In a recent experiment that has ignited discussions among cybersecurity experts, a writer from MakeUseOf decided to uninstall all third-party antivirus programs from his Windows PC. The outcome was surprising: the system not only performed better but also appeared to be more secure. This revelation, published on November 23, 2025, highlights the effectiveness of Microsoft’s built-in Windows Defender, which resulted in fewer false positives, improved performance, and no noticeable decline in protection. Such findings challenge the .25 billion antivirus industry, as reported by Impulsec, raising critical questions about the necessity and value of paid antivirus software.
Windows Defender’s Quiet Evolution
The author’s journey began with frustration over resource-intensive antivirus suites like Norton and McAfee, which frequently flagged benign files and slowed down boot times. Upon removing these programs, Windows Defender—previously considered a lightweight option—demonstrated its capabilities. Independent tests support this shift; PCMag’s 2025 review of antivirus utilities ranked Defender as a top performer in real-world protection, while AV-TEST results from recent cycles showcased perfect scores of 6/6 in protection, performance, and usability.
Microsoft has invested heavily in enhancing Defender, evolving it from a basic scanner into a sophisticated AI-driven security solution. Posts on X from Microsoft Threat Intelligence emphasize its consistent high marks, including 100% protection in 14 of 16 AV-TEST real-world tests since 2018, with trends continuing into 2025. Despite this, a report from Security.org indicates that 121 million Americans still choose third-party tools, although 17 million more are considering adopting antivirus solutions—despite the free and always-on nature of Defender.
Performance Drain of Legacy AV Suites
The experiment revealed stark contrasts between third-party antivirus solutions and Windows Defender. While third-party programs generated endless alerts for legitimate downloads, Defender remained quiet unless a genuine threat was detected. Performance benchmarks indicated a significant improvement, with boot times decreasing by 20-30% after the uninstallation. User sentiments echoed this experience on X, where one commenter noted, “Windows Defender is free and does a great job,” in response to a TechRadar discussion.
Third-party antivirus software often conflicts with Windows’ native security framework, leading to excessive resource consumption. CNET’s 2025 testing found that even leading competitors could not match Defender’s seamless integration. The MakeUseOf author tracked CPU and RAM usage, observing idle consumption drop from 15-20% with third-party antivirus active to under 5% with Defender alone.
Industry insiders attribute Defender’s efficiency to its cloud-based behavioral analysis, which scans in real-time without burdening local resources. An AllAboutCookies survey of 1,000 Americans revealed that 75% believe antivirus software keeps them safe, yet many report experiencing slowdowns—issues absent in the MakeUseOf experiment. Discussions on X further highlight user experiences, with some sharing stories of disappearing icons due to overzealous Defender updates, though such instances are rare compared to the widespread issues associated with full antivirus suites.
Risks of Going Bare-Bones
While the experiment presents a compelling case for relying on Windows Defender, not all experts advocate for abandoning paid antivirus solutions entirely. Although Defender excels in controlled environments, real-world scenarios involving zero-day vulnerabilities may expose potential weaknesses. Cybernews warns that evolving cyber threats necessitate layered defenses, yet the MakeUseOf article notes that the author experienced zero malware infections over a year of heavy use, attributing this safety to Defender’s tamper-proof design and the enhanced security features of Windows 11, such as Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) and Hypervisor Code Integrity (HVCI).
Recent posts from researchers like vx-underground on X delve into Defender’s signature capabilities, revealing sophisticated evasion challenges that underscore its robustness. PCMag acknowledges Defender’s perfect scores, but notes that third-party solutions often excel in additional features like VPNs or parental controls.
Market Shakeup Ahead
The antivirus market, valued in the billions, may be on the brink of disruption as operating system developers like Microsoft and Apple integrate advanced protection directly into their platforms. Impulsec’s 2025 statistics indicate growth in the industry, yet consumer feedback suggests a growing fatigue with paid solutions: why spend annually when free alternatives can match or exceed their performance? The viral nature of the MakeUseOf story, widely shared on X, prompts industry insiders to reconsider the viability of a ‘Defender-only’ approach.
Microsoft’s data, highlighted on X, reinforces the longevity of Defender’s performance, with top scores from AV-Comparatives and SE Labs persisting over time. However, vulnerabilities such as CVE-2025-33073, detailed by Synacktiv at BSides Munich 2025, serve as a reminder that no security solution is infallible. For everyday users, the experiment suggests that sometimes, less can indeed be more.
Enterprise Implications and User Realities
In corporate environments, policies often mandate the use of third-party antivirus solutions, yet small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) may mirror the individual success observed in the experiment. Data from Security.org shows Norton leading among paid options, while McAfee remains popular in the free category—but Defender is emerging as a dark horse. Discussions on X from cybersecurity professionals, such as John Hammond, highlight occasional glitches, like the shortcut deletions caused by 2023’s signature updates, which were quickly resolved.
As Windows 10 support comes to an end in 2025, according to NeuShield, legacy risks are expected to rise. Nevertheless, Defender on Windows 11 is fortified with AI capabilities. The MakeUseOf thesis advocates for trusting the operating system giant that users have already invested in through their licenses.
