’ve covered so far has focused on protecting an individual computer or user. But what if you could stop certain threats before they even reached any of the devices in your home?

That’s exactly what network-level protection aims to do.

Before we go any further, though, it’s worth making one thing clear: this layer is entirely optional. For the vast majority of home users, the previous six layers already provide excellent protection. You certainly don’t need to build a sophisticated home network to stay safe online.

However, if you enjoy technology, have several devices at home, or simply like the idea of improving your network’s privacy and security, this is an area that’s well worth exploring.

Your router is already your first firewall

Many people don’t realise they already have a hardware firewall.

The router supplied by your Internet Service Provider (or one you’ve purchased yourself) sits between your home network and the Internet. Besides sharing your Internet connection with multiple devices, it almost always performs Network Address Translation (NAT) and includes a basic firewall.

These two features work together to prevent unsolicited connections from the Internet reaching your computers, phones and other devices. In other words, people on the Internet cannot normally connect directly to your devices unless you’ve deliberately configured your router to allow it.

This alone blocks a huge amount of unwanted traffic and automated attacks.

It’s one of the reasons home computers are considerably safer today than they were twenty years ago.

Windows Firewall is already very good

On top of your router, Windows includes Microsoft Defender Firewall, while macOS and most Linux distributions also include built-in firewalls.

For most home users, these built-in firewalls are perfectly adequate and should simply be left enabled.

Personally, I don’t recommend replacing them with third-party firewall software. In my experience, these products often add complexity without providing any meaningful improvement in security.

Consider DNS filtering

One of the simplest ways to improve security across your entire home network is by filtering malicious domains at the DNS level.

Without going too deeply into the technical details, every time you visit a website, your device first asks a DNS server where that website is located.

If the DNS service knows the destination is malicious, it can simply refuse to resolve the address, preventing the connection before it even begins.

This approach has several advantages:

• Known phishing websites can be blocked before they load.
• Many malicious advertising domains never reach your devices.
• Online tracking is significantly reduced.
• Every device on your network benefits automatically.

Perhaps the best part is that it works for devices that can’t normally run browser extensions, such as smart TVs, game consoles and many IoT devices.

The easiest option: Secure DNS providers

The simplest approach doesn’t require buying any hardware or running any additional software.

Instead, you can configure your router to use a DNS provider that blocks known malicious domains.

Examples include:

• AdGuard DNS
• Cloudflare for Families
• Quad9

Most modern routers allow you to change the DNS servers in just a few minutes.

This is probably the best option for most enthusiasts who want a little extra protection without turning networking into a hobby.

Pi-hole: the enthusiast’s option

If you enjoy tinkering with technology, Pi-hole is a fantastic project.

Pi-hole is free, open-source software that runs on a small computer, such as a Raspberry Pi, or almost any spare computer or virtual machine.

Instead of installing an ad blocker on every individual device, Pi-hole filters DNS requests for your entire network.

This means advertisements, trackers and many known malicious domains can be blocked before any device even attempts to contact them.

The result is a cleaner browsing experience, improved privacy and, in many cases, noticeably fewer adverts across your home network.

It’s one of those rare projects that is both genuinely useful and surprisingly satisfying to build.

There are some caveats

No security solution is perfect.

DNS filtering occasionally blocks legitimate websites, particularly if they’re hosted on domains with a poor reputation.

Some services also rely on advertising or tracking domains for functionality, so you may occasionally need to whitelist a website.

If you use a VPN, it may bypass your local DNS filtering entirely, depending on how the VPN is configured.

Finally, remember that Pi-hole and similar systems also require maintenance. Keep the operating system updated, update Pi-hole itself regularly and refresh its block lists from time to time.

Like every other security tool, it’s only effective if it’s maintained.

What about dedicated firewalls?

Some technology enthusiasts go even further by installing dedicated firewall appliances or software such as pfSense, OPNsense or enterprise-grade firewall hardware.

These solutions offer extremely powerful features, including intrusion detection, VPN gateways, network segmentation and detailed traffic analysis.

They’re excellent learning platforms and can significantly improve a home lab or advanced home network.

