# What anti-virus is recommended for Acer Nitro-5 on Windows? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 17, 2023, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-is-recommended-for-acer-nitro-5-on-windows/978362 "2023-01-17T18:03:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-is-recommended-for-acer-nitro-5-on-windows/978362/1 "2023-01-17T18:03:14Z")
We have a be computer Chez Pipers. It’s an Acer Nitro-5 gaming laptop running Windows. What anti-virus programme is recommended for it? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-is-recommended-for-acer-nitro-5-on-windows/978362/2 "2023-01-17T18:31:33Z")
I just use the built in Windows AV, and when I set up my friends’ machines, I do the same for them – uninstall any free trial crap and turn on Windows Defender, or whatever it’s called these days. No complaints so far! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-is-recommended-for-acer-nitro-5-on-windows/978362/3 "2023-01-17T18:53:19Z")
I concur with @RitterSport. These days, there’s little reason to run a third-party antivirus. Windows comes with Windows Defender, and it works. And, yes, sometimes a computer may come with some free trial of some paid antivirus. Fortunately, if you uninstall those, Windows Defender will automatically turn itself on. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-is-recommended-for-acer-nitro-5-on-windows/978362/4 "2023-01-17T19:33:39Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > And, yes, sometimes a computer may come with some free trial of some paid antivirus. And be damn careful when installing utilities such as Acrobat PDF Reader, as they often have a pre-filled checkbox to install McAfee or another AV tool. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-is-recommended-for-acer-nitro-5-on-windows/978362/5 "2023-01-17T19:45:07Z")
Thirding (fourthing?) all the advice above. Third-party AV bloatware is sooo last-decade. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-is-recommended-for-acer-nitro-5-on-windows/978362/6 "2023-01-17T19:47:35Z")
Marbellous! Thanks all. Will check to see if Windows Defender is on. And side-bar, if any of you have any thoughts on this problem? > [@Trouble loading G-Mod on Steam](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trouble-loading-g-mod-on-steam/978320): > > We’re trying to load G-Mod on Steam on an Acer (Nitro-5) running Windows, but it never finishes loading. Instead, we get a blue screen with a white circle and two white Xs. Underneath that is the loading bar, which never quite finishes (about 90%), but a tag that says “Finished!” In addition to never finishing, it locks the main window so we can’t use Alt-Tab to move to other apps. ALT-TAB-DEL brings up a little box, but as soon as we move the cursor from the task bar to try to go to Shut off… ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-is-recommended-for-acer-nitro-5-on-windows/978362/7 "2023-01-17T23:00:44Z")
Windows Defender is all you need. Uninstall any antivirus that came with the computer to activate it. It’s on any Windows 11 computer. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-is-recommended-for-acer-nitro-5-on-windows/978362/8 "2023-01-17T23:09:02Z")
Another vote for the native Microsoft tools from an IT pro. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-anti-virus-is-recommended-for-acer-nitro-5-on-windows/978362/9 "2023-01-18T09:09:30Z")
Yes, the built-in Windows Defender is enough. You might consider downloading the free versions of some like MalwareBytes, SuperAntiSpyware, etc. to have them available in case you get infected. Maybe even run them every month or two just in case. But don’t allow them to install something to run all the time – Windows Defender does that, and you don’t want multiple ones running & bogging down your machine.