Is Windows Defender Enough to Protect Your PC Security

Windows Defender comes pre-installed on your Windows device and gives your device free protection. But if you’ve purchased a new Windows computer, you may also be considering whether or not to buy third-party antivirus software.

Fortunately, Windows Defender is powerful enough. It detects, blocks, and eliminates malware. But if you want to get full protection, adding an extra layer of security to Windows Defender is okay. In this post, we’ll walk you through the question “is Windows Defender enough”.

Is Windows Defender Enough?

Yes, Windows Defender is good enough and it is good software. It offers firewall and network protection, implementation of threat detection, system performance reporting, network protection, parental controls, and ransomware protection.

In terms of protection, performance, and usability, Windows Defender is excellent. The aspect of protection it is able to provide 100% coverage of malware files. The performance, Windows Defender’s solution does not slow down the startup of applications or websites. In terms of usability, Microsoft Defender accurately blocks illegal software and does not block legitimate software.

And when your device is attacked by a malware file, it will prevent you from downloading any executable files or reading phishing pages.

While Windows Defender is excellent in all of these areas, it doesn’t provide you with free VPN functionality. You need to subscribe to a Microsoft 365 Individual or Family plan. Let us explain what Windows Defender is next and how you can improve its performance without subscribing to a plan.

What Is Windows Defender?

Windows Defender is the built-in antivirus and security solution that comes with Microsoft Windows. It provides real-time protection against viruses, malware, ransomware, and other threats without requiring you to install third-party software. It was renamed Microsoft Defender Antivirus in 2020.

This software runs on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 operating systems and is built into Windows devices from Windows Vista to Windows 11. Windows Defender doesn’t just scan your system like other similar free products, it also monitors your system in real-time. Starting with Windows 10, Windows Defender also adds right-click scanning and offline antivirus.

In 2019, Microsoft announced the launch of Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac for enterprise customers to protect their Mac devices from corporate cyberattacks. To expand protection for mobile devices, Microsoft announced Microsoft Defender ATP for Android and iOS devices, which integrates Microsoft SmartScreen, firewall, and malware scanning.

The mobile version of Microsoft Defender also includes a feature that blocks access to company data if a malicious app is detected as installed.

How to Improve Windows Defender’s Performance?

As the previous part of this post introduced you to the basics of Windows Defender. While it’s good, it doesn’t provide comprehensive network security protection. In particular, the Identity Theft Protection and VPN features, which you need to pay for a Microsoft 365 subscription to get.

To take full advantage of Windows Defender, simply use a Microsoft-based product. If you prefer to use browsers like Google Chrome or Firefox, you may get less protection and you will need to add more browser extensions.

You can download LightningX VPN to add an extra layer of security to your device if you want to improve the performance of Windows Defender.

Encrypted Access: LightningX VPN uses strong encryption algorithms and protocols such as AES-256, WireGuard, Shadowsocks, and more to encrypt and protect all of your online activity. Its obfuscation technology hides your VPN usage and ensures secure access even on restricted networks. This VPN also follows a strict no-logging policy. You can remain anonymous online.

High Speed and Stability: It is powered by more than 2,000 servers in over 50 countries, ensuring fast, stable and reliable connections.

Enrich Your Streaming: Connect to LightningX VPN’s global servers and enjoy buffer-free streaming anytime, anywhere, including YouTube, TikTok, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO, and other streaming media platforms.

Split Tunneling: You can choose which websites or programs pass through the encrypted VPN tunnel while letting other apps, websites, or programs use the regular Internet connection for flexibility and speed.

One-click Connection: You can complete a VPN connection across all your devices with just one click.

Free Trial and a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: You can try the VPN for free before you buy, and even if you do, you can get a refund within 30 days.

The Main Features of Windows Defender

Although Windows Defender has some shortcomings, its main features are sufficient for normal users. Here are its main features:

Real-time protection: It automatically scans files, programs, and downloaded content from malware. And stops suspicious behavior before the threat compromises your system.

Cloud-based protection: It uses Microsoft’s cloud security database to detect the latest threats, giving you faster, more accurate malware detection.

Built-in SmartScreen filter: This filter blocks malicious websites and phishing attacks and warns you before you download untrusted files or apps.

Ransomware protection: It helps prevent ransomware attacks by restricting file access and preventing unauthorized applications from altering important files.

Windows firewall and network protection: It monitors suspicious network activity and prevents hackers from remotely accessing your computer.

Performance and health monitoring: It monitors your device’s battery health issues and alerts you to system failures promptly.

Regular updates: It works seamlessly with other Microsoft software to regularly update your device with new defenses.

What Are the Defects of Windows Defender?

Finally, we also found some defects in Windows Defender. After reading the following, you can judge whether Window Defender is good enough for you.

• You need to stick with Microsoft products to get the most out of Windows Defender. It will not protect you when you are using products such as Chrome.
• You need to be online at all times because Windows Defender has a low malware detection rate when offline. This is not good for your device’s battery health.
• You need to manually turn on ransomware protection, which is turned off by default.

Bottom Words

Overall, Windows Defender provides you with good real-time protection. However, no software can guarantee 100% security protection and it still has some defects. If you worry about this, LightningX VPN is a good tool that is compatible with it. Installing LightningX VPN can give you an extra layer of security.