Windows Defender – The "Only" Antivirus You Need for Everyday Use

In September 2018, I wrote a few words about Windows Defender, as my default antivirus for Windows 10. It’s been a few years since I’ve used it at work (as well as the rest of the people in the company). I recommend Microsoft’s default solution built into Windows 10/11 to anyone I help with their computer.

So I decided to check if Windows Defender is still a solution worth recommending. After all, it’s free, and you have to pay for all the others, so what’s the catch?

My opinion of Microsoft has changed drastically over the years. Since Satya Nadella took over as CEO in 2014 and after Bill Gates officially left the company (2020), it’s safe to say we’re dealing with a completely different company.

Not to mention Windows 11 itself, which I think was released too soon, just to jumpstart the PC market in an era dominated by Macs with their own chips. Windows 11 is unfortunately an unfinished system. For businesses, as well as individuals, staying with Windows 10 is highly recommended (unless their computer automatically updates), at least until the “big” update is released this year (2022).

Microsoft solutions, although some are paid, are becoming a sensible choice for everyday use. Those that are available for free are causing confusion on the market.

Companies such as Avast, McAfee or Symantec (Norton) have to try harder to sell their software, especially since the built-in, free ones from Microsoft meet the requirements of most users.

The same is true for Google, which at all costs does not want to give up the ability to track users without a fight, promoting Google Chrome with all its might, while we have Edge (based on Chromium), which is available and lacks nothing.

Microsoft can boast (and users can breathe a sigh of relief) the free Windows Defender, which once again scored the highest score in the AV-TEST antivirus software test.

Interestingly, solutions such as Avast, Bitdefender or Malwarebyte cannot boast the highest score in each category.

Personally, both I and my colleagues have not experienced a single mishap for years, and Windows Defender did its job and blocked everything that could cause these losses.

I remember those days when the whole world started fighting against Microsoft’s dominance, especially when it comes to the para-browser, which was Internet Explorer.

While the whole fight was justified then, this time Microsoft delivered a high-quality product that is hard to abandon based on just a few arguments.

Microsoft will continue to use its dominance on the market, promoting its solutions. This time, however, users of its software, not investors, have and will have the feeling that they are getting something that is worth its price, even if it is a free solution.

Microsoft also wants its solutions not to sink their efforts in creating services and software.

In the past, it was the lack of any protection from the operating system that caused viruses to be introduced already at the stage of installing the operating system.

I still remember installing Windows XP and after connecting it to the Internet for the first time, installing an antivirus, I was informed that the system was “already” infected.

Regardless of whether we intend to stick with Windows Defender or our employer forces us to use another solution, our system is now much more secure than it was years ago.

For home users, it is a solution that does not need to be replaced.

The idea behind Windows Defender was basic system protection, which over time has grown into a solution that will satisfy most users, providing them with peace of mind, even from one type of threat.

It is a pity that another market leader, Apple, has not introduced this type of basic solution to its operating system.

Although the number of threats to the system with a bitten apple is much lower than for Windows, it is growing very quickly, along with the popularity of Mac computers.

Interestingly, for selected business customers, Microsoft provides Microsoft Defender for Mac computers.

Microsoft’s appreciation of other operating systems and investing in the development of their software on them is something that seemed unrealistic over a decade ago, but it is.

Microsoft’s solutions (proprietary or purchased, such as GitHub) change the approach to what (what software) we need to install additionally on our computer.

We needed Chrome to browse the internet, now we just need to stay on Edge based on Chromium.

For virus protection we usually installed Avast, now Windows Defender is all we need.

Even the software available by default for playing movies slightly pushes the need to install programs like VLC.

7Zip is still something that has not been defeated by Microsoft’s built-in tools, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Microsoft doesn’t go down this path and expand its portfolio with this type of solution.

Best regards.