Is Windows Defender enough?

jimbo45 said:

and when was the last time Azure was hacked

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I would say around six months ago it had its last breach.
CVE-2025-3928

Marie SWE said:

No i see it as a optimistic view we all want.
sadly we almost never get what we want.
I'm in to ethical cyber security and i do use AI to help me generate scripts and code for ethical testing.
The last thing i did was to develop a code to protect a laptop if it gets stolen and booted by someone that dont know how to boot the computer, the drive will be wiped as the laptop contain sensitive data.
But that code with a few modifications can be abused as malware payload to wipe the disk. So i wont share the code because of that.

It is not bad inventions, its always the bad intentions.
just look at nuclear fission.. its green energy zero CO2 emissions.. so what did they do with that invention... the A-bomb...
I dont know why.. but it seems as humanity always end up finding bad things to do with good inventions

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Wow, Marie SWE! Methinks you're the most quoted entity on this thread. Your previous post also made me smile.

Aaah, yes! That youthful optimism! Young love. Likely the main reason I have a girl in university right now thinking she's going to help AI get better. Who am I to disillusion her? It is said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions but does that mean the road to heaven is paved with malware? Never mind, I'll spare you the long winded lecture on moral relativism for the time being. Life's too short for that.

I can only wish I had my own nuclear reactor out on my acreage at the rate these power brokers are gouging me. :::sigh::: Speaking of fission, I'm thinking your code might have something in common with Meltdown but that's a whole different subject and time marches on. If not for the love of money where would we be?

The OP asks if Windows Defender is enough and it begs another question: Enough for what? I would venture that when used correctly it is enough for the average PC user. Would I bank with a financial institution that only used Windows Defender for online security? A: Not likely. What with organizations like EQUIFAX getting hacked (not only once) and all those juicy social security numbers rolling in to appease the appetites of hungry hackers one wonders what is the point in a world of end-to-end encryption when companies like this can't even keep my data safe. But then I remember what a friend of simple means reminded me back in '77: Locks are made to keep honest neighbors honest. Never mind too big to fail, some entities are simply too big to trust.

Personally, I use Kaspersky on my mains. That doesn't mean I don't trust Windows Defender. I simply like the way Kaspersky works with Windows. This hardly makes me a Russian sympathizer but I certainly do enjoy using a VPN that actually works. I marvel at how many phone calls I've been getting lately since I started using this old gaming rig that doesn't have Kaspersky from people who want to tell me what is wrong with my computer. BTW those guys really, really hate Kaspersky. One of them even accused me of being a Russian hacker! Ha! I'm honored. But enough idle chat.

Is Defender enough? The short answer is YES. The question begs a question: Enough for what? Evidently it isn't enough for banking institutions. Obviously it isn't enough for hospitals. TBH I miss my main PC and these phone calls are starting to bore me. I think the scammers who call me are also losing their sense of humor because they keep hanging up on me just when we're starting to have some fun. Here's to hoping the parts I ordered come home soon.

So much for good intentions.

@Scannerman

Well said.

also @Marie SWE

Good comment

The Brits actually in spite of all their problems on that economically and politically embattled piece of real estate off N.W coast of Europe and reviewing the change from difficult transition from Global world power and empire to a "standard decent democratic country" currently have a great saying : " Horses for Courses" -- which seems 100% appropriate for this topic.

Cheers
jimbo

IMO MS Defender is adequate given the use of common sense and a good VPN.

DJNelson said:

IMO MS Defender is adequate given the use of common sense and a good VPN.

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You don't need a VPN for normal Windows usage, A VPN is NOT a security system. !!!

Cheers
jimbo

kelper said:

@Sheikh

I am testing your Windows Optimisation script. A control panel window opens but nothing happens. Was I supposed to do something? I closed it and the script is progressing but my laptop goes to sleep and I have to keep waking it. Could you add a line to turn off sleep?

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Yes, when the script opens control panel, click on "Maintenance" so you can see if maintenance is finished or not.
It's a good idea to prevent sleep! I will add it to the next version.
Just remember this script will change many reg keys and I can't guarantee it.

It's better to send me a private message. this thread is for another topic.

DJNelson said:

IMO MS Defender is adequate given the use of common sense and a good VPN.

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jimbo45 said:

You don't need a VPN for normal Windows usage, A VPN is NOT a security system. !!!

Cheers
jimbo

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I want to add a note to your comments

VPN is security when you using public wifi..... or you poking around where you shouldn't (shady sites)
VPN might also be good if you dont want to leave your fixed public IP on every site.
VPN is not needed for the sentence above if you are behind a Carrier Grade NAT (CG-NAT).. if you dont know if you are, go to a site like ip-tracker.org or another show my ip site.. If you have an IP within 100.64.0.0 - 100.127.255.255 then it is like you are behind a VPN/proxy. You will be a lot of people using the same IP as a VPN/proxy

Always remember that VPN is not pure Security or Privacy.. its just one link in a long chain of steps you need to take to reach the goal of either Privacy or Security.
Or if you want a safe connection between two points

That was all i wanted to add in my tiny note.

DJNelson said:

IMO MS Defender is adequate given the use of common sense and a good VPN.

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The question is, what is a "good" VPN? Which company do you trust to give them your personal data?
Someone can send you a V2Ray configuration and steal sensitive data which are not encrypted.
Some internet securities refer a VPN. they are safer than free VPNs. I also trust Cloudflare WARP.

I had a VPN for a while (Nord) and after about three weeks it was having drastic effects on my internet speeds. Contacted support - they tried all sorts and it was just as bad. So I cancelled before the 30 day free trial period ended.

Hazel123 said:

I had a VPN for a while (Nord) and after about three weeks it was having drastic effects on my internet speeds. Contacted support - they tried all sorts and it was just as bad. So I cancelled before the 30 day free trial period ended.

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Have you ever tried other VPNs on Starlink? (Express / Windscribe / Proton / WARP / ...)

Nope. Don't really need it anyway - but thanks for the suggestion. I originally took it out along with a static ip as wanted a static ip but given up on that idea. No other option for a static ip where I live.

I completely disable and uninstall Defender (RAM Hog). lol I use MBAM, but I don't keep it running constantly.