Does Anyone Else Only Run Windows Defender?

I recently purchased a Dell laptop, and did a fresh wipe/reinstall of Windows 10 Home. I also installed Sandboxie, which I use for any/all internet browsing (never go online without my browser sandboxed anymore).

Normally, my last step would be to install a 3rd party anti-virus with firewall (like BitDefender or the like). But I'm wanting to keep this laptop running fast, and not bog it down (since it's not as powerful/fast as my desktop).

Is the stock Windows Defender pretty good for this? Do people find it suits their needs security wise, without having to go elsewhere these days?

 

If you're trying to keep your laptop running fast, I would not install any other AV.
Windows Defender should be good enough.
I also like to use an on-demand standalone scanner, the Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool.
https://support.kaspersky.com/kvrt2020/howto

 

Windows Defender has greatly improved and it is now better than some of the 3rd party AV's. I only run windows defender and never had any problems.

 

I used the NoScript add-on for 4 years but never saw any improvement. I also used BitDefender for 3 years with the same results. So I uninstalled both of them and just use Windows Defender.

 

Good advice! I also use Malwarebytes for on-demand scanning, so with sandboxie and Windows Defender, sounds like I should be good.

One more quick question:

I do like to keep the "Automatic Cloud Submission" and the "Submit Sample Submissions" buttons toggled off, because I don't like things being automatically sent. I assume that this isn't going to break any of the real-time protection? I keep Windows updated fairly regularly (and automatically), so I assume I'm still getting the most recent updates pushed down to me through that right?

 

I'm not familiar with "Automatic Cloud Submission" and "Submit Sample Submissions".

The only thing I keep on "automatic" is Windows Update. When it comes, I close whatever I'm doing and let it do its thing. I also download Firefox and T-bird updates when they come but I don't let them install automatically (gotta keep some semblance of control, right )?

Windows 10 has been reliable for me. When it does hiccup it's prolly due to something I did that I shouldn't have. If I get a newer system I'm just gonna leave it alone and forget trying to stay "proactive". Gettin' too old for that.

Just keep letting MS update when it wants to and you should be okay.