Windows Defender Antivirus Software Free Download

Katarina Glamoslija
Updated on: September i, 2022

Short on fourth dimension? Hither'southward the all-time Windows Defender alternative:

• 🥇 Norton. Meliorate than Windows Defender in every way. It has higher virus detection rates, meliorate spider web protections, more additional security features, a more intuitive interface, and coverage for more than platforms and operating systems.
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Microsoft's Windows Defender provides decent deject-based malware detection 100% free of charge — but you need to consider these 3 questions before deciding whether to proceed information technology or get a third-political party antivirus:

1. Can Windows Defender handle all types of malware, including advanced ones like ransomware and spyware?
2. Is it fast enough to remove threats without slowing down your PC?
3. Is it good plenty to employ as a standalone antivirus, or is at that place something better?

I spent several weeks testing out both Microsoft's Defender and all of the top antivirus programs on the market, ranking them on malware detection rates, system operation, browse speeds, overall cyberspace security protection, and customer support.

I can honestly say Microsoft'due south Defender isn't skilful enough. At that place are several antivirus programs that are much improve. For instance, brands like Norton offer more constructive malware scanners, more than intuitive Windows apps, and more than avant-garde cybersecurity protections.

Quick summary of the best alternatives to Microsoft's Windows Defender in 2022:

• ane.🥇 Norton — Best antivirus alternative to Windows Defender in 2022.
• 2.🥈 Bitdefender — Improve anti-malware engine with a lot of boosted features.
• 3.🥉 McAfee — Better web protections (including a customizable firewall & Wi-Fi scanner).
• 4. TotalAV — Easier to apply with improve malware detection rates (and splendid PC melody-up).
• 5. Avira — Best free alternative with a more effective anti-malware scanner.
• Numbers 6-10 of the best Defender alternatives.
• Comparison of the Best Alternatives to Windows Defender.
• How to Cull the Best Windows Defender Alternative in 2022.
• Top Brands That Didn't Make the Cutting.
• Frequently Asked Questions Virtually Microsoft's Windows Defender.

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About Microsoft Defender Antivirus (aka Windows Defender)

At that place are many reasons to similar Windows Defender — particularly as Microsoft has worked really hard to improve it over the final few years. It now offers:

• Real-time threat detection.
• Firewall & network protection.
• Protection against phishing sites.
• System operation reports.
• Hardware security.
• Parental controls.

Microsoft'southward Defender is pretty good at detecting malware files, blocking exploits and network-based attacks, and flagging phishing sites. It fifty-fifty includes simple PC performance and wellness reports also every bit parental controls with content filtering, usage limitations, and location tracking. Because Windows Defender now includes all of these useful features, users are wondering whether they can rely on Defender alone to protect their computers or demand to use a tertiary-party antivirus.

Is Microsoft's Defender Antivirus Good Plenty?

I ran Microsoft Defender through the same rigorous tests I use for all third-party antivirus products.

I downloaded effectually a one thousand malware files — including viruses, trojans, ransomware, adware, cryptojackers, keyloggers, and rootkits — in social club to test the deejay scanning and real-time protection functions.

I also navigated to dozens of phishing sites on a few different browsers to assess Defender's anti-phishing capabilities, and I fake exploit and network-based attacks to test Microsoft'southward congenital-in firewall and network protections.

In addition to all of this testing, I measured CPU performance during various situations — like while using high-powered programs during disk scans — and tested every characteristic to assess its overall ease of employ.

In the finish, I found a ton of bug with Microsoft's Defender — hither are my master complaints:

• Malware detection rates are lower than many third-party competitors.
• Content filters are express to the Microsoft Edge browser.
• The primary user interface is clunky and hard to navigate.
• PC arrangement health written report is basic (no performance-boosting or system cleanup).
• Lacks boosted tools that tertiary-party antiviruses have, similar a VPN, password manager, nighttime web monitoring, and identity theft protection.

The truth is that Microsoft Defender is closer than it's e'er been to beingness competitive with third-party internet security suites… but as my tests discovered, it's withal not good enough.

And it'south certainly not good enough compared to dedicated antivirus programs like Norton and Bitdefender. These programs solely focus on malware protection, blocking the latest cyberspace security threats and improving general PC functioning.

If you value the security of your PC and all of your online accounts, you demand to invest in higher-quality cyberspace security software.

What Features Are Missing From Windows Defender?

Although the latest version of Windows Defender comes with many security features, information technology lacks features that other antiviruses on the marketplace include.

Here's a brusk list of key features that Windows Defender lacks:

• A virtual privat enetwork (VPN).
• Identity theft protection.
• Dark web monitoring.
• Anti-theft protection.
• Webcam/microphone protection.
• System optimization tools.
• Password manager.
• And more…

A VPN protects your online privacy from trackers and allows you lot to admission public networks securely, so Defender's lack of a VPN is a huge disappointment. Norton, Bitdefender, McAfee and TotalAV, all include a VPN. I particularly similar Norton's VPN, which uses 256-chip AES encryption to protect your data and comes with various features such equally a impale switch (that disconnects your internet if the VPN connection drops), unlimited data, and more.

