Windows Security Review: Basic but effective protection built into Windows

Many people think that third-party security products are more effective than built-in security features. Windows. This may have been true in the past, but Windows has improved its security capabilities over the years. Windows 10 and 11 offer more than just antivirus protection. They also include a variety of other tools to protect your PC, your files, and your online activity from malicious threats.

Windows Security: Features

The built-in security features are called Windows Security. The main component is Microsoft Defender, an antivirus tool that runs in the background to provide real-time protection against malware. You can also run different types of scans, such as a quick scan, a full scan, a custom scan of specific folders and locations, and an offline scan to detect and remove rootkits and other hard-to-find malware.

If you want to keep your PC safe from malware and other threats, you should take advantage of Microsoft's customizable Security settings. This tool offers real-time protection and the latest cloud-delivered protection to detect and block malicious files. You can also send any suspicious files to Microsoft for analysis with a simple link.

 Another useful feature is tamper protection, which prevents malicious applications from altering or disabling Microsoft Security security settings. You can also choose to exclude specific files, folders, and processes from scanning if you trust them.

Microsoft Security also provides ransomware protection, which protects certain files, folders, and memory areas from unauthorized access and modification by malicious or suspicious applications. You can see which folders are automatically protected and add more folders you want to protect. To help you recover your data in the event of a ransomware attack, Microsoft recommends using its OneDrive backup and sync service, which has an option to restore affected files.

Windows Security also integrates with other operating system features. Under Account Protection, you can view your Microsoft account, set up Windows Hello authentication for facial or fingerprint recognition, and enable Dynamic Lock to automatically lock your PC when you leave with your smartphone.

The built-in firewall is also enabled by default for domains, private networks, and public networks. You can easily allow a specific application to pass through the firewall for a public or private network. You can also access advanced firewall settings through an add-on module where you can customize existing rules and create new firewall rules.

Windows Security is the default antivirus and anti-malware software that comes preinstalled with Windows 10. It offers basic but effective protection against various threats, such as viruses, ransomware, phishing, and spyware. In this blog post, we will review the features, performance, and usability of Windows Security and compare it to some of the best third-party antivirus programs available on the market.

Details of the product

Windows Security has four main components: virus and threat protection, account protection, network and firewall protection, and application and browser control. Each component provides a different layer of security for your PC.

– Virus and threat protection: This component scans your files and programs for malicious code and blocks or deletes them if detected. You can choose from three scanning options: quick scan, full scan, and custom scan. You can also schedule scans to run automatically at regular intervals. Windows Security also has a feature called ransomware protection, which protects your important files from being encrypted or deleted by ransomware attacks. You can enable this feature by going to Virus and threat protection settings > Manage ransomware protection > Turn on controlled folder access.

– Account protection: This component helps you protect your Microsoft account and sign-in options. You can enable Windows Hello, which lets you sign in with your face, fingerprint, or PIN instead of a password. You can also use dynamic locking, which automatically locks your PC when you walk away from it. Additionally, you can monitor the status and security of your account with the Microsoft account dashboard, which shows you any recent activity or security alerts in your account.

– Firewall and network protection: This component monitors and controls network traffic on your PC. Blocks any unauthorized or suspicious connections and prevents hackers from accessing your PC remotely. You can also customize firewall settings for different network profiles (public, private, or domain) and allow or block specific applications from accessing the network.

– Application and browser control: This component helps you protect your web browsing and application usage. It uses Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, which warns you about potentially harmful websites, downloads, and apps. You can also adjust the protection level for each category (Block, Warn or Disable). Additionally, you can enable exploit protection, which prevents common exploits from affecting your PC.

Performance

Windows security has minimal impact on your PC's performance. According to AV-TEST, an independent security testing institute, Windows Security scored 5,5 out of 6 in the performance category in its latest evaluation (September/October 2021). This means that it did not significantly slow down the system when performing common tasks such as launching applications, copying files, or browsing the web.

Usability

Windows Security has a simple and intuitive user interface that is easy to navigate and use. You can access it from the Start menu or taskbar icon. The main window shows you the current status of your PC's security and allows you to perform quick actions such as running a scan or updating definitions. You can also access more settings and options by clicking on each component.

Comparison

Windows Security is a decent antivirus software that provides basic but effective protection for your PC. However, it may not be enough for some users who need more advanced features or higher levels of security. For example, Windows Security does not offer features such as parental controls, VPN, password manager, webcam protection, or anti-theft. Additionally, Windows Security may not detect some of the more sophisticated malware that can evade its detection mechanisms.

Therefore, if you are looking for more comprehensive and reliable protection for your PC, you may want to consider some of the best third-party antivirus programs available on the market. Some of the top-rated antivirus programs include Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2022, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2022, Norton AntiVirus Plus 2022, and McAfee Total Protection 2022. These antivirus programs offer more features and better performance than Windows Security, and have consistently earned high test scores. independent tests carried out by AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives.

Conclusion

Windows Security is a basic but effective antivirus software that comes built into Windows 10. It offers four main components that protect your PC from various threats: virus and threat protection, account protection, firewall and network protection, and application and browser control . It has minimal impact on your PC performance and a simple and intuitive user interface.

However, Windows security may not be enough for some users who need more advanced features or higher levels of security. For those users, we recommend some of the best third-party antivirus programs available on the market: Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2022, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2022, Norton AntiVirus Plus 2022, and McAfee Total Protection 2022.

We hope this review has helped you understand the pros and cons of Windows security and make an informed decision about your PC security. Stay safe and happy browsing!