Short on time? Here’s the best Windows Defender alternative:
🥇 Norton.Bạn đang xem: Microsoft defender
Better than Windows Defender in every way. It has higher virut detection rates, better web protections, more additional security features, a more intuitive interface, & coverage for more platforms and operating systems.Microsoft’s Windows Defender provides decent cloud-based malware detection 100% miễn phí of charge — but you need to consider these 3 questions before deciding whether to keep it or get a third-party antivirus:Can Windows Defender handle all types of malware, including advanced ones lượt thích ransomware và spyware?Is it fast enough to remove threats without slowing down your PC?Is it good enough to use as a standalone antivirut, or is there something better?
I spent several weeks testing out both Microsoft’s Defender và all of the top antivi khuẩn programs on the market, ranking them on malware detection rates, system performance, scan speeds, overall internet security protection, and customer support.
I can honestly say Microsoft’s Defender isn’t good enough. There are several antivirus programs that are much better. For example, brands like Norton offer more effective sầu malware scanners, more intuitive Windows apps, và more advanced cybersecurity protections.
Quiông xã summary of the best alternatives to lớn Microsoft’s Windows Defender in 2022:
About Microsoft Defender Antivi khuẩn (aka Windows Defender)
There are many reasons lớn like Windows Defender — especially as Microsoft has worked really hard to lớn improve it over the last few years. It now offers:
Real-time threat detection.Firewall và network protection.Protection against phishing sites.System performance reports.Hardware security.Parental controls.Microsoft’s Defender is pretty good at detecting malware files, blocking exploits and network-based attacks, & flagging phishing sites. It even includes simple PC performance và health reports as well as parental controls with nội dung filtering, usage limitations, và location tracking. Because Windows Defender now includes all of these useful features, users are wondering whether they can rely on Defender alone lớn protect their computers or need to use a third-buổi tiệc nhỏ antivirut.
Is Microsoft’s Defender Antivirut Good Enough?
I ran Microsoft Defender through the same rigorous tests I use for all third-tiệc nhỏ antivi khuẩn products.
I downloaded around a thousvà malware files — including viruses, trojans, ransomware, adware, cryptojackers, keyloggers, và rootkits — in order to thử nghiệm the disk scanning and real-time protection functions.
I also navigated lớn dozens of phishing sites on a few different browsers khổng lồ assess Defender’s anti-phishing capabilities, & I simulated exploit và network-based attacks khổng lồ test Microsoft’s built-in firewall & network protections.
In addition to lớn all of this testing, I measured CPU performance during various situations — like while using high-powered programs during disk scans — and tested every feature to assess its overall ease of use.
In the end, I found a ton of issues with Microsoft’s Defender — here are my main complaints:
Malware detection rates are lower than many third-các buổi tiệc nhỏ competitors.Content filters are limited khổng lồ the Microsoft Edge browser.The main user interface is clunky and hard khổng lồ navigate.PC system health report is basic (no performance-boosting or system cleanup).Lacks additional tools that third-party antiviruses have, like a VPN, password manager, dark website monitoring, & identity theft protection.The truth is that Microsoft Defender is closer than it’s ever been to being competitive sầu with third-buổi tiệc ngọt internet security suites… but as my tests discovered, it’s still not good enough.
And it’s certainly not good enough compared to lớn dedicated antivirus programs like Norton và Bitdefender. These programs solely focus on malware protection, blocking the lademo mạng internet security threats & improving general PC performance.
If you value the security of your PC and all of your online accounts, you need to lớn invest in higher-quality mạng internet security software.
What Features Are Missing From Windows Defender?
Although the latest version of Windows Defender comes with many security features, it lacks features that other antiviruses on the market include.
Here’s a short danh mục of key features that Windows Defender lacks:
A virtual privat enetwork (VPN).Xem thêm: Giải đáp về đề kép là gì? Kinh nghiệm chơi đề kép hiệu quả
Identity theft protection.Dark website 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 to lớn access public networks securely, so Defender’s lachồng of a VPN is a huge disappointment. Norton, Bitdefender, TotalAV, and McAfee all include a VPN. I particularly like Norton’s VPN, which uses 256-bit AES encryption to lớn protect your data & comes with various features such as a kill switch (that disconnects your mạng internet if the VPN connection drops), unlimited data, and more.
I’d also lượt thích to see a few system optimization tools included in Windows Defender. Defender offers a basic PC health report, but it can’t tốc độ up your PC. Competitors lượt thích Norton, Bitdefender, & TotalAV all include features that can make your computer run quicker — such as cleaning up junk, temporary, and duplicate files.
Finally, with the release of Defender on Android and iOS, I’d love sầu to lớn see anti-theft protection. Currently, Windows Defender doesn’t offer any way lớn traông chồng or lochồng a stolen máy tính xách tay or mobile device. Again, other competitors already include anti-theft tracking capabilities. For example, Bitdefender enables users khổng lồ sound an alarm on a lost device, loông xã it, và even wipe the device’s hard drive.
While Defender offers some good features, it’s severely lacking in other areas. You’re much better off choosing one of the alternatives below.
🥇1. Norton 360 — Best Antivi khuẩn Alternative lớn Microsoft’s Windows Defender in 2022
In my head-to-head malware chạy thử, Norton caught way more malware files than Defender — Norton scored a perfect 100% malware detection rate, blocking several tricky spyware và ransomware files that Defender missed.
And when it comes lớn internet security tools, Defender just can’t compete.
Norton 360 includes:
Stronger anti-phishing protection. More complete parental controls. Extra features like a VPN (virtual private network) & password manager.Microsoft recently expanded Defender’s website protections to lớn third-tiệc ngọt browsers lượt thích Chrome & Firefox, but in my testing, Norton’s anti-phishing protections caught a significantly larger number of suspicious websites than Defender — including malicious liên kết 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 khổng lồ 30+ servers around the globe, barely affects mạng internet speed, và removes geo-restrictions. Norton also has a really good password manager with all of the essentials, like auto-saving, auto-filling, và biometric login, as well as extras such as a password auto-changer (which only the best password managerslike DashlaneandLastPasshave).
Norton 360 is available ina variety of packages. At $39.99 / year, Norton 360 Standard is a good choice for users looking khổng lồ protect only 1 device. At $49.99 / year, Norton 360 Deluxe pháo covers 5 devices and includes excellent parental controls, which offer location tracking as well as the ability to lớn blochồng and schedule usage for specific apps. Starting at $99.99 / year, Norton 360 with LifeLock(US only) adds a $1 million identity theft insurance policy. There’s also a specialized plan for PC gamers that has an advanced game booster and performance optimizer for improved gameplay.