Windows computers come with an integrated tool to guard against viruses and malware. Microsoft Defender or Windows Security is a tool that provides an unifying interface to manage antivirus, firewall, and performance features. It also allows you to assess the health of your device, and secure your data with encryption on the hardware and password management. Installing third-party antivirus programs will disable the Microsoft Defender Antivirus engine, but it won’t affect the capabilities of Windows Security itself.
Microsoft Defender’s real-time security is one of the most important features of Windows Security. This feature will scan the entire system, spotting and blocking malicious software in real-time while it runs, and can identify and restore malicious programs that are blocked by mistake. It is important to remember that the Microsoft Defender scanner relies on online and cloud-based malware definitions, which could result in it being slower than paid competitors in malware and virus detection rates in a few cases.
Other settings you can access from Windows Security include User Account Control that warns you when someone or something attempts to change the system-level settings by locking the screen until an administrator can confirm the change. You can also choose the frequency at which Windows Security will run a background check as well as scan for updates.
Windows Security allows you to create backups from the Microsoft OneDrive folder, and even securely erase your hard disk and begin afresh. It’s a handy method to keep your computer’s operating system and your personal data secure, and it’s a good option for people who don’t wish to pay for an additional security program.