What AV / Anti Malware are you using and why ?

I am using Microsoft Defender boosted with settings obtained by Defender Hardening Console.

Why?

I am trying to balance security with usability and currently this gives me the least issues for me and the family members I support.

From the Defender Hardening Console website:

I use ESET Smart Security as well, very light on resource, very configurable, and as Negan mentioned no pop-ups. And adding rules is not that difficult, and being able to export and import all your settings is a great feature as well. (As I discovered about a day ago thanks to Negan.)

Eset Ultimate is probably my fav on a win10_VM with AppGuard Solo. Just below it CP Harmony, which may have better protection but Eset feels lighter. I have McAfee and Trend Micro VMs too. I think TM runs lightly and somewhat more agreeably than McAfee, + I get occasional popup from McAfee that is unnecessary and unwanted, they even send me email to turn on or get spam/scam guard... I am still left with the feeling McAfee is too intrusive for my taste. I like MS Defender with Cyberlock now with SiriusGPT integrated. But mostly I run fedora (hardened). My router is security hardened too.

I have been targeted, work related, once upon a time.

Quote from Negan

[…] I added : This is build in in my NordVPN and i have to admit after some testing , its quite effective and can run besides any installer AV. So it is a keeper !

Hi Negan, it's great to hear that you've found the built-in security features of NordVPN to be effective! Having an additional layer of protection alongside your main antivirus can really enhance your security. It's always wise to have multiple defenses in place, especially with the ever-evolving landscape of online threats. If it works well for you and fits seamlessly into your routine, then it sounds like a solid choice. Just make sure to keep everything updated to ensure you're protected against the latest threats.