People often ask do I need antivirus because the ground keeps shifting. Operating systems now ship with serious built-in defenses. At the same time, attackers increasingly avoid “classic viruses” and target your identity layer instead. Session tokens. Browser-stored credentials. OAuth approvals you barely remember clicking.

So the honest answer is not a clean yes or no. The right answer depends on how you use each platform and what failure would cost you.

The 2026 threat landscape: why antivirus still comes up

Modern malware rarely announces itself with slow performance and pop-ups. In 2026, the dominant pattern looks quieter and more profitable:

  • Credential theft and session hijacking: Info-stealers grab browser cookies and saved logins. They bypass passwords and sometimes even MFA.
  • Phishing that behaves like product UX: Fake Microsoft or Google prompts run inside convincing flows. Users comply because the screens look routine.
  • SEO poisoning and malvertising: Search results and ads push trojanized installers. The “download” button becomes the payload delivery system.
  • “Living off the land” activity: Attackers abuse legitimate tools already present on devices. That makes detection harder because nothing looks obviously malicious.

Consequently, the question “Do I need antivirus?” really means something more specific: Do I need another detection and containment layer beyond what my OS already provides?

Built-in security in 2026: excellent baselines, incomplete coverage

Windows, macOS, and Android each ship with stronger defaults than they did even a few years ago. They block many commodity threats before you ever see them. That matters.

But built-in security typically optimizes for broad protection with minimal user friction. Third-party security tools often optimize for different goals:

  • More aggressive behavioral detection and web protection
  • Clearer alerts and easier remediation workflows
  • Added protection against phishing, malicious links, and scam pages
  • Coverage for high-risk behaviors like installing unsigned software or sideloading apps

In other words, built-in defenses reduce baseline risk. They do not erase it.

Windows in 2026: is Microsoft Defender enough?

Windows remains the most targeted consumer platform. That does not mean Windows is “weak.” It means attackers follow volume and compatibility.

What Windows already does well

Microsoft Defender has matured into a credible baseline with cloud-backed detection, reputation signals, and tight OS integration. Windows also relies heavily on reputation-based controls that block many fake installers before execution. For most intermediate users with good updating habits, that baseline performs surprisingly well.

If you want an authoritative starting point for how Microsoft and the wider industry evaluate protection, independent labs remain useful trend indicators. AV-TEST tracks consumer protection performance over time: https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows/

AV-Comparatives also runs real-world protection testing focused on drive-by threats and malicious URLs: https://www.av-comparatives.org/

Where Windows users still get burned

Windows users typically lose accounts, not machines. The infection becomes a means, not the end.

  • An info-stealer runs once and then disappears.
  • The attacker logs in from elsewhere using tokens.
  • You discover the breach when your email rules change or your ads account starts spending money.

Defender can catch many of these strains. However, third-party tools sometimes add faster URL blocking, tighter ransomware controls, or more visible warnings that help intermediate users avoid a bad click.

Windows decision triggers: when additional AV makes sense

If you’re asking do I need antivirus on Windows, use behavior as the deciding factor.

Add a reputable third-party suite if you regularly:

  • Install mods, trainers, or niche utilities from forums
  • Download “free” productivity tools from aggregators
  • Manage multiple family PCs and want simplified policy and reporting
  • Handle sensitive financial or client data on the same machine

Rely on the built-in baseline if you:

  • Keep Windows and browsers updated
  • Avoid cracked software and random installers
  • Use a standard user account for daily work
  • Maintain tested backups that you can restore quickly

macOS in 2026: the myth is dead, the nuance matters

The “Macs don’t get viruses” line never described reality. It described prevalence. And prevalence changes.

What macOS already does well

Apple’s platform security model leans hard on notarization checks and built-in malware defenses. Gatekeeper blocks many untrusted apps. XProtect provides Apple-managed detection. Apple documents the approach directly in its platform security guidance: https://support.apple.com/guide/security/protecting-against-malware-sec469d47bd8/web

This ecosystem friction reduces casual malware spread. It does not protect you from every tactic that matters.

The macOS threat model that makes antivirus optional or essential

Many macOS incidents start as:

  • Trojanized apps that look like common utilities
  • Persistent adware and browser extension abuse
  • “Update your browser” prompts that install something else
  • Credential theft that shows up later as account compromise

So the deciding factor becomes software sourcing and workflow.

macOS decision triggers

Consider third-party antivirus on macOS if you:

  • Install tools outside the App Store frequently
  • Run unsigned binaries for development or automation
  • Share files with Windows-heavy environments and want cross-platform scanning
  • Want stronger phishing and malicious URL protection across browsers

Stick with built-ins if you:

  • Stay mostly within notarized software channels
  • Keep default security features enabled
  • Maintain strong account security and reliable backups

Android in 2026: the risk is apps, permissions, and patch reality

Android differs because sandboxing changes how malware behaves. Attackers often target the permission model and user trust rather than raw execution.

Built-in protections that matter on Android

Google Play Protect provides baseline scanning and enforcement for many threats. Patch cadence still matters because Android updates vary by device and vendor. For context on platform patching and vulnerabilities, Android’s security bulletins remain the primary reference: https://source.android.com/docs/security/bulletin

Independent testing can also help you calibrate expectations around mobile protection rates: https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/mobile-devices/android/

Android decision triggers: when a security app actually helps

Add reputable mobile security if you:

  • Sideload APKs or use third-party stores
  • Install “free” utilities that request broad accessibility permissions
  • Click links from SMS and messaging apps frequently
  • Travel and operate on unfamiliar networks and devices

Skip “security” apps that behave like ad platforms. Many “optimizers” create noise, not safety.

The uncomfortable truth: antivirus doesn’t stop most breaches by itself

Antivirus remains good at catching known malware families and suspicious behavior. Yet many 2026 compromises succeed through:

  • Convincing phishing flows
  • OAuth consent abuse
  • Token theft and browser session replay
  • Account takeover with no obvious local payload

Consequently, antivirus works best as a supporting control in a wider system.

A simple decision framework you can actually use

Instead of debating brands, score your risk:

  1. Exposure: Do you download installers, mods, APKs, or unsigned tools?
  2. Asset value: Would compromise cost money, reputation, or access to clients?
  3. Operational maturity: Do you patch quickly and maintain recoverable backups?

Then build a minimum viable security stack:

  • Automatic OS and browser updates
  • Password manager plus strong MFA where possible
  • Backups you’ve tested restoring
  • Extension hygiene and link skepticism
  • Antivirus as an additional layer when exposure is high

So, do you need antivirus in 2026?

If you mean do I need antivirus on every device, the best answer is conditional.

  • Windows: Built-in protection often suffices for careful users. Add AV if you install lots of third-party software or you need stronger web protection.
  • macOS: Built-ins are robust. Add AV when you live outside notarized channels or you want more phishing defense.
  • Android: A security app helps most when you sideload, grant risky permissions, or operate in high-phish environments.

Pick one improvement today that actually moves the needle. Turn on automatic updates. Audit extensions and apps. Set up backups you can restore. Then decide whether antivirus fills a real gap or just adds another icon to your taskbar.