Windows Defender is a security application designed by Microsoft to protect your computer from viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. It was first included in Windows XP Service Pack 2 and has been continually improved since then. Windows Defender includes several layers of protection, such as real-time protection, cloud-based protection, and signature-based protection.
Real-time Protection: By monitoring activity on your computer and in the background, Windows Defender provides an extra layer of protection against malicious software before it can infect your machine. Whenever Windows Defender identifies potentially malicious applications, it immediately takes action to prevent infections by blocking, removing, or quarantining them.
Cloud-based Protection: Windows Defender makes use of cloud technologies to detect and identify the latest threats in the wild. It subscribes to security updates from Microsoft’s Malware Protection Center and other trusted sources in order to identify the newest malicious software before they can affect your computer.
Signature-based Protection: One of the most important layers of protection is signature-based protection provided by Windows Defender. Signature-based protection works by scanning each file or program you choose to download and comparing the content to a large database of known malicious software. This allows Windows Defender to flag anything that is suspect and alert you of the potential threat.
Windows Defender also includes several other features that aim to make your computer more secure. These include Exploit Protection, Antimalware Scanning, and Behavior Monitoring. Exploit Protection monitors processes and applications for suspicious behavior, AntiMalware Scanning scans programs and files in real time, and Behavior Monitoring keeps track of unusual changes in the system.
Overall, Windows Defender offers robust protection against malware and other malicious software that can damage your computer and data. It is designed to be easy to use and understand, so even if you are not tech savvy, you should be able to get the most out of Windows Defender.