Windows Defender

An antivirus that is free and secure

Windows Defender is an anti-malware tool by Microsoft that comes preinstalled in Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11. Although the antivirus product has been around for over a few years now, the latest update has upped Defender’s security game. As of today, the software provides reliable protection against almost all cyber threats and has consistently scored 100% in malware protection tests. The full-featured Microsoft Defender is also free to use and requires little effort to download and install.

Defender ranks high on AV tests!

Antivirus has always been a part of Windows. However, the recent updates have turned Microsoft Defender into a security product that directly competes with paid antivirus software. According to AV lab tests, Defender’s security center protects a PC against trojans, ransomware, spyware, viruses, and other security threats. The evaluation places the latest version of Windows Defender among the top-ten software suites considered to be reliable.

Windows Defender turns on automatically

An essential benefit of Defender is that it comes integrated with most Windows and stays on by default. However, if you do have to install or download Windows Defender, it can be done with ease. You won’t even have to configure anything as the antivirus software starts working right after getting installed. In case you install a third-party security solution, Defender goes dormant to avoid any conflict. Microsoft has also ventured into cross-platform protection with Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac users. This app is similar to Windows Defender and provides anti-malware protection to non-Windows users.

Protection against malware is covered

Windows Defender free download comes with an array of features including automatic scanning, blocking, anti-phishing, and offline maintenance. The security solution provides a simple firewall that stops ads, provides low-level exploit protection, stops visits to malicious sites or downloads, blocks dangerous URLs, and more. It also provides an offline scan designed to handle malware that doesn’t show up in a routine scan. This scan leads to multiple reboots that allow for easy detection and removal of malware, right when it is defenseless.

Along with offline scanning, Defender provides users with quick, full, and custom scan options. For instance, if you wish to check a file for threats, all you need to do is right-click and scan. Microsoft Defender also features Tamper Protection, which blocks hackers from turning off cloud-based, real-time, and virus-threat protection.

The anti-phishing feature of the Defender works on Microsoft’s native browser like Edge but doesn’t function on alternative browsers like Firefox and Google Chrome. If your computer’s default browser is the latter, you can install Defender’s plug-in as an extension. Once installed, the plug-in enables the anti-phishing feature on your browser, thereby protecting you from all unwanted threats.

The interface is simple and native to Microsoft

The usability of Windows Defender rests on its simplicity. Anyone who has used Microsoft’s native products will find the interface clean and simple. Users who aren’t very tech-savvy will also like using Microsoft Defender as it’s easy to install and comes with necessary features enabled by default. Nonetheless, the actual appearance of the software depends on the operating system on which it is running.

Defender comes with parental control

Windows Defender download provides its users with a premium parental control feature for free. This feature allows an admin to create separate accounts for family members and control content and other parameters for each account. Limits can be added to all accounts by one primary admin account.

Competes well with both paid and free software

Defender is a free tool, which provides users with a variety of premium features and ranks high on independent AV tests. The product competes well with both free and paid antivirus software by providing 100% malware protection and premium features. However, if you’re looking for other free alternatives with features like a password manager, security inspector, and privacy-invading trackers, you may want to check out Avast Free Antivirus or AVG AntiVirus Free.

Do I need another antivirus with Windows Defender?

Microsoft’s latest update has put Windows Defender on edge against competitors. The security solution protects against security threats, is free to use, and doesn’t require any technological input. Defender is ideal when activity is limited to web browsing and sending emails. However, if your work requires handling sensitive data, you may want to go for another antivirus software, preferably one that is paid. Other than that, Windows Defender antivirus download is a free security option, that doesn’t require the support of any other antivirus.