Microsoft’s integrated antivirus software, called Windows Security now, does not require the purchase of a subscription. It is also free. The software is highly rated by the world’s leading antivirus labs, and offers solid protection against malware without affecting system performance. It also includes a number of useful additional features, like the protection against ransomware as well as a password manager. It’s missing some of the most essential features you will find in premium antivirus suites, and isn’t particularly user-friendly.
Virus and threat protection includes the usual quick, full and custom scans. It also includes an intense offline scan mode to tackle hard-to-remove threats. The firewall and network module is simple to use, but it’s not as extensive as competitors. Its main drawback, though is that it’s only available on Windows devices which means if you want to protect the security of a Mac or Android phone, you’ll need to look for a different option.
Family options include parental controls and the possibility of monitoring the health of your family’s devices. The password manager is hidden within the Edge browser and is able to sync to other devices. The drawback is that you cannot control the features through the app and instead make use of a browser to manage the features.
It is different from other antivirus programs because it does not hook itself into the Windows Kernel. This could create new attack surfaces for hackers and destabilise an operating system. In addition, it offers some good behavioural detection and protects users from downloading malicious files.