I'd also similar to see a few system optimization tools included in Windows Defender. Defender offers a basic PC health written report, just it can't speed upwardly your PC. Competitors like Norton, Bitdefender, and TotalAV all include features that can brand your reckoner run quicker — such as cleaning upwards junk, temporary, and duplicate files.

Finally, with the release of Defender on Android and iOS, I'd honey to see anti-theft protection. Currently, Windows Defender doesn't offer any fashion to rails or lock a stolen laptop or mobile device. Once again, other competitors already include anti-theft tracking capabilities. For example, Bitdefender enables users to sound an warning on a lost device, lock it, and fifty-fifty wipe the device's hard bulldoze.

While Defender offers some expert features, it'due south severely lacking in other areas. You're much better off choosing ane of the alternatives below.

🥇1. Norton 360 — All-time Antivirus Culling to Microsoft's Windows Defender in 2022

Norton 360 is ameliorate than Windows Defender in every attribute — it has college malware detection rates, improve internet security protections, more additional features, and coverage for more platforms.

In my head-to-caput malware test, Norton caught mode more malware files than Defender — Norton scored a perfect 100% malware detection rate, blocking several tricky spyware and ransomware files that Defender missed.

And when it comes to internet security tools, Defender simply tin can't compete.

Norton 360 includes:

• Stronger anti-phishing protection.
• More than complete parental controls.
• Extra features like a VPN (virtual individual network) and countersign manager.
• And a lot more…

Microsoft recently expanded Defender'south web protections to third-party browsers similar Chrome and Firefox, but in my testing, Norton's anti-phishing protections caught a significantly larger number of suspicious websites than Defender — including malicious links in emails and text messages.

What's more, Norton 360 also has a wide range of additional features that Windows Defender doesn't have — including an excellent VPN that provides encrypted access to 30+ servers effectually the world, barely affects internet speed, and removes geo-restrictions. Norton as well has a actually skillful password managing director with all of the essentials, like machine-saving, auto-filling, and biometric login, as well as extras such as a countersign machine-changer (which just the best password managers like Dashlane and LastPass take).

Plus, Norton offers far superior parental controls, which are also some of the all-time on the market. For example, you get spider web filtering (y'all can monitor the sites your kid visits and even block them) for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browser extensions — Windows's web filters only work with Edge. Norton also conveniently displays 45+ website categories that y'all tin can monitor and block like alcohol, criminal offence, and pornography. Another thing I actually like about Norton is that it logs all of the videos that your kid watches on YouTube and provides data about each video such as the name of the video and a link to it.

Norton 360 is available in a variety of packages. At IDR19.99 / twelvemonth, Norton 360 Standard is a adept choice for users looking to protect only 1 device. At IDR29.99 / year, Norton 360 Deluxe covers 5 devices and includes excellent parental controls, which offer location tracking as well as the ability to block and schedule usage for specific apps. Starting at IDR99.99 / year, Norton 360 with LifeLock (Usa only) adds a $i million identity theft insurance policy. There's also a specialized plan for PC gamers that has an advanced game booster and operation optimizer for improved gameplay.

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Bottom Line:

Norton 360 is the best Windows security suite on the market place — it provides a substantial comeback on all of Defender'southward protections, and it offers a ton of extras that Microsoft doesn't include with its congenital-in antivirus. Norton is also easier to use than Windows Defender, has a variety of pricing plans for every budget, and offers a generous 60-day money-dorsum guarantee.

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Read the full Norton review here >

🥈two. Bitdefender — Better Cloud-Based Scanning Engine (With Excellent Additional Features)

Bitdefender is fast, lightweight, and has a much better cloud-based scanning engine than Microsoft'southward Defender. Its malware scanner caught all of my exam malware during a total system scan, and it barely had any impact on my computer'south functioning. Even though Windows Defender is also partially cloud-based, it still slowed down my organization during scans.

A lot of users don't want to upgrade to a third-party antivirus because they think it will be more complicated than Windows Defender'due south automatic security protections — but Bitdefender is really even more than hands-off than Defender is. Bitdefender'due south "Autopilot" feature automatically analyzes your files, your network, and your online activity to create a prepare of default protections that run seamlessly in the background.

I really like Bitdefender's interface, which displays all of Bitdefender's features in a single window. Here are some of Bitdefender's additional security features:

• Improve spider web protections.
• Simpler interface.
• Better parental controls.
• Actress tools like VPN, countersign managing director, webcam protection, PC tune-up, etc.

Bitdefender has some of the strongest spider web protections of whatever antivirus on the marketplace. It prevented me from visiting phishing sites, every bit well as sites that incorporate downloadable malware. Another cool feature is Bitdefender's secure browser, SafePay, which has robust tools to continue your online financial information safe during cyberbanking sessions or when y'all make online purchases (Windows Defender doesn't have this characteristic). SafePay prevents hackers from remotely accessing your computer, doesn't let you lot accept screenshots, blocks keystroke tracking, and automatically fills out credit carte du jour information in billing fields.

