In a provocative experiment that’s stirring debate among cybersecurity professionals, a MakeUseOf writer uninstalled every third-party antivirus program from his Windows PC, only to find his system performing better and arguably more secure. Published just days ago on November 23, 2025, the article details how relying solely on Microsoft’s built-in Windows Defender led to fewer false positives, snappier performance, and no noticeable drop in protection. This flies in the face of a $4.25 billion antivirus industry, as reported by Impulsec, raising questions about whether consumers are overpaying for redundant software.

The author’s journey began with frustration over resource-hogging antivirus suites like Norton and McAfee, which consistently flagged harmless files and slowed boot times. After removal, Windows Defender—long derided as a lightweight option—stepped up. Independent tests back this up: PCMag’s 2025 review of over two dozen utilities crowned Defender a top performer in real-world protection, while AV-TEST results from recent cycles show it achieving perfect 6/6 scores in protection, performance, and usability.

Windows Defender’s Quiet Evolution

Microsoft has poured billions into Defender, transforming it from a basic scanner into a next-generation AI-driven powerhouse. Posts on X from Microsoft Threat Intelligence highlight its consistent top marks, including 100% protection in 14 of 16 AV-TEST real-world tests through 2018, with trends holding into 2025. A Security.org report notes 121 million Americans still opt for third-party tools, yet 17 million more plan to adopt antivirus soon—despite Defender’s free, always-on presence.

The MakeUseOf experiment revealed stark contrasts: third-party AVs triggered endless alerts for legitimate downloads, while Defender stayed silent unless truly threatened. Performance benchmarks showed boot times dropping by 20-30% post-uninstall, echoing user sentiments on X where one poster quipped, “Windows Defender is free and does a great job,” in response to a TechRadar thread.

Performance Drain of Legacy AV Suites

Third-party antivirus software often conflicts with Windows’ native security stack, leading to bloated resource usage. CNET’s 2025 testing dethroned a top competitor in favor of suites like Bitdefender, but even leaders can’t match Defender’s zero-overhead integration. The MakeUseOf author monitored CPU and RAM: idle usage plummeted from 15-20% with AV active to under 5% with Defender alone.

Industry insiders point to Defender’s cloud-based behavioral analysis, which scans in real-time without local bloat. A AllAboutCookies survey of 1,000 Americans found 75% believe antivirus keeps them safe, yet many report slowdowns—issues absent in the experiment. X discussions amplify this, with users sharing tales of icons vanishing due to overzealous Defender updates, but rare compared to full-suite meltdowns.

Risks of Going Bare-Bones

Not all experts endorse ditching paid AV. While Defender excels in labs, real-world edge cases like zero-days could expose gaps. Cybernews predicts evolving habits, but warns enterprises need layered defenses. The MakeUseOf piece counters: in a year of heavy use, zero malware infections occurred post-uninstall, attributing safety to Defender’s tamper-proof design and Windows 11’s hardened kernel features like VBS and HVCI.

Recent X posts from researchers like vx-underground dissect Defender’s signature world, revealing sophisticated evasion challenges—ironic proof of its robustness. PCMag notes Defender’s perfect scores, but third-parties shine in extras like VPNs or parental controls.

Market Shakeup Ahead

The antivirus market, valued at billions, faces disruption as OS makers like Microsoft and Apple bake in elite protection. Impulsec’s 2025 stats show growth, but consumer reports hint at fatigue: why pay $50/year when free tools match or beat them? MakeUseOf’s viral story, shared widely on X, prompts insiders to reassess—could this spark a ‘Defender-only’ movement?

Microsoft’s own data, touted on X, underscores longevity: top AV-Comparatives and SE Labs scores persist. Yet vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-33073, detailed by Synacktiv at BSides Munich 2025, remind us no solution is flawless. For everyday users, though, the experiment proves: less can be more.

Enterprise Implications and User Realities

In corporate settings, policy mandates third-party AV, but SMBs mirror the individual’s success. Security.org data shows Norton leading paid, McAfee free—but Defender lurks as the sleeper hit. X chatter from pros like John Hammond flags occasional glitches, like 2023’s signature-induced shortcut deletions, swiftly patched.

As Windows 10 support ends in 2025, per NeuShield, legacy risks rise—yet Defender on 11 fortifies with AI. The MakeUseOf thesis: trust the OS giant you’ve already paid for via licenses.