Windows Defender is a free antivirus and antispyware solution from Microsoft that is included in the Windows 8 and 7 operating systems. Windows Defender was first introduced in 2006 as an optional download for Windows XP. In 2017, Microsoft released Windows Defender Security Center, which provided users with a single unified interface to manage their security settings including antivirus, firewall, network protection, app and browser control, and security related tools.
Windows Defender is designed to help protect Windows users from malware and other malicious threats. It uses signature-based detection to detect and block known malicious programs, heuristics to identify new or unknown threats, and monitoring capabilities to provide real-time protection against all types of malicious software.
Windows Defender uses a combination of cloud-based technology, on-device scanning and proactive threat intelligence to keep your system secure from potential threats. It scans your system for potential threats and can alert you if it finds any. It also detects and blocks potentially unwanted programs such as spyware, adware and other potentially unwanted programs.
When it comes to the core functionality of Windows Defender, the program does a good job at detecting and blocking malicious programs. It has a good track record for identifying and blocking a wide range of malware, including viruses, worms, Trojans, rootkits, ransomware, and more.
In addition to its malware protection, Windows Defender also provides users with some basic security tools including a basic firewall, parental controls and anti-phishing protections. The parental control feature helps parents to control what their children can gain access to on their computer. It also allows parents to restrict the types of websites their children can visit and the types of content they can view.
The anti-phishing feature helps to protect users from phishing attacks—attempts by malicious actors to deceive users into visiting sites containing malicious code. Windows Defender will alert users when they are visiting a website that has been deemed as suspicious and potentially dangerous.
Overall, Windows Defender is a great choice for keeping users safe from malicious threats. It does a good job at detecting and blocking a variety of malware and other malicious threats, and provides some basic security tools to help users stay safe online. Windows Defender is included in both Windows 8 and 7, so users do not need to purchase additional software or download any extra files to receive protection from malicious threats.