
Defender, the Microsoft’s OS integrated antivirus, used to be one of worse security solutions on the market. Over the years, however, they have managed to turn it into a decent product with considerable antimalware capacity. Currently, it is a default security tool in Win 8.1 and 10 OSs, which means that owners of these two systems get it in the package.
“Windows Defender is perfectly suitable as a starter pack. It is able to detect and eliminate malware, spyware, ransomware, and phishing. Although according to leading independent lab tests, it is not as impressive as the leading antivirus products (e.g. Kaspersky, Bitdefender, Norton, McAffe …), it is nevertheless a fully reliable free option.”
Windows Defender is free, and it provides reliable protection against cyber threats; however, it is far from the quality of most of its so-called paid competitors. It is worth knowing that, “for the time being”, Microsoft is not yet specialised in security solutions, and other specialised security software manufacturers have much more knowledge and experience as well as better support in this area.
Some of more obvious shortcomings of Windows Defender include:
- Poor detection of viruses and other malware
- The user interface is quite awkward and it does not allow all settings
- Parental controls are limited to their Microsoft Edge browser
- It includes only a basic report on computer status
- It does not contain utilities, such as: VPN, identity theft protection, password manager …
- They do not provide technical support to individuals.
Do we need antivirus for Windows?
“Microsoft Windows has been the most vulnerable operating system since it was created. Since Windows is the most popular operating system and has vast majority of users in the world, most cybercriminals developed advanced malware targeting this particular system.
YES, we do need antivirus for Windows. Although over the years, Defender has turned into a fairly decent security solution, it is still not the most reliable antivirus on the market. Therefore, if you are concerned about the security of your computer or your data, you better consider switching to something more powerful and reliable.”