Microsoft Defender

Windows Security: An In-Depth Review of Microsoft Defender

It’s not really a question of whether you need antivirus software or not but rather which one is worth installing. There are hundreds on the market from multiple different companies to choose from which all promise to do the same thing – protect your device from viruses, malware and other malicious cyber threats.

Any device that is connected to the internet can be affected by viruses and other cyber threats. According to TechQuarters, a trusted IT Support in London. A good antivirus software should be able to detect threats like malware, ransomware, and spyware quickly and neutralize them before they do any damage.

But some antivirus software is better than others, so how does Microsoft Defender shape up to its competitors?

Microsoft Defender is antivirus software that is already included in the Windows 10 and 11 operating systems. It offers real-time protection across the whole device on apps, emails, web browsing and cloud storage.

For starters, Microsoft Defender is a good basic antivirus software. It has some features that users generally like which include a malware scanner. Parental control, performance reports, and a secure firewall. It also has a reputation for having good customer support.

The software was made with in-depth research from Microsoft on emerging viral threats. Microsoft has the latest research into data analysis, machine learning and cloud infrastructure to better understand how attackers are attempting to access your data.

But unfortunately, any IT Support Company will tell you that Microsoft Defender isn’t really the best when it comes to antivirus software. Right now there are better third-party software that has more features and does what Defender can do but better.

These are the main issues with Microsoft Defender:

Is Microsoft product dependant

Right now the software isn’t going to give you much protection when you’re using browsers like Google Chrome or Firefox instead of Microsoft Edge. And this includes the parental control features as well, a child needs to be using Edge otherwise it won’t work.

Microsoft Defender’s DNS filtering feature also disappears if you are not using Edge with a standard version. Users can install the Microsoft Defender Browser Protection browser extension on Chrome or upgrade the software to Business or Endpoint but this can be an annoyance for most.

Lack of protection against phishing sites and emails

Phishing sites are an issue for Defender. Currently, Edge has a low percentage of blocked phishing sites in comparison with Chrome and Firefox. This is an issue because of the high potential of a data breach that Defender cannot protect you against after you click on a familiar-looking link and willingly give personal information to the wrong people.

No password manager or VPN

Microsoft Defender does not have a password manager even with an upgraded version. The standard software also does not include a VPN unless the user upgrades to the Endpoint version. These are both features that leave holes for a data breach. A password manager is helpful with generating strong passwords and further encrypting them and a VPN is often forgotten but is helpful in guarding against others viewing and using your activity.

These are all major issues that should be addressed by Microsoft in future versions. Right now even Office 365 Consulting providers would suggest you invest in a third-party antivirus software. Of course, no antivirus is 100% secure but with so many competitors. It’s almost a given that Microsoft Defender shouldn’t be your only form of defence.

In short, Microsoft Defender is a good starting point as a free antivirus program but it really just covers the absolute essentials. It isn’t enough to keep you even close to 100% protected which is probably the reason. Microsoft has made sure to make the software compatible with other antivirus products.

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