Do I Still Need Antivirus in 2026?

Short answer: it depends on who you are. Windows Defender has become genuinely good. But whether that's enough for you specifically depends on your habits, your hardware, and what you have to lose.

Is Windows Defender Enough in 2026? The Honest Answer

Windows Defender has gone from a punchline to a legitimate antivirus. But 'enough' is doing a lot of work in that question. Here's the nuanced answer most sites won't give you.