For the average household, however, they’re usually unnecessary.

They require ongoing maintenance, regular updates and a reasonable understanding of networking. Incorrect configuration can easily make your network less reliable, or even less secure.

My recommendation

For most people, simply using the router they already own, leaving the built-in operating system firewall enabled and following the previous layers in this guide is more than enough.

If you enjoy technology and want to take your home network a step further, start with DNS filtering. Whether you choose AdGuard DNS, Quad9, Cloudflare for Families or a self-hosted Pi-hole, you’ll add another useful layer of protection that benefits every device in your home.

Regardless of which router you use, make sure it is still receiving security updates. This is extremely important. Your router is the first, and arguably the most important, line of defence between your home network and the Internet. If it contains unpatched security vulnerabilities, an attacker may be able to compromise the router itself, putting every device on your network at risk.

Keep your router’s firmware up to date and install security updates whenever they become available. If the manufacturer has stopped providing updates altogether, it’s usually time to replace the router with a newer model. The same advice applies to dedicated firewall appliances, mesh Wi-Fi systems and any other network infrastructure devices. Like computers and smartphones, they are small computers too, and they need to be maintained accordingly.

Layer 8: Encrypt Your Data (BitLocker and FileVault)

For many home users, this layer is optional. However, if you own a laptop that regularly leaves your home, whether it’s for work, university, travelling or simply taking it to your holiday cottage, full disk encryption is something I strongly recommend.

If your desktop PC never leaves your house, the benefits are smaller, although encryption can still be worthwhile depending on how sensitive your data is.

What is full disk encryption?

It protects against much more than theft.

Windows: BitLocker
macOS: FileVault

Full disk encryption protects the contents of your storage drive by encrypting everything stored on it. Without the correct credentials, such as your Windows password, a recovery key or your Mac login, your files remain unreadable, even if someone physically removes the drive from your computer and connects it to another machine.

In other words, if your laptop is stolen, the thief may end up with the hardware, but not your data. That’s a huge difference.

Many people assume encryption is only useful if someone steals their laptop. While that’s certainly one of the biggest benefits, it’s not the only one. Without encryption, an attacker with physical access to your computer can often bypass the operating system entirely by booting from a USB drive or another operating system. From there, they may be able to browse your files, copy personal documents or even manipulate the operating system offline.

Encryption effectively closes that door

Without the correct recovery key or authentication credentials, the drive simply appears as unreadable encrypted data. On Windows, the built-in solution is BitLocker. BitLocker has been part of Windows for many years and is widely used in both businesses and government organisations. It integrates seamlessly with modern hardware, supports TPM (Trusted Platform Module) security chips and, on current computers, usually has only a negligible impact on performance.

On many modern PCs, BitLocker, or the consumer-focused Device Encryption feature, is enabled automatically when you sign in with a Microsoft account. On other systems, particularly those using local accounts or unsupported hardware, you may need to enable it manually. If your edition of Windows doesn’t include BitLocker (for example, some Home editions), Device Encryption may still be available if your hardware supports it.

Apple’s equivalent is FileVault. Like BitLocker, FileVault encrypts your entire startup disk using strong encryption and integrates directly into macOS. On modern Macs with Apple silicon, FileVault is particularly seamless and has very little effect on everyday performance. If you’re a Mac user, enabling FileVault is generally an easy recommendation - especially for laptops. 

Don’t lose the recovery key

This is by far the most important part: When you enable BitLocker or FileVault, you’ll be given a recovery key.

This key is your emergency backup if you ever forget your password or your computer asks for recovery after a hardware change or firmware update. If you lose both your password and the recovery key, your data is effectively gone. No antivirus company, no computer shop and not even Microsoft or Apple can recover it for you.

Store your recovery key somewhere safe

Personally, I recommend saving it in your password manager and, if possible, keeping an additional offline copy in a secure location. Encryption is extremely mature technology today, but there are still a few things to keep in mind. First, if your motherboard fails or you make significant hardware changes, Windows may occasionally ask for the BitLocker recovery key during startup. This is perfectly normal and is designed to protect your data.

