Windows Defender

In short: Windows Defender (today Microsoft Defender Antivirus) is the antivirus built into Windows.

In more detail: It has been active out of the box since Windows 8 and protects in real time against malware, scans downloads and uses cloud matching.

In Depth

Features

• Real-time protection and scheduled scans.
• Cloud-based protection and behaviour detection.
• Tamper protection.
• Interplay with SmartScreen (warning about known malicious sites and files).

Note

If another antivirus program is installed, Defender usually switches itself off. For home use it regularly performs well in independent tests. See anti-malware, Windows.

See also: Anti-Malware Software, Windows, Malware