"Windows Defender is malware protection that is included with and built into Windows 8," the company explains. "This software helps identify and remove viruses, spyware, and other malicious software."
In fact, according to Microsoft, if you're using Windows Defender you shouldn't use other antivirus software. "If you install two different kinds of antivirus software, they might conflict," notes a product page. "If you want to use antivirus software from another provider, uninstall Windows Defender first."
Now this is not to say that a computer protected by either Windows Defender or built-in Mac security measures is free from risk. Far from it. Enterprise users, for example, should definitely spend money ensuring their cybersecurity game is on point. However, for noncommercial users the state of affairs is vastly different from earlier times when you pretty much needed paid virus-scanning software in order to safely operate online.
Users looking for extra protection can instead get decent stuff for free, but it's a tricky proposition.
One such free offer is Kaspersky Free, the makers of which claim "automatically blocks dangerous downloads – and automatically warns you about malicious websites." That software, which, interestingly, The new York times reports is in the process of being booted from U.S. government computers over alleged (and denied) ties to the Russian government, has received high scores from security professionals according to PC Magazine. That's just one example of many.
So why do people still pay for this stuff? Many may feel like they need to, which is a position that benefits the manufacturers of such software. Others find it pre-installed on their computers, and then fork over the cash because they don't know any better.
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