Bitdefender likewise comes with slap-up microphone and web camera protection that Windows fails to offer. It will warning you if any unauthorized app attempts to access your webcam or microphone, and yous tin can so determine whether or not to cake the app. Y'all can also set up a list of rubber websites that are allowed to access both tools, such as Zoom, Whatsapp, and Skype.

Its VPN is extremely fast, providing better connection speeds than a lot of standalone VPNs (which is why Bitdefender is ranked every bit one of the all-time antiviruses with a VPN). The parental controls are too first-class — they provide app usage limits, online content filtering, and fifty-fifty geo-fencing which alerts yous when your children'south devices leave a safe area.

You can cull from several antivirus packages, but Bitdefender'due south premium Full Security bundle — which covers Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS — includes more features than almost any antivirus, for only IDR36.00 / twelvemonth. Users on a budget tin also check out Bitdefender's less advanced antivirus packages, which start at IDR23.99 / year — they're cheaper than most competitors and nevertheless offer really good PC protection. And users who want all of Bitdefender's premium features, plus the VPN with no data limitations and a fully-featured password manager should bank check out Bitdefender's elevation-tier Premium Security suite (IDR69.99 / year).

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Bottom Line:

Bitdefender has a powerful cloud-based anti-malware scanner with perfect detection rates as well as a ton of really good internet security features that expand on Microsoft's bones protections. It has anti-phishing, a VPN, parental controls, a password manager, system tuneup tools, microphone and webcam protections, and lots more, all inside a well-laid-out and intuitive dashboard. All of its plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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Read the full Bitdefender review here >

🥉3. McAfee — Better Web Protections (With Data Cleanup Tools)

McAfee Total Protection is an first-class internet security suite with much ameliorate web protections and network safeguards than Windows Defender. Its web protections defenseless 100% of the verified phishing sites I tried to access — far better than Microsoft Border's built-in browser protections.

Its malware scanner is besides i of the all-time on the market place, outperforming Windows'due south antivirus and catching 99% of the nearly one,000 malware files on my PC.

McAfee as well offers a huge improvement over the congenital-in protections included with Windows x — it has:

• More advanced firewall.
• Wi-Fi security scanner.
• VPN (virtual private network).
• Organisation optimization.
• Personal data cleanup tool.
• Identity theft protection.

Windows Defender has a pretty good born firewall, but McAfee'southward "Smart Firewall" provides a ton of options that Defender doesn't offer. Yous can use the Smart Access feature to let McAfee's firewall analyze incoming and outgoing threats, actuate the Stealth Mode to hide your PC on public networks, or use Lockdown in an emergency to block all traffic into and out of your computer.

There'southward also an fantabulous Wi-Fi scanner that actively scans your network to let you lot know which devices are currently logged into your Wi-Fi network. The Wi-Fi scanner even offers notifications if new users try to gain access to your network. Additionally, McAfee'due south VPN is secure, easy to use, and good for streaming, but it'south not as fast as Bitdefender.

McAfee besides provides a personal data cleanup service, which guides you on removing your personal data from data brokerages that are selling your details for turn a profit — even many top antiviruses don't offer this characteristic, let alone Windows Defender.

There'southward also identity theft protection, which monitors the nighttime web in existent-time and alerts yous if whatsoever of your personally identifying information is leaked — and information technology keeps tabs on a wide range of your data, including electronic mail addresses, credit card numbers, your social security number, and more. I also like how McAfee also provides you with steps yous demand to take to gear up the breach and gives you tips on how to avoid ane in the future.

Subscribers who purchase McAfee Advanced, which is priced at IDR89.99 / year, become access to upwardly to $1 million in identity theft coverage, plus help with canceling and replacing IDs and credit cards in case of a lost or stolen wallet, and the security freeze feature, which stops unauthorized people from opening accounts in your name, like credit card, banking concern, and utility accounts. Place theft protection is bachelor in over 20 countries, including the US, UK, Japan, South Africa, India, and Commonwealth of australia.

Starting at IDR39.99 / year, McAfee Total Protection is bachelor for 1, 5, or unlimited devices.

Bottom Line:

McAfee provides an excellent anti-malware engine with lots of internet security extras that Windows Defender doesn't accept. The Smart Firewall, Wi-Fi scanner, VPN, and anti-phishing protections are all significantly improve than Microsoft'southward congenital-in tools. And the improver of system optimization and personal data cleanup tools, as well equally splendid identity theft features, makes McAfee a much better alternative to Windows Defender. All of McAfee'southward plans are available with a 30-mean solar day coin-back guarantee.

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Read the total McAfee review here >

4. TotalAV — Easier to Use (With Great Performance Optimization Tools)

TotalAV has improve detection rates and is much easier to use than Microsoft's Windows Defender. Its malware engine is lightweight, fast, and constantly updated to detect the latest malware threats. In my tests, it identified and removed more than 99% of the malware samples I downloaded to my virtual PC, including sophisticated malware files like ransomware and cryptojackers that Windows Defender missed.