Second, if you update your computer’s BIOS or UEFI firmware, BitLocker may also request the recovery key afterwards. Many motherboard manufacturers recommend temporarily suspending BitLocker before performing a firmware update and allowing Windows to resume protection afterwards.

Finally, while modern processors include hardware acceleration for encryption and the performance impact is usually negligible, there can still be a very small reduction in performance during certain storage-intensive workloads. For most people, the difference is impossible to notice in everyday use.

Are there any downsides? Should everyone enable it?

For laptops, my answer is generally yes.

People lose laptops every day, in cafés, airports, trains, hotels and even from parked cars. Encryption ensures that losing the device doesn’t also mean losing your personal information.

Desktop computers are a little different

If your computer never leaves your home, is used only for gaming and doesn’t contain sensitive information, full disk encryption is less critical. In that case, you might reasonably decide that convenience is more important. Personally, I don’t enable BitLocker on every desktop computer I build. For dedicated gaming PCs that stay at home, I often leave it disabled to keep recovery procedures as simple as possible. For laptops, however, I almost always recommend enabling BitLocker or FileVault.

Ultimately, it comes down to one simple question:

If your computer disappeared tomorrow, would you be more concerned about losing the hardware - or the data stored on it?

For most people, the answer is obvious. The hardware can be replaced.

Layer 9: Consider Using a Standard User Account

This is one of those security recommendations that has existed for decades, yet surprisingly few people follow it.

Microsoft has recommended using Windows as a standard user rather than an administrator since the Windows NT era. The problem is that most home computers are set up with the first account automatically becoming an administrator, and very few people ever change that.

For many users this isn’t a major issue, but if you want to add another meaningful layer of security, it’s well worth considering.

Why administrator accounts are riskier

An administrator account has permission to make system-wide changes. It can install software, modify security settings, change system files and affect every user on the computer. The downside is obvious. If you can do those things, so can any malicious software that you accidentally allow to run with administrator privileges.

Using a standard user account dramatically reduces that risk.

Malware running under a standard account is generally much more restricted. It can still cause damage to files that belong to that user, but it has a much harder time modifying Windows itself, installing system-wide services or compromising the entire computer.

The principle is simple:

Only use administrator privileges when you actually need them.

How Windows handles this

Fortunately, Windows already supports this model very well. You can create a separate administrator account and use your everyday account as a standard user. Whenever you install software or make a system-level change, Windows simply asks for the administrator password. This takes only a few extra seconds but creates another barrier that malware has to overcome.

It’s also surprisingly effective at preventing accidental changes. We’ve all clicked the wrong button from time to time, and having Windows pause to ask for administrator credentials provides a valuable moment to stop and think.

It’s not just about malware

Running as a standard user also helps protect you from yourself. Everyone makes mistakes. Perhaps you download the wrong utility. Perhaps you follow outdated advice from a random YouTube video. Perhaps you accidentally run an unfamiliar script without fully understanding what it does. If you’re already using an administrator account, Windows has far fewer opportunities to stop you.

A standard account introduces an extra checkpoint before potentially dangerous changes are made. Think of it as adding another locked door inside your house.

macOS and Linux already encourage this

Interestingly, macOS and most Linux distributions already follow this philosophy by default. Even if your account has administrative privileges, the operating system doesn’t silently allow system changes. Instead, you’re prompted to authenticate using your password, Touch ID, Face ID (where available) or another authentication method before privileged operations can proceed.

Windows can behave in much the same way when you separate your administrator account from your everyday account.

Is this practical for everyone?

Probably not. If you’re the only person using your gaming PC and you regularly install new software, drivers or hardware, constantly entering administrator credentials may simply become annoying. For many enthusiasts, the extra convenience outweighs the additional security.

On the other hand, if your computer is primarily used for web browsing, email, online banking and everyday productivity, the benefits are much more compelling. It’s also an excellent idea for family computers, children’s accounts and anyone who isn’t particularly interested in computers.

My recommendation

This is another layer where security and convenience need to be balanced.

If you’re comfortable managing Windows accounts and don’t mind entering an administrator password when necessary, switching your everyday account to a standard user account is a worthwhile improvement. If not, don’t lose sleep over it.

