Theres nothing to do and the only way to turn it off is to install a different malware product.
Some features, however, only work with other Microsoft products, creating an exclusive security food chain.
Previously a one trick pony, Microsoft Defender for Individuals straddles the line between free and paid software.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
I suspect that most have never heard of it, and thats a pity.
It may seem like the slackers solution to security, but Defender offers powerful protection.
The most dangerous items get a fix created using the latest machine learning techniques.
These updates are sent to the 500 million computers protected by Defender.
Unlike some competitors, its easy to opt out of this collection scheme at the Windows Security Center.
It all happens in less than a second.
It also screens email attachments for exploits.
Defender continues to be one of the hardest security suites when it comes to scheduling scans.
They can be recovered in case of a ransomware attack.
Too bad that Microsofts latest trick is only available for enterprise customers.
Defender has a built-in WinRE recovery environment to scan for malware.
Theres also the ability to re-install Windows, with your personal files intact followed by a full scan.
Only Malwarebytes fell short of the mark at 99.9% effectiveness at finding and killing known attacks.
During testing, Defender incorrectly warned that a single piece of safe software was possibly a threat.
Panda led this ignominious category by missing 59 items.
Kaspersky, which is often perfect or close to it, six instances of incorrect danger warnings.
Finally, Defender tied with Avast and Kaspersky in September 2023 testing bySE Labswith ideal 100% scores.
Mirroring the other results, only Panda fell short with a 97% score.
It provides an alluring alternative for those who want simple security.
The philosophy behind Defender is to detect and disrupt dangerous software before any damage is done.
This can stop a break-in before it can do any damage.
Meanwhile, theEdge Password Managercan store your login credentials in encrypted format.
It can do this for Xbox game consoles but not Macs.
As a result, theres no post-installation/pre-scan benchmark score.
This makes Defender a resource hog compared to the likes of Avast Free Antiviruss 14% change.
This makes it one of the slowest to examine the entire system.
Its quickie scan had a lighter touch, using fewer system resources.
By contrast, the best was Pandas 11% rise in benchmark time.
On the downside, many of the windows require scrolling to see everything.
Unfortunately, on an HD screen, Family options is below the digital fold and requires scrolling.
Theres also a way to submit a virus sample for analysis.
Theres also the Privacy review, which checks your controls.
My set up needed changes to the password authenticator to enhance the safety of my online world.
Defender relies on the Windows Task Scheduler to set up automatic scans, a daunting task.
The screenshot below is from a system that is protected byBitdefender Total Securitybut can revert to Defender.
Microsoft Defender review: Installation and support
The company couldnt have made security easier.
Just turn on your PC and its automatically protected against a wide variety of threats.
This service is usually reserved for paid customers by competitors.
In addition, the online self-service section has lots of resources.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
They range from getting started assistance to cybersecurity tips to help protecting Office files.
For once, the lazy persons approach just might be the best.
