Is Windows Defender Enough? Everything You Need to Know in 2024

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“Is Windows Defender enough?” is commonly asked by those concerned about their system’s security. With hackers developing newer ways of getting into Windows, it’s important to have robust security in place to safeguard your data.

In truth, though, Microsoft Defender has some really promising test scores and is good enough for basic protection. However, is it enough considering the sophisticated modus operandi of cyberattacks these days?

Well, that’s where things get interesting. We’ll explore this in our guide and offer some alternative (and affordable) antivirus solutions you can (and should) consider.

So, is Windows Defender Enough in 2024?

Windows’ built-in antivirus, Windows Defender, is good enough if you’re not an avid internet user and want a free antivirus solution to handle your limited needs. It protects devices from viruses, malware, and even ransomware.

In fact, it received excellent scores during the latest AV-TEST report. It boasts a 100% malware detection rate and a perfect score of 6/6 for performance, protection, and usability.

However, the internet landscape has changed drastically and Windows Defender isn’t enough to save you from all possible online threats. It lacks important features like:

This is why we recommend a reputable third-party antivirus — these not only offer all-around protection but also protect multiple devices simultaneously on one subscription.

Windows Defender’s Features

Here are some of the key features you get with Microsoft Windows Defender:

Virus and Malware Protection

Windows Defender offers robust virus and malware protection through various scan options such as:

Once the scan is done, you’ll see a summary at the end, showing the number of files scanned and threats found. There’s also a ransomware protection feature that protects folders on your system from unauthorized changes.

Firewall and Network Protection

Windows Defender offers a firewall as the first line of defense against internet traffic. You can manage firewall settings on three different types of networks – domain, private, and public.

Out of this, unsecured networks such as public Wi-Fi hotspots need the most security, of course. We were also impressed with the comprehensive settings menu with Windows Defender.

For example, it may so happen that the firewall perceives a legitimate website as a threat. In that case, you can use the ‘allow an app through firewall’ setting to access that website.

The Downsides of Windows Defender

Windows Defender is a good antivirus solution – but it’s not the best. For starters, it doesn’t go beyond basic scanning functions.

For example, if you’re only using Windows Defender and your passwords are leaked in a data breach, you’ll never know about it, as there’s no dark web or data breach monitor.

Similarly, there’s no ad blocker to block malicious pop-ups or active phishing protection that identifies malicious links in emails and SMS messages.

Even worse, you might have to turn Windows Defender off so that apps can work seamlessly on your system. Also, if you think these are just ancillary features, think again.

70% of businesses have located malware ads on their browsers, while 96% of all phishing attacks still take place via email.

The growing threats to your cybersecurity have made it absolutely necessary to get a dedicated third-party antivirus solution that can protect you from all sorts of modern threats.

Features Missing From Windows Defender

As we mentioned earlier, Windows Defender is a pretty basic antivirus solution that lacks many advanced features. Here are some important functions it can’t perform:

The Best Windows Defender Alternatives

Now that you know you’ll need more than just Windows Defender, here are some of the best antivirus solutions you can go for instead:

1. TotalAV — Best for Real-time Protection

TotalAV is one of the best antivirus solutions available. It provides real-time protection from threats such as ransomware, trojans, viruses, and spyware.

The platform has received excellent test scores (6/6 for usability and 5.5/6 for performance and protection). Plus, it blocks 100% of zero-day malware – as per February AV-Test reports.

One of TotalAV’s key USPs is its WebShield, which works with all popular browsers. It blocks suspicious and untrustworthy sites and intrusive trackers, keeping your online activity safe.

Besides this, there’s also a dedicated dark web scanner. If it detects your data has been leaked, it’ll even tell you the website responsible so that you can take the necessary actions.

You also get Total Adblock, a browser extension that blocks advertising URLs and scripts. This leads to fewer online ads and a smoother overall online experience.

The TotalAV Antivirus Pro plan (base plan) costs $29 for the first year, which equates to just $2.41/month, and it protects 4 devices.

If you want the VPN and Total Password for all-around security, you’ll want to upgrade to a higher-end plan. Unsure? There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can read our full TotalAV review before deciding.

2. SurfsharkAV – Best VPN and Antivirus Combo

If you’re looking for something more than just an antivirus, Surfshark is perfect. In addition to 24/7 antivirus protection, you get several advanced features to amp up your security.

For instance, you can generate a new online name, home address, and date of birth — a whole new online identity — for websites you don’t trust.

You can also generate various masked emails (i.e., email aliases) to avoid marketing subscriptions and spam in your actual email inbox.

Furthermore, Surfshark sends you real-time alerts if it finds your credit card or personal identity details in a known data breach.

However, its highly secure and fast Surfshark VPN is easily its core USP. You can choose from 3,200+ servers across 100+ countries and spoof your location.

This ensures your privacy online and lets you access geo-blocked content on streaming sites—something you don’t get with Windows Defender.

Surfshark’s dynamic multi-hop connection will boost your security by routing your traffic through two VPN servers instead of one, too, making it difficult to trace your online activities back to you.

The best part is that you can get Surfshark for as low as $2.19/month for a total of 27 months or $2.79/month for 15 months. Surfshark is, quite simply, one of the best cheap VPNs.

3. McAfee – Best for Family Protection

McAfee offers some really useful tools to improve your online and offline protection. We liked its Protection Score feature, for example, which rates your online protection from 1 to 1,000.

If the score is low, McAfee will show you the issues and help you fix them to improve safety. Another McAfee feature that caught our attention is the Social Privacy Manager.

Almost everyone today has accounts on numerous social media accounts, and managing the privacy settings on all of them is a hassle.

By installing the McAfee browser extension and linking all your socials with it, McAfee will automatically scan over 100 privacy settings and make suggestions for improvement.

McAfee offers varying plans. The basic Individual plan costs just $39.99/year and protects up to five devices, while the starter Family plan costs $69.99/year and covers unlimited devices.

The family plans also include parental control options, which allow you to limit content, manage screen time, and receive location alerts.

Final Thoughts

Microsoft Defender is Windows’ proprietary built-in antivirus. It offers decent protection against malware, boasts good independent testing scores, and has a 100% malware detection rate.

This is why we recommend getting a dedicated antivirus such as TotalAV. With it, you can protect 4 devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

Plus, you get excellent real-time protection from malware, trojan, virus, and ransomware. There’s also a dark web scanner. The best part? It costs just $29 for the first year.

Unsure? You’ll have a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee to fall back on if you find it’s not for you.

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