There is, however, one important downside that should be mentioned. Unfortunately, not all Windows software has been designed particularly well. Some applications, especially older enterprise software or very large codebases with a long history, still assume that they are running with administrator privileges. As a result, they may not function correctly, or sometimes even at all, when run under a standard user account.

This is largely a consequence of history. For many years, Windows users routinely operated with administrator privileges, and although Microsoft has encouraged developers to follow the principle of least privilege for decades, not every application has caught up. Even today, some software still expects elevated permissions for tasks that should not require them.

Whether running as a standard user is practical therefore depends on the software you use. For many home users it works perfectly well, while others may occasionally run into compatibility issues. Fortunately, there is little risk in trying it. If you discover that an application you genuinely need refuses to work correctly, you can always reverse the change and restore administrator rights.

Think of this layer as additional hardening, not an essential requirement.

As with every layer in this guide, it’s about making life slightly more difficult for attackers while keeping your own computer as easy as possible to use.

Layer 10: Antivirus and the Operating System Firewall

This brings us back to where we started: antivirus software and firewalls.

Yes, they are still important. They should absolutely be present on your computer. However, they are no longer the foundation of good security. They are simply one layer in a much larger security strategy.

If you have followed the recommendations in this article, you are already in a much stronger position than someone who relies solely on an expensive “Internet Security Suite.” Your files are backed up, your operating system and applications are fully patched, every account has a unique password stored in a password manager, multi factor authentication protects your most important services, your browser blocks many malicious websites before they even load, and you stop to think before clicking suspicious links. All of these layers work together to prevent attacks long before antivirus software ever becomes relevant.

Modern operating systems already include excellent built in protection. On Windows, Microsoft Defender together with Windows Defender Firewall provides protection that is more than adequate for the vast majority of home users. Independent testing organisations consistently rank Microsoft Defender among the best antivirus products available. For most people there is simply no need to purchase a third party antivirus package.

The same principle applies to macOS. Apple includes several built in security technologies, including XProtect, Gatekeeper, Notarisation, and File Quarantine, together with an integrated firewall. Linux distributions also generally include firewall functionality, and because Linux software is typically installed through trusted package repositories, the overall attack surface is different from that of Windows.

This is why I generally recommend avoiding third party antivirus suites unless you have a very specific reason to install one. Many commercial security packages consume additional system resources, generate unnecessary notifications, install browser extensions you never asked for, and sometimes even introduce compatibility problems. Some products are so intrusive that removing them completely can be surprisingly difficult.

In particular, I would avoid products such as Norton and most free third party antivirus programs. Some free antivirus products make their money by collecting usage data, displaying advertisements, or constantly trying to upsell paid subscriptions. Others install additional software that you never intended to have on your computer. Ironically, software that claims to improve your security can sometimes make your computer less pleasant to use.

If you suspect that your computer has already been infected, the situation is different. In that case, tools such as Malwarebytes can be extremely useful for detecting and removing malware that may have slipped past your primary protection. The free version is perfectly suitable as an on demand scanner. You do not need to leave it installed permanently if you do not want to.

The same philosophy applies to the built in firewall. Leave it enabled. There is rarely any benefit in replacing it with a third party alternative for normal home use. Windows Defender Firewall and the firewall built into macOS are both mature, reliable, and well integrated into their respective operating systems.

Ultimately, good security is not about buying the most expensive antivirus subscription. It is about building multiple sensible layers of protection that complement each other. Antivirus software is simply the final backup plan if everything else has already failed.

The goal is not to create an unbreakable computer. Such a thing does not exist. The goal is to make attacking your computer difficult enough that criminals simply move on to an easier target. When your security is even slightly better than average, you are no longer the lowest hanging fruit. For most cybercriminals, that is often enough to make them look elsewhere.

Final Thoughts

Security is not a product you buy. It is a collection of sensible habits.

You do not need to become a cybersecurity expert or spend hundreds every year on security software. In fact, the most effective improvements are often completely free.

No computer can ever be made completely secure, but you do not need perfection. By following the recommendations in this guide, you will already be far better protected than most home users.