I also constitute it very easy to access and use all of TotalAV's features and functionalities — the dashboard is more intuitive, simpler to navigate, and improve designed than Windows Defender, making TotalAV a particularly good selection for non-tech-savvy users.

TotalAV as well includes some really good extra features that Windows fails to include in its built-in protections — including a VPN, system tuneup tools, and identity theft protection.

TotalAV's VPN, called Safe Browsing VPN, is hands-downwards the best VPN offered by an antivirus. It has unlimited data (and so you can surf, stream, and torrent as much as y'all want), all of the manufacture-standard VPN security features (like bank-grade encryption and a kill switch), and very fast speeds. Information technology likewise works with all of the top streaming services, including Netflix, and it allows torrenting on all servers.

The system cleanup tools are some of the all-time on the market, and they include a ton of useful features, like a junk cleaner, application uninstaller, startup manager, and browser cleanup. With all of these features included in the same user-friendly window, I was able to get my nephew'due south backed-up Acer laptop running like new in a affair of minutes.

The identity theft protection is very expert as well, just it simply covers Usa users (similar Norton) — competitors such as McAfee comprehend many different locations, including Canada, the UK, Commonwealth of australia, Japan, NZ, and some European countries. This feature is merely offered with the company's premium Total Security plan, which costs IDR49.00 / twelvemonth — users looking for a more affordable choice tin opt for TotalAV Antivirus Pro (IDR19.00 / year) and Net Security (IDR39.00 / twelvemonth), which both offer a good set of features at an affordable price.

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Lesser Line:

TotalAV is much easier to use than Windows Defender and comes with good malware protection, great PC optimization tools to enhance device performance, and a top-notch VPN. I like TotalAV's premium identity theft protection every bit well, just it's only available on TotalAV's premium Total Security plan. If you're interested, yous can endeavour TotalAV with a 30-twenty-four hour period money-back guarantee.

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Read the full TotalAV review here >

5. Avira — More (and Amend) Costless Features

Avira Gratis Security for Windows provides stiff anti-malware scanning and tons of high-quality extra features within its free version — it's one of the all-time free Windows antiviruses on the market.

Its cloud-based malware scanner performed really well during my tests, detecting 100% of the malware sample files on my device — far better than Windows Defender.

Avira's gratis antivirusas well includes features that Windows's antivirus doesn't provide, including:

• Safe Shopping browser extension.
• Costless VPN (with 500 MB of data per calendar month).
• Extras like functioning optimization tools & password managing director.

I actually like the Safe Shopping browser extension, which blocks web trackers, intrusive advertisements, and phishing sites — outperforming Windows Defender'south "SafeScreen" in terms of security and convenience.

Like TotalAV, Avira too comes with excellent organisation optimization tools that tin can significantly improve a slow or old estimator's performance — but but basic cleanup tools are available on the free version. The premium plans include the driver updater, which Defender doesn't accept. This tool detected two software updates on my PC that were overdue for an update.

Avira also has a feature-rich free password manager, which is one of the best that you'll find bundled with an antivirus package. In addition to having 256-chip AES encryption, unlimited password storage, and two-gene hallmark, Avira's password manager comes with a password generator, it auto-saves and auto-fills your passwords, and yous tin utilise it on an unlimited number of devices. Avira's countersign director is as well really easy to use and navigate.

The VPN is also pretty good — merely the free version is express to only 500 MB of monthly data, which is barely enough to check your emails. Users looking for a VPN with unlimited browsing data, advanced system optimization, and mobile protections should check out Avira Prime — it offers coverage for upwards to 5 users across all operating systems for IDR41.99 / year.

Lesser Line:

Avira's real-fourth dimension detection and malware scanning engine performed much better than Microsoft's Defender in my tests — it'due south my favorite gratuitous culling to Defender. Avira's paid plans are really expert, likewise, especially Avira Prime , which offers a VPN with unlimited data, a password manager that allows yous to sync unlimited passwords across unlimited devices, advanced system tuneup, and coverage for up to 5 devices. Avira Prime number comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

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6. Kaspersky — More Advanced Parental Controls + Good Financial Protections

Kaspersky offers a good malware scanner and web protections that are more than advanced than the ones offered by Defender. In terms of malware protection, Kaspersky ranks with the superlative antiviruses on the market, detecting malware more than effectively than many competitors, including Microsoft's Windows Defender. Still, Kaspersky didn't run as smoothly equally Defender on my computer, causing some slowdown issues during virus scans.

On the other hand, Kaspersky has practiced parental controls — much ameliorate than Defender'southward, ranking with Norton, Bitdefender, and McAfee for the top antiviruses with parental controls. The parental controls provide device usage limits, online content filters (including YouTube app filtering for Android), and geo-fencing controls to ensure your kids remain in a safe surface area.

At that place are also proficient financial protections with the Rubber Money browser. This feature offers a sandboxed browser window and an on-screen keyboard for secure online transactions — it'south a simple and helpful mode to meliorate online privacy. I tested the Rubber Money browser by visiting my bank's website and purchasing a new pair of shoes online. Kaspersky knew each time I was visiting a financial site and automatically offered to open up the Safe Money browser, which blocks malware and spyware. The virtual keyboard is user-friendly and a nifty tool for locking out dangerous keyloggers. While Kaspersky'southward Safety Money browser is a good security tool (that Windows Defender lacks), it's not as good every bit Bitdefender's.

