I've been using Microsoft Defender for quite some time on my Windows 11 system, and I've generally found it to be a solid choice for everyday protection. Microsoft has significantly improved Defender over the years, making it quite competitive with third-party antivirus solutions. In AV-TEST's recent evaluations, Microsoft Defender scored well in terms of protection, performance, and usability, which speaks to its effectiveness (source: AV-TEST).
One of the advantages of using Defender is that it's deeply integrated into the Windows operating system, ensuring seamless updates and minimal impact on system performance. I appreciate that I don't have to worry about compatibility issues that sometimes arise with third-party software. It’s also free, which is a huge plus.
In terms of specific settings to enhance your security, here are a few features of Microsoft Defender you might find useful:
Real-Time Protection: Always keep this enabled. It helps to immediately detect and handle threats as they arise.
Controlled Folder Access: This helps protect your important data from ransomware attacks by blocking unauthorized access to your files.
Exploit Protection: You can customize this more granularly by configuring settings based on your needs, offering an additional layer of defense against known and unknown vulnerabilities.
Cloud-Delivered Protection and Automatic Sample Submission: Enabling these can enhance detection accuracy, as the defender leverages Microsoft's extensive threat intelligence network.
There are occasions, though, when you might consider adding a third-party solution, particularly if you need specialized features like a password manager or a VPN bundled with the antivirus software. However, for standard protection, especially if you practice safe browsing and maintain regular system updates, Microsoft Defender is typically sufficient.
An aspect to consider is its reliance on cloud-based protection — it works best when connected to the internet due to how it handles new threat data.
I’d be curious to hear what your typical usage is like. Do you engage in a lot of online transactions, or do you handle sensitive personal data on your computer? This context might help determine if layering additional security measures would be beneficial for you.
