What antivirus offers best balance for a home office PC with client data?

[EmmaS]

I'm setting up a new home office PC for freelance work and need to choose an antivirus solution that's effective without being overly intrusive or slowing down my system. I've seen mixed reviews about the major brands like Norton, McAfee, and newer options like Bitdefender, and I'm unsure if the premium features are worth the subscription cost for a single user. For those who work from home and handle client data, what antivirus software have you found strikes the best balance between robust protection, system performance, and value, and do you rely on the built-in Windows Defender or invest in a third-party suite?

[MadisonT]

Windows Defender is solid for most freelancers; it's free, lightweight, and built into Windows. If you want extra protection, Malwarebytes Premium is a light add-on for periodic scans.

[Dennis_P]

In my setup as a freelancer on a mid-range PC, I run Defender plus Malwarebytes Premium for background protection and on-demand scans. It doesn't slow down my editing workflow, and I can customize automatic scans to run at off-peak times.

[VioletFD]

If you're handling client data, consider a suite with exploit protection, web filtering, and device control, but avoid heavy features you won't use. Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and ESET are often good balances of performance and strong detection. Try 30-day trials, enable quiet or gaming modes to reduce prompts, and disable extras to preserve speed.

[AddisonLR]

To be fair, some folks avoid third‑party AVs for privacy/telemetry and find Defender sufficient; in that case, layering with strong phishing protection and regular backups helps. But if you frequently deal with sensitive client data, a lightweight third‑party option can still be valuable.

[ElizabethM]

Quick check: what OS are you on and do you need cross‑platform coverage (Mac, mobile) for clients' devices? That can influence the cost/benefit and feature set.

[GaryJ]

Two‑week test plan: compare Defender alone vs Defender plus two different lightweight third‑party options. Measure boot time, app launches, scan times, and disk I/O; track false positives and user prompts; compare total cost. Use a baseline workload similar to your daily tasks to decide which setup feels safest without slowing you down.