Finally, Kaspersky also has some web protections that aren't included with Windows Defender, like a password manager and a VPN with a data limit of 200 MB/day. In that location'southward also webcam protection, which alerts you whenever you lot visit a website or open an app (like Zoom) that uses your webcam. Unlike Bitdefender, Kaspersky doesn't offer microphone protection.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus (IDR29.99 / year) and Kaspersky Cyberspace Security (IDR39.99 / twelvemonth) are pretty decent plans which comprehend up to 10 users, but families looking for good parental controls will want to upgrade to Kaspersky Total Security (IDR49.99 / twelvemonth), which offers parental controls as well every bit a countersign manager for upwardly to 10 devices.

Bottom Line:

Kaspersky is a full-featured antivirus suite with a ameliorate malware scanner than Microsoft'due south Defender, too as some really useful security tools. The parental controls, secure fiscal protections, and password managing director are all surprisingly good. Nonetheless, I did experience a piddling bit of slowdown with Kaspersky installed. All of Kaspersky's plans come with a xxx-twenty-four hour period coin-back guarantee.

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Read the full Kaspersky review here >

7. Panda — More than Extras (and Flexible Pricing)

Panda Dome is a good anti-malware program with loftier detection rates, decent extra features, and various plans and payment options. In my testing, it detected malware near as accurately equally Windows Defender, catching the majority of the malware files on my test PC, merely information technology missed some newer adware and ransomware files that competitors like Norton caught.

Panda as well includes a ton of extra features that Windows's antivirus doesn't offering, including a really good VPN — it uses Hotspot Shield's VPN engineering to provide fast and encrypted web access to xx+ servers effectually the globe.

Panda as well includes:

• Virtual keyboard (for safeguarding against keyloggers).
• File shredder (to permanently delete files beyond recovery).
• File encryption.
• PC cleanup tools.
• Anti-theft tools (for Windows, Android, and iOS devices).
• Rescue Kit (removes malware from blocked PCs).

I'm a huge fan of Panda'due south Rescue Kit, which is a bootable version of Panda you can relieve to a USB pollex drive. If a really bad malware infection occurs, the Rescue Kit can restart a reckoner and open Panda from the thumb drive, allowing you to use Panda's cloud-based malware technology to disinfect the system. Although Defender has an offline scanner that scans your PC without booting your operating arrangement, you can't run it from a USB.

Some other affair that impressed me was Panda's anti-theft tools. Panda lets you remotely lock your devices and erase data from them, have a photograph of the thief afterward 3 failed logins, and locate your lost device. It's cool that Panda as well works with Android smartwatches.

Panda is i of the few antiviruses that offer file encryption and file shredding, two features that Defender doesn't offering. I encrypted some of my most sensitive files (like health records) so they were completely unreadable to a hacker or even someone else who may infringe my computer. When I wanted to make sure a file was permanently deleted and inaccessible, like my banking argument, Panda's file shredder erased it with ease.

Panda offers v different packages, including a free program for users on a budget. The paid plans beginning at IDR17.49 / twelvemonth, and they all offer monthly, yearly, two-year, and 3-yr subscription options for 1, 3, 5, x, or an unlimited number of devices.

Bottom Line:

Panda Dome has a practiced antivirus scanner with an intuitive interface, decent additional features, and flexible payment options. It offers 4 unlike packages, monthly, annual, two-year, and 3-year subscription options and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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8. Malwarebytes — Good Anti-Malware Protection for Budget Users

Malwarebytes offers advanced protection against a wide range of malware threats, including zero-day attacks and ransomware. Its scanning engine is just as high quality as top competitors like Norton — I was pleasantly surprised that Malwarebytes caught every unmarried malware sample during my tests.

Malwarebytes's dashboard is easier to use than Defender's dashboard. This is to exist expected, though — Malwarebytes doesn't really have whatsoever actress features, besides an automatic anti-phishing filter (that works far ameliorate than Microsoft'south built-in protections).

Another expanse where Malwarebytes is superior to Defender is scheduling system scans. Malwarebytes has an easy-to-find Scanner tab, where information technology's simple to showtime a quick browse, configure a custom browse, or schedule a scan. Defender, on the other mitt, forces you lot to meander through annoying steps via the Task Scheduler app to schedule a scan. Inexperienced users may find this process hard and confusing.

Users looking for an boosted layer of online privacy will be happy to see that Malwarebytes now offers a secure VPN — it's pretty skillful, providing encrypted access to servers around the globe, but it wasn't as fast as Bitdefender's VPN in my testing, doesn't work with nigh streaming, and doesn't allow torrenting.

Malwarebytes Free offers on-need disk scanning without existent-time protection — I wouldn't recommend it, especially when Malwarebytes Premium simply costs IDR39.99 / year. You tin can also check out the Malwarebytes Premium + Privacy plan, which offers malware protection and a secure VPN for IDR99.99 / year.

