I Ran Every Antivirus At Once

Summary

In this video, the creator explores whether running multiple antivirus programs improves PC security or just slows things down. By testing two systems, one with Microsoft Defender and the other loaded with 14 antivirus tools, they compare performance and boot times. Despite running 14 antivirus programs, the system becomes sluggish, especially in tasks like gaming, USB scanning, and opening programs. The key takeaway is that more antivirus software does not always equate to better security. Instead, choosing one reliable tool for real-time protection is the most effective approach.

Takeaways

• 😀 More is not always better when it comes to antivirus software. Running too many can actually harm your system's performance.
• 💻 Even modern PCs with strong specs can struggle when overloaded with multiple antivirus programs running at once.
• ⏱️ Running 14 antivirus programs at the same time significantly increases boot times and system latency.
• ⚡ Antivirus programs can cause noticeable slowdowns even when idle, as they constantly monitor system activities in the background.
• 🔒 Microsoft Defender, built into Windows, is effective enough for most users and should not be discounted as a solution.
• 🔍 The history of antivirus software has evolved from signature-based detection to cloud-based and heuristic methods that monitor behaviors.
• 💡 The consolidation in the antivirus industry, with companies like Norton owning several brands, reflects the changing market demands.
• 🛡️ Third-party antivirus tools can offer additional security, but may not be necessary if Microsoft Defender is sufficient for most personal users.
• 📊 Gaming performance can still be good even with antivirus running, especially if the GPU is the primary bottleneck, but system resources can still be affected.
• 🚨 Antivirus software can effectively block known threats, but it may not always prevent all types of malware, showing that no tool is perfect.

Q & A

Why did the presenter test running multiple antivirus programs on a PC?

The presenter wanted to explore if running multiple antivirus programs would improve security or if it would lead to significant performance issues. The idea was to test if more antivirus software would create a safer PC.

What are the main differences between the two systems in the experiment?

One system was running only Microsoft's built-in antivirus (Microsoft Defender), while the other had 14 different antivirus programs installed, making it heavily burdened with multiple security layers.

What performance issues were observed when running multiple antivirus programs?

Running multiple antivirus programs led to slower system performance, particularly with boot times, program launches, and file explorer interactions. The system with multiple antiviruses had a much higher CPU usage and slower response times compared to the system running just Microsoft Defender.

What was the impact of having 14 antivirus programs running on the system?

Having 14 antivirus programs running simultaneously caused the system to struggle significantly. It became extremely slow, with delays in launching programs like Steam, and caused a noticeable slowdown in gaming performance due to high CPU and RAM usage.

Did the system with multiple antivirus programs show any improvement in security?

While the system with 14 antivirus programs detected and blocked threats during the testing phase, it became clear that the excessive software caused more harm than good in terms of performance without offering significant additional security benefits.

What is the historical context behind antivirus software evolution mentioned in the video?

Antivirus software evolved from using simple signature-based detection of known viruses in the 1980s to adopting heuristic methods and cloud-based detection in the '90s, as malware rapidly expanded and became more sophisticated, often outpacing traditional signature updates.

What is the significance of cloud-based antivirus software?

Cloud-based antivirus software, introduced in the late 2000s, combines heuristic detection with real-time updates from online databases to provide faster and more dynamic protection against malware. It helps detect unknown threats by analyzing suspicious behaviors and accessing updated threat information continuously.

Why did Microsoft Defender become a significant player in the antivirus market?

Microsoft Defender gained importance due to its integration into Windows 8 and later versions, offering built-in, reliable antivirus protection for free. Over time, it has evolved into a strong security tool, reducing the need for third-party antivirus solutions for many users.

What is Threat Locker, and how is it different from traditional antivirus software?

Threat Locker is a security solution that uses a 'zero trust' approach, blocking everything by default and only allowing approved applications to run. Unlike traditional antivirus software, it doesn't rely on signature databases or intensive system resources, focusing instead on application allow-listing and behavior monitoring.

What was the final conclusion regarding the effectiveness of using multiple antivirus programs?

The conclusion was clear: using multiple antivirus programs is not better for system security or performance. It causes significant system slowdowns without providing additional security benefits. It's better to use one reliable antivirus tool and run additional scans as needed.