The
hassle of getting an anti-virus installed your computer can be confusing and
time-consuming territory. But Microsoft users don’t have to bother with this
problem as a trustworthy antivirus comes installed in their system. It is named
Windows Defender.
Microsoft Windows Antivirus Introduction
Over
the years, free and sincere services provided by Windows Defender have served a
large community of Microsoft users. The antivirus program was first released as
a free of cost antispyware software made specifically for Windows XP, but it
was later made compatible for Windows Vista and Windows 7. In its later versions and post several
revisions, it was made into a full antivirus program that eventually replaced
Microsoft Security Essentials.
Post-Windows
8, Windows Defender acted only as spyware. It included a number of real-time
security agents that supervised many Windows common areas to look for
variations that can be caused by spyware.
The integrated support for Microsoft Spy Net was as part of Windows
Defender. This allows people to report any suspicious activity they recall in
their systems. It also enables people to tell Microsoft what kind of device
drivers or applications they approve for installation in their computers.
Soon
virus protection feature was added in Windows 8, which resembled Microsoft
Security Essentials and in fact also used the exact anti-malware engine. Over
time many changes and updates have been made in Windows Defender. On the
occasion of the 10th anniversary of Windows Defender, a new logo was released.
This was followed by a feature that included pop up notifications which would announce
the scan results.
Devices supported by Microsoft Windows Antivirus
As
its name goes, Microsoft Windows Antivirus or Windows Defender is compatible
with Windows devices. It works in Windows 8 in the capacity of detecting computer
spyware, ransomware, viruses, and other kinds of malware. On Windows XP,
Windows 7, and Windows Vista, the software only removes spyware and to get rid
of more malware one needs to download Microsoft Security Essentials which is
downloadable for free from official Windows website. In 2005, Bill Gate, the co-founder of
Microsoft announced that Windows Defender would be made available for free to
users that have licensed Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 so
that they can protect their systems from malware threat.
Microsoft Windows Interface and it’s different versions
Windows
Defender’s Beta 2 version was released on 13th February 2006. It had a new
interface. The new Windows Defender was written in C++ rather than Visual Basic
that was employed by Antispyware of GAINT. The change to C++ improved its
performance and included newer features that empowered the anti-malware
features to protect the system even if it wasn’t logged in. It contained tools
found in Beta 1 and required the validation of Windows Genuine Advantage
(WGA).
The
Japanese and German versions of Windows were released later that year by
Microsoft. From the current interface Microsoft deleted the tools like Tracks
Eraser, System Explorer, and Secure Shredder, all these features allowed users
to remove many types of files pertaining to a web cache, Internet Explorer 6,
Windows Media Player history, and htpp cookies. Windows Defender had added
features in Windows Vista which were removed in upcoming versions of
Windows.
Finally,
on 24th October 2006, Microsoft launched Windows Defender. It was compatible
with Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, but unlike the beta versions, it did
not run on Windows 2000.
Microsoft Windows Antivirus Protection and Performance
Windows
Defender was laced with features that were aimed at protecting the computer
system from various kinds of malware and to enhance the performance of the
computer. One of the most impressive
features of Windows Defender was that it offered real-time protection that
strengthened the safety against quick malware.
The
browser integration feature elevated the user experience of Microsoft systems
and Windows Defender both. Integration
of Microsoft Edge ensured that all files that are being downloaded from the web
are being scanned for malware. One shortcoming of Windows Defender is that its
file scanning is not done in non-Microsoft search engines. Detecting malware in
web files is a part of it’s in time protection.
On its 10th Anniversary, another update was added that enabled periodic
scans that scanned Windows regularly without any prompt from the user. The
feature of “Block at First Sight” was also introduced that uses algorithms and
patterns to detect if any file or document is contaminated.
Microsoft Windows Security and Privacy Features
Windows
Defender and Microsoft Windows Security have a number of features that ensure
the security and privacy of its customers stays intact. Some of them are:
Microsoft Edge: It is a web browser made by
Microsoft. It keeps one protected from
unsafe websites and faulty internet based downloads. Windows Defender is
directly linked with this web page.
Parental controls: Microsoft Windows Security lets
people set a bunch of family protection controls on all Xbox devices and
Windows 10. Users can put limitations in terms of a time limit of using a
device, blocking websites, and restricting purchases.
Windows Firewall: It is a security application that
is developed by Microsoft and is inbuilt in Windows. It was initially included
in Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP. It was made to prevent malicious
software and hackers get access to one’s system via any network or the web.
Find My Device: This is a feature that helps people locate and lock their Windows devices remotely. If a Windows 10 phone or computer is stolen, misplaced, or lost then the Find My Device feature can erase and lock that device.
There
are many security agents ingrained in Windows Defender and Microsoft Windows
Antivirus Protection. Some of these security agents that monitor one’s computer
or phone for fishy activities are:
Auto Start – It checks all programs that can be run
as soon as the user starts working on the computer.
System Configuration (settings) – It monitors all
settings related to security in Windows
Internet Explorer add-ons – It checks all
programs that are can be run as soon as the user starts working on the
computer.
Internet Explorer Configurations (settings) – It monitors
security settings on a browser.
Internet Explorer Downloads – It checks all
programs and files that are supposed to work alongside Internet Explorer.
Services and Drivers – Checks all
services and drivers as they interact with Windows. For example, whenever a USB
drive is inserted, Windows Defended scans it immediately.
Application Execution – Keeps an eye on
all programs and checks how operations perform as they are running.
Application Registration – Checks all tools
and files that are in the operating system
Windows Add-ons – It keeps a check on all Windows add-on
programs
Microsoft Windows Installation and Support
Excellent
customer support service is another reason why people go back to antivirus
systems devised by Microsoft. Around the
clock, help is provided to Microsoft users by the company. A toll-free number
is at one’s service in addition to dedicated web pages that have solutions for
almost all commonly occurring issues related to malware invasion, hanging of
computers, etc. To seek assistance one
can call its customer service at 1800 102 1100 or check out their website at https://support.microsoft.com
Windows
Defender provides free service in the truest sense as it doesn’t urge users to
subscribe to any paid versions of it and does not share its clients’ internet
surfing data with any third party to generate profits.
Microsoft Windows Performance and System Impact
Since
Windows Defender is preinstalled, it keeps running automatically till antivirus
software is installed. Over the years, Windows Defender’s capability to detect
and destroy malware is impressive. Like
every antivirus program, Windows defender reads software behavior for any signs
of an invasion. Suspicious items are also uploaded on cloud labs but people can
now opt out of it by deactivating Automatic Sample Submission option from the
Windows Security Center.
More
specialized safeguards against ransomware are being formed and Windows Defender
is expected to get updated with them in upcoming months. As of now, very basic ransomware detection is
a part of Windows Defender. If any ransomware tries to access the files in
one’s system, Windows Defender flashes a warning and stops the ransomware from
proceeding. The similar process happens when anyone uses an uncommon program to
edit any photos or documents. Labs have tested basic ransomware stimulators and
tried to run them in systems but they all failed to breach the defenses of the
antivirus program.
Windows
Defender and the additional antivirus features that are developed by Microsoft
ensure around the clock and 100% security of one’s PC and phone. Besides, all
email attachments are automatically scanned regardless of any email software
that has been used by the client. This makes sure that all malware is detected
before it contaminates the phone, laptop, or other systems.
A
part of the reason why Windows Defender is so well received by experts and
laymen alike is the fact that its operations don’t interfere with the other
workings of PC. It is very lightweight and does not slow down the computer. Its
first-time scan of 579,542 files took the average time of one hour, eight
minutes, and forty-six seconds.