Lesser Line:

Malwarebytes provides fantabulous malware protection and anti-phishing controls with a user-friendly dashboard, only non much else. Its scanning engine is as accurate every bit Norton and McAfee, and the arranged VPN is also pretty good. Malwarebytes comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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9. Trend Micro — Expert Phishing Protection

Trend Micro offers some notable improvements over Microsoft'due south congenital-in protections. Its antivirus scanner performed well in my testing, catching around the same corporeality of malware as Microsoft'due south Windows Defender and providing fast deejay scans and lightweight real-time protection.

I too really similar Trend Micro's anti-phishing protections, which provide color-coded rankings for Google searches and automatically block unsafe links from emails, texts, and popular-upward ads.

Tendency Micro offers a few other good features that Defender lacks, including Pay Baby-sit and Secure Erase. Pay Guard is Trend Micro's secure browser for online transactions and is like to Bitdefender'south Safe Pay browser and Avira'south Safe Shopping browser extensions — but not nearly as proficient. Secure Erase permanently wipes a file from your system, much similar Panda'due south file shredder characteristic.

While these cyberspace security features are actually good, Trend Micro's parental controls and VPN are not nearly as practiced as the offerings from competitors like Norton and McAfee.Trend Micro's parental controls offer very basic features like web and app filtering and setting time limits for devices, but it'south missing geofencing, you lot can't really monitor the videos your kid watches on YouTube, and the report screen doesn't provide enough information. While the VPN is fast, works with a lot of streaming apps, and allows torrenting, it's missing a kill switch, has a smaller server network, and has some connexion problems.

Trend Micro offers 4 dissimilar plans. Antivirus+ Security (IDR19.95 / year) includes existent-time protection, anti-phishing, and e-mail scam filter for i PC. Internet Security (IDR39.95 / yr) adds parental controls and system melody-upward for 3 PCs. Maximum Security (IDR49.95 / year) likewise includes a password director for five PCs, Androids, iOS, or macOS devices, whereas Premium Security Suite (IDR59.95 / year) adds nighttime web monitoring, priority support, and the VPN for upwards to 10 devices.

Lesser Line:

Trend Micro offers skilful malware detection rates and excellent anti-phishing protection, simply its boosted features are hit or miss. Information technology's definitely an improvement over Microsoft's Windows Defender, just I wasn't impressed with its parental controls or VPN. In that location is a 30-solar day coin-dorsum guarantee for all of Trend Micro's plans.

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ten. ESET — Avant-garde Malware Detection & Anti-Theft Tools

ESET includes a very advanced anti-malware engine that thoroughly scans Windows systems. While its scan took longer than Windows Defender'southward during my tests, ESET managed to detect malware samples that Defender missed.

ESET's anti-theft feature as well worked well — I set it upwards on my Windows HP laptop and I was able to remotely lock my device, rail information technology via ESET'due south online dashboard, brandish messages on the screen, and capture images of the thieves via my laptop's congenital-in webcam. Windows Defender doesn't include a similar characteristic.

Along with advanced malware detection, ESET likewise includes HIPS (Host Intrusion Prevention System), which is specially designed to detect difficult-to-remove malware, such equally ransomware and rootkits. HIPS worked well when I tested information technology, blocking the ransomware simulations and rootkits I tried to install.

ESET's Smart Security Premium program is a decent value for the price. Coverage for 1 device starts at IDR9.95 / year, but it's relatively cheap to add actress devices to your programme. ESET comes with a thirty-twenty-four hour period coin dorsum guarantee.

Bottom Line:

ESET provides advanced malware protection with near-perfect detection rates and a great anti-theft characteristic. The HIPS feature offers much-improved protection against hard-to-remove malware such every bit rootkits. The Smart Security Premium plan is a good value, and it comes with a 30-twenty-four hours money-dorsum guarantee.

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Comparison of the All-time Alternatives to Windows Defender

Antivirus	Starting Price	Complimentary Version	Money-Dorsum Guarantee	Standout Features	Biggest Advantage over Windows Defender
🥇1. Norton	IDR14.99 / year	❌	60 days	Countersign director, dark web monitoring, parental controls, VPN	Splendid malware detection & broad range of additional features
🥈2. Bitdefender	IDR23.99 / year	❌	30 days	Ransomware remediation, webcam & mic protection, VPN, parental controls	Specialist ransomware protections & file restoration tools
🥉iii. McAfee	IDR39.99 / year	❌	30 days	Firewall, Wi-Fi scanner	Advanced cyberspace security tools
4. TotalAV	IDR19.00 / year	✅	30 days	Functioning optimization tools, VPN	Easy-to-use interface with performance optimization tools
v. Avira	IDR32.99 / year	✅	60 days	Organization cleanup tools, countersign manager	Comprehensive system speedup tools
6. Kaspersky	IDR29.99 / year	✅	xxx days (USA) and 14 days (Uk)	Parental controls	Includes more advanced parental controls
vii. Panda	IDR17.49 / year	✅	thirty days	Rescue Kit	Enables users to recover PCs blocked by malware
viii. Malwarebytes	IDR39.99 / year	✅	60 days	/	Highly-accurate malware detection
9. Trend Micro	IDR19.95 / year	❌	30 days	Phishing protection	Shows phishing sites & malicious links using color-coded warnings
ten. ESET	IDR9.95 / year	❌	thirty days	Anti-theft tools, HIPS	Comes with anti-theft tools that tin can track, lock, and remotely capture photos via webcam

