In his review, my colleague Neil Rubenking found that Microsoft's offering does an excellent job detecting and preventing malicious software. But it improved over time, so much so that it started to snag top scores from independent lab assessments. When Microsoft's security offering first went under the microscope, it didn't impress.

It costs them nothing and doesn't require them to take any action. With this software, Microsoft ensured that customers would have some kind of protection from the moment they first booted up their computer. Just How Well Does Windows Defender Perform?įor those who are unaware, Microsoft Security Essentials was antivirus software included by Microsoft with Windows starting in 2009, until it was supplanted by Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center. But the longer answer is that it could do better-and you can still do better with a third-party antivirus app. The short answer is that the bundled security solution from Microsoft is pretty good at most things. Are you suggesting that Microsoft Security Essentials on Windows 10 is not sufficient? You recommend third-party anti-malware, McAfee, Bitdefender, and Kaspersky in one of your articles. (Note that this excerpt has been edited for brevity and to remove personal information.) In nearly all of these contexts, I've tried to explain that VPNs (although excellent for securing your internet traffic) don't replace password managers, antivirus suites, or the use of two-factor authentication (2FA). But recently a reader asked me if I was implying that the security software from Microsoft was somehow lacking. I mostly write reviews of VPNs, articles and features about VPNs, and responses to emails (of varying degrees of hostility) from or about VPN services. How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.

How good is windows defender reddit