Is windows defender good? Is it as good as paid software?

If you have used previous versions of Windows such as Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 or 8, you will surely think that the default antivirus software Windows Defender is "trash" and no one wants to use it. That is why the name Windows Defender is so obscure when referring to antivirus software at that time, we are only familiar with names like BKAV, Kaspersky, Avast.

But as soon as the Windows 10 version was released, Windows Defender had a spectacular transformation that gave users a different view of this free antivirus software on Windows. However, many people still wonder whether Windows Defender is really good or not? Is it as guaranteed as other Antivirus software? 

What is windows defender?

This part is for those who don't know, or are still learning. Those who already know can skip it.

Windows Defender is an antivirus application researched and developed by Microsoft for the Windows platform - which is known as their product. In the beginning, it was known as Microsoft Security Essential on Windows 7. In the Windows 8 update, it was renamed Windows Defender and has kept that name until now. And of course, in addition to having to pay to buy a licensed Windows, Windows Defender is completely free. 

Is Windows Defender good?

To evaluate whether Window Defender is good or not, let's look at what this software can do or what improvements have been made in the current version:

- Real-time protection.

- Possess firewall protection

- Parental control features

- Antivirus library based on cloud computing data.

Besides, some advantages of Window defender that make users rate it quite well include:

Comprehensive protection up to 99.5%

This is an almost absolute number. Of course, no one dares to commit that their product is 100% effective. But considering all current web browsers with the current virus library, the results that Window defender gives are quite good. So, for a normal user, it is really too good. However, for businesses or individuals who store important, sensitive information that requires high security. It still has too many vulnerabilities that are difficult to avoid when you are targeted by hackers.

Automatically scan the entire system for viruses

As a background application, every time you open the computer, Windows Defender is immediately activated and scans the entire system. Moreover, Windows Defender data is continuously updated through Windows updates. This helps you feel more secure about your data.

No slowdown - system conflicts

This is the biggest plus point that I give to Window Defender. When it comes to Antivirus software, my terrible memories of BKAV, Avast. resurface. Most free Antivirus applications, or even paid ones, make my computer sluggish and terribly slow. But not Window Defender. As an application built into Windows, it seems that we don't feel that it is working. That is also a good thing for those of you using low-configuration computers, right?

However, any software has its good and bad sides. Although it has done very well in the current version, Windows defender still has many limitations. Some limitations through user experience can be mentioned as follows:

1. Parental controls are limited on Microsoft browsers.
2. Internet security features must be installed separately from non-Microsoft browsers (such as Chrome and Firefox).
3. Real-time protection failed to successfully block some malicious files during testing.
4. Users may have difficulty navigating at first.
5. No built-in VPN or password manager.
6. Microsoft does not update the database regularly to keep up with the trend.

It can be seen that, for individual users, the features of Window defender can be rated quite well within the acceptable level through the daily working process. If you have higher requirements, the good news is that Window defender is completely benign, not conflicting with other Antivirus software. This means that you can use them in parallel, combined with another Antivirus software. 

Overall, according to security experts, Windows Defender is good enough to protect your computer for a free software, and is not inferior to the leading antivirus software today. In fact, in a review by security firm AV-TEST in April 2017, Windows Defender detected 99.9% of "common malware", along with 98.8% of zero-day attacks.

Of course, if you hate Windows Defender for some reason and want to use another antivirus, you can use the top antivirus software available today from Bitdefender, Norton, Trend Micro or Kaspersky. The free versions of these software all work quite effectively. However, if you want to use the full features, you will have to pay a large amount of money for monthly / yearly usage fees.