How to Choose the All-time Windows Defender Alternative in 2022:

• Better malware protection. While Windows Defender is a good antivirus with a high malware detection charge per unit, all of the best alternatives on this list have higher malware detection rates, specially against advanced ransomware, trojans, and spyware.
• Web protection. All of the best Windows Defender alternatives take excellent phishing protection, too as protection from malicious sites and drive-past-download attacks. Windows Defender does include good spider web protection, but alternatives similar Norton and McAfee were able to detect more malicious sites during my testing.
• More security features. Windows Defender has introduced a range of new features in recent years. However, it still lacks many of the useful extra features offered by top brands like Norton and Bitdefender, including a password director, a virtual individual network (VPN), and organisation optimization tools.
• Ameliorate parental controls. Windows offers a range of parental controls, just they are quite difficult to set up, some of them lack functionality, and the website content filtering only works in the Microsoft Edge browser. Antiviruses like Norton and McAfee offering parental controls that are much easier to set up and use, work on multiple browsers (including Chrome), and are compatible with multiple devices (including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS).
• Low affect on performance. Windows Defender is designed to run smoothly on Windows systems — it hardly has an touch on when idle and during scans. And so information technology'due south important to cull a lightweight Windows Defender alternative that doesn't significantly bear upon your PC's operation, such every bit Norton or Bitdefender.
• Easier to use. All of the antiviruses I recommend on this listing have apps that are easy to install, ready, and navigate. What's more than, all of their features are intuitive and simple to use, even for new or first-fourth dimension users.
• Overall value. Windows Defender is free, simply when speaking of cybersecurity, information technology's true that you become what y'all paid for. The top antiviruses I recommend, including Norton, Bitdefender, and TotalAV, offer affordable payment plans and adventure-free coin-back guarantees, and there are also brands like Avira that offer completely complimentary (but limited) versions of their Windows software.

Height Brands That Didn't Brand the Cutting:

• Avast/AVG. Avast (who also owns AVG) is one of the about popular free antiviruses out there, and many Windows users download information technology to replace the in-built Windows Defender. Just Avast's antivirus software comes with very serious privacy concerns. The parent company behind Avast was defenseless selling the browsing habits (and sometimes personal data) of people using their free antivirus products. This is 1 of the problems with "gratuitous" antiviruses — yous're always going to "pay" with something.
• Quick Heal. Quick Heal is a pretty decent programme. Its virus protection capabilities are comparable to Windows Defender, and information technology's got a wide range of internet security packages to choose from. That said, I retrieve these packages are too overpriced for what they offer, and all of the products on this list offer better value.
• PC Matic. PC Matic offers decent malware protection, also as some expert organisation optimization tools, simply its approach to malware protection is quite different — it whitelists known programs and blocks everything else. This arroyo is okay, only I prefer antivirus software with advanced anti-malware engines that use AI and machine learning to detect advanced threats.

Is Windows Defender enough to stay protected?

It depends what you hateful past "enough". Windows Defender offers some decent cybersecurity protection, but it's nowhere near as good as most premium antivirus software.

If you lot're just looking for basic cybersecurity protection, then Microsoft's Windows Defender is fine. Only if you lot have a lot of sensitive information on your device which might concenter hackers — banking info, login details, private files — then no, it'due south not "plenty". Windows's antivirus has some serious problems in terms of online security, multi-device protection, poor-quality updates, and malware protection. Yous can read more virtually my analysis of Defender's security offerings here.

What is Windows Defender SmartScreen? Should I disable it?

Windows Defender SmartScreen is Defender's real-time and phishing protection. If you endeavour to download a malicious file or visit a unsafe website, Windows Defender SmartScreen will stop the download or prevent you from opening the site. It'southward essential protection, and you should just disable it if you have a reliable culling antivirus installed with better real-time and phishing protection, such as Norton 360 or Bitdefender.

Tin can Windows Defender remove malware?

Yep. If Windows Defender detects malware, it will remove it from your PC. However, because Microsoft doesn't update Defender's virus definitions regularly, the newest malware won't be detected. Relying on Windows Defender as your sole antivirus puts your entire PC at hazard of infection.

While there are better costless antiviruses out there, no free antivirus tin offering the kind of guaranteed malware protection that the best anti-malware software can. If you're looking for the all-time malware protection and net security tools, a premium antivirus like Norton or Bitdefender is much more capable.

Does Windows have built-in phishing protection?

By and large, yes. Microsoft's SmartScreen is designed to protect Microsoft Edge users from a wide range of online cybersecurity threats, including phishing emails and malicious sites which endeavor to steal your personal data.

