How necessary is an antivirus?

[Miluis]

My antivirus slows down my computer a lot, so I’m wondering if Microsoft defender is enough. I mostly just browse the internet for information and use email, but I avoid suspicious emails and unfamiliar sites.
How risky would it be to uninstall the antivirus?

 

[mmerlinn]

My antivirus slows down my computer a lot, so I’m wondering if Microsoft defender is enough. I mostly just browse the internet for information and use email, but I avoid suspicious emails and unfamiliar sites.
How risky would it be to uninstall the antivirus?

Depends a lot on what system you are using. My gut feeling is that as long as you do not use your computer for CRITICAL information, INCLUDING WHEN YOU ARE OFFLINE, that you should be ok.

I quit using anti-virus years ago because every one I tried would choke all of my computers, often to the tune of 5 minutes per page load. Since I do not do critical stuff with any of my computers (mostly browsing, email, FTP, etc), and most my computers are old enough that I cannot even access Tek-Tips with them, I do not have a problem.

If I had newer systems, I would at least use one anti-virus and periodically run a different one to catch what was not caught with the main one. In your case with Defender you will catch most issues. Running another one periodically should be enough IN MY OPINION. Take that with a grain of salt. We cannot see exactly what youi have nor how you are using it, so all I can give you is an opinion which is really nothing more than hot air.