In Windows 10, Windows Defender settings are controlled in the Windows Defender Security Center. It also uses the same anti-malware engine and virus definitions from MSE. Protection against viruses was subsequently added in Windows 8 which resembles Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). Windows Defender featured an integrated support for Microsoft SpyNet that allows users to report to Microsoft what they consider to be spyware, and what applications and device drivers they allow to be installed on their systems. It also has the ability to remove installed ActiveX software. It includes a number of real-time security agents that monitor several common areas of Windows for changes which might have been caused by spyware. Microsoft Defender for Individuals īefore Windows 8, Windows Defender only protected users against spyware.Microsoft Defender for Threat Intelligence.Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management.The mobile version of Microsoft Defender also includes a feature to block access to corporate data if it detects a malicious app is installed.Īs of 2021, Microsoft Defender Antivirus is part of the much larger Microsoft Defender brand, which includes several other software and service offerings, including: In March 2019, Microsoft announced Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac for business customers to protect their Mac devices from attacks on a corporate network, and a year later, to expand protection for mobile devices, it announced Microsoft Defender ATP for Android and iOS devices, which incorporates Microsoft SmartScreen, a firewall, and malware scanning. It has evolved into a full antivirus program, replacing Microsoft Security Essentials in Windows 8 or later versions.

It was first released as a downloadable free anti-spyware program for Windows XP and was shipped with Windows Vista and Windows 7. Microsoft Defender Antivirus (formerly Windows Defender) is an antivirus software component of Microsoft Windows.

Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or later Īntivirus software, personal firewall, parental control, intrusion prevention, email filtering and anti-phishing.

Is windows defender a good antivirus