The first thing we are going to do is learn a little about Windows Defender and how to access it. Then we will see if Windows Defender is enough for us or we have to resort to another free or paid antivirus.
What is Windows Defender and how to access it
Windows Defender We could define it as a new generation protection component from Microsoft that is integrated into our Windows operating system to protect our computer and connection. Thus, we are faced with a security program whose objective is to detect, eliminate and quarantine any harmful software, virus or malware that tries to sneak into our computer. If we want to access it to configure it or carry out an analysis, we will follow these steps:
- Let’s go to Windows Start Menu.
- We wrote Antivirus and threat protection and press enter.
Then we will see a screen like this:
As can be seen, Windows Defender is coexisting with another antivirus although it could also operate alone. That does not mean that we can use it, also to check and verify that everything is in order. For example, we could do an analysis by pressing the button Quick test and even customize it by clicking on Exam options.
A trick that can improve our security if we have a third-party antivirus is to activate this option:
Thus, if we enable the checkbox Periodic examination will add another way to check that our team has no threat. Also above it offers us protection against Ransomware in case some day they encrypt our files and ask us for a ransom. Here’s how to improve Windows Defender security with these settings.
Some will wonder if Windows Defender is enough. But what does it offer us? This is all you have:
- Virus protection in real time.
- A protection delivered in the cloud which has detection and blocking of new threats. Keep in mind that we are working more and more in the cloud.
Is Windows Defender enough to protect my computer?
With the antivirus that Microsoft offers us, we obtain the minimum layer to be able to be calm. Thus we can be protected against all types of malware that may reach our computer after downloading a file. In addition, it protects us from viruses that can infect the computer by using a USB memory or working from a network drive. You may be interested in knowing how to act in the event that Windows Defender detects false positives.
As for the difference with third-party antivirus, they are usually more complete. Thus, they usually have shields to protect us while we surf the Internet in addition to a more advanced and easy-to-configure firewall.
So Windows Defender might be enough for us? Here it will depend a lot on the type of user we are. In the event that you are a user of the type that always browses the same websites and that could be classified as safe, you could use Microsoft’s antivirus with confidence. We refer to web pages of recognized prestige such as those of newspapers and news agencies. Also if we use it in reputable forums, in email services or to work with our files in the cloud.
Finally, if we browse many websites with different content in search of information, we use social networks a lot and download many files, be it pirated software or content, we should use a third-party antivirus. In this case, preferably paid, because it will offer us greater protection with more shields and additional protection software than a free one. Also a free one, depending on which one is chosen, can offer a little more protection than Microsoft’s antivirus but it will depend on which one we choose.
