Just as Apple computers include their own antivirus already integrated into the system, Microsoft integrates its Microsoft Defender into Windows 10 (and now Windows 11). Microsoft Defender is the company’s own pre-installed antivirus that comes included on PCs with its operating system. Its main feature is that it is free, of course, but that does not mean that many users decide to subscribe to a third-party antivirus service to fully protect their device. But, in 2024, is it essential to have other antiviruses in addition to Defender?
We have already talked about this topic on previous occasions, and it is a common doubt that has been arising for years. The truth is that, although it is commonly said that Microsoft Defender falls short in some aspects, it is difficult to find out to what extent this is true or if, rather, it is marketing by other antivirus development companies.
Microsoft Defender, today, is considered a robust protection tool, with which Windows computers start from a very good base to connect to the Internet and browse without fear of being infected by viruses. Some specialized media point to certain shortcomings of Defender that may justify paying for an extra antivirus. However, these supposed shortcomings may not be so.
Below we will argue that, for the average person, Defender is already efficient enough, so you can save yourself from paying for a third-party antivirus.
What functions does it have and what does it not?
The features included in Microsoft Defender in October 2024 are as follows:
- Real-time threat detection.
- Network and firewall protection.
- SmartScreen (web protection).
- System performance reports.
- Hardware security.
- Parental controls.
- Protection against ransomware.
- VPN (only included with Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans).
Some experts criticize, for example, that the health report performed by Defender is too basic, without including methods to improve performance or speed, or to clean up files. They also regret that the available pop-up blocker is limited to Edge browseror that does not include analysis and warnings for data leaks such as passwords on the Internet or the deep web.
Likewise, it is a reason for criticism that it does not have an advanced VPN, or an anti-theft system to block the PC in case we suspect that it has been stolen.
Fully updated software
But the fact is that, for these shortcomings, there are easy solutions that we can achieve on our own (with the added advantage of being able to choose the option of our preference), and in addition, Microsoft Defender is very updated. The company has been introducing major improvements in recent months, and its virus database is updated through Windows Update with great regularity.
For example, last week we learned that Defender will begin to block keyloggers or screen scrapers with the help of artificial intelligence, types of malware designed to steal private information from bank accounts, for example. Also this October, Windows announced that Defender will notify the user when it detects that a WiFi network to which we want to connect presents risks. What we can see with all this is that Microsoft is a very competitive company that incessantly updates its operating system, including its security layer, which it is also now enhancing with AI.
As for the anti-theft system that some websites point out, Windows actually does include a system to lock devices remotely. Simply enter the device website of our Microsoft account, and go to Show details > Find my device > Block, as explained in RedesZone. In turn, Defender has included its own detection of leaks on the deep web.
For all this, there is no reason to think that a third-party antivirus, for example, will have a more up-to-date list of threats than Microsoft itself.
Defender has also improved in its application to enterprise environments. This same 2024, they launched their Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit 1.0 pack for professional users, a set of tools that allows enterprise security administrators to “download, analyze, test, edit and store the security configuration baselines recommended by Microsoft for “Windows and other Microsoft products, while comparing them with other security configurations,” as indicated by the company.
Useful plugins
For all this, there are reasons to think that Defender is improving a lot lately, and that, as we said before, these possible faults can be easily made up for.
If we want to use a VPN, in the end it will be enough to choose one of the many companies that offer it (or Microsoft itself with a 365 subscription), or even use a free or open-source option. We can also install a password manager, again, being able to choose between proprietary or open source.
Other antiviruses boast advanced options for web browsing, but we must remember that the browsers themselves, such as Chrome, Firefox or Brave, increasingly include security measures and options in relation to cookies and advertising trackers, which we can configure ourselves and without cost.