However, if you're using a different browser, similar Chrome or Firefox, the SmartScreen browser extension honestly isn't worth installing — it doesn't observe phishing sites as accurately every bit Google and Mozilla'due south congenital-in detection.

If you're looking to amend your web security, McAfee provides superior phishing detection for all major browsers, too equally a "Smart Firewall", Wi-Fi security, and a fast VPN to keep your browsing 100% anonymous.

Is Windows Defender free?

Yes. Windows Defender is automatically installed for gratis on all PCs that take Windows 7, Windows eight.ane, or Windows 10. You tin can besides upgrade to Microsoft 365 Personal or Family to extend your protection to Mac, iOS, or Android — but information technology'due south honestly not worth doing.

Once again, there are meliorate complimentary Windows antiviruses out there, and once again, no complimentary antivirus is going to provide the kind of protection that you will get with a full-featured premium antivirus.

Should I supervene upon Windows Defender with another antivirus?

Microsoft's Windows Defender is closer than information technology's ever been to competing with third-party internet security suites, just it's still not good enough. In terms of malware detection, it often ranks below the detection rates offered by top antivirus competitors. In terms of system performance, Defender'southward scans accept longer and cause more than slowdown than nearly third-party antiviruses. And finally, in terms of essential security features, Defender is severely lacking.

Using Windows Defender equally a standalone antivirus, while much improve than not using any antivirus at all, still leaves you vulnerable to ransomware, spyware, and advanced forms of malware that can go out you devastated in the effect of an assail.

I recommend ane of the following options:

• Option 1: Cull a better gratuitous antivirus to replace Microsoft'due south Windows Defender. If y'all're on a really tight upkeep and you can't afford a paid antivirus, in that location are a few free antivirus products that are significantly improve than Defender. I similar Avira'due south free antivirus the all-time. But information technology'south important to remember that all gratuitous antiviruses accept limitations that premium antiviruses don't have.
• Option ii: Optimize your PC's protection with a premium antivirus. No free antivirus volition offering you 100% protection, and Windows Defender has repeatedly shown to be vulnerable to malware, ransomware, and spyware. It doesn't cost a lot of money to go along y'all and your PC safe, and then investing a few bucks a calendar month in a premium internet security suite is hands-down the best fashion of protecting yourself and guaranteeing your cybersecurity.

Is Windows Defender better than free antivirus software?

Windows Defender is better than most complimentary antiviruses, especially with the addition of sandboxing tools and cloud-based malware detection — features that aren't included with many free antivirus programs.

However, at that place are some gratis antiviruses that are ameliorate than Windows Defender in terms of usability, performance, and extra features.

That said, both Windows Defender and decent free antiviruses tin't beat premium antivirus suites, which offer complete cybersecurity protection for merely a few dollars a calendar month. Premium antiviruses like Norton and Bitdefender score a lot higher in terms of overall protection and value when compared to both Windows Defender and costless antivirus programs.

Can I use Windows Defender with another antivirus?

You lot can, but I wouldn't recommend it. Windows Defender'due south protections can conflict with 3rd-party antivirus software, inhibiting the software'south power to scan and detect malware.

Using Windows Defender in combination with some other antivirus programme tin deed every bit an extra layer of protection, merely my communication is to choose a reliable antivirus that offers complete Windows protection and disable Windows Defender's malware scanning modules to prevent any conflicts.

Notation that in most cases, when installing a third-political party antivirus on your PC, Windows volition automatically disable Windows Defender — either putting it into passive mode or disabling its protections entirely. Simply information technology's always all-time to make certain that Windows Defender's protections are correctly disabled afterwards yous've installed a 3rd-party antivirus, like Norton or Bitdefender.

How to disable Windows Defender?

To ensure your new antivirus is running properly, you'll demand to disable Windows Defender to avoid whatsoever conflicts between the ii scanning engines.

• Pace 1: Click the Commencement push button and select the Windows Security tab, and then click on Virus & threat protection.
• Pace 2: Locate and select Manage settings (found underneath the Virus & threat protection settings heading).
• Step 3: Turn off existent-time protection by clicking the toggle to Off. A bulletin will appear proverb "Real-time protection is off, leaving your device vulnerable" — it's fine to ignore this message if you accept installed a trusted alternative antivirus with real-time protection activated.

Windows Defender volition now exist deactivated. You'll also see other options, including Deject-delivered protection and Automatic sample submission — you can also switch these to Off, but these settings won't impact the performance of your new antivirus software as Windows Defender's existent-time protection has already been deactivated.

SafetyDetectives'southward Peak Windows Antiviruses (UPDATED 2022):

Updated on: September i, 2022

Nearly the Writer

Katarina is a tech enthusiast specializing in cybersecurity products, data protection, and maintaining strong practices for general online safe. When she's not a "Safety Detective", she likes to play with her two cats, binge scout offense dramas, sample fine wines, and read virtually the origins of the universe.

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Source: https://www.safetydetectives.com/blog/windows-defender-vs-antiviruses-is-defender-enough-for-you/

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