Windows 8/8.1 and antivirus programs

Hi;

I recently provided my wife with a Windows 8.1 laptop, (what a nice guy I am), and I will be her initial "go to" guy for any help she needs. I know 8.1 includes Windows Defender and was wondering if that is sufficient as an antimalware/antivirus program by itself.

The reason I am curious is that in the past I know two antivirus programs couldn't be or shouldn't be run on the same computer but today many new Windows 8/8.1 computers come with a trial version of Norton or McAfee installed. I have had great success with Microsoft Security Essentials in the past and have run it on my own computer since it was a Beta version and have had excellent protection. I want to believe Windows Defender is as good or better and I have never liked Norton or McAfee because they are very cumbersome and intrusive in that they deposit files all over the ccomputer and are constatntly giving pop ups etc. Also, I help friends and relatives with their computers frequently and it seems like every computer I have ever removed a virus from, (and there have been many), had either Norton or McAfee or AVG on them.

Do I need anything besides Windows Defender on her laptop?

Thanks for any input.

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