It only takes one ransomware or botnet attack to hijack your computer or steal your identity. The difference may seem small, but the stakes are high for zero-day attacks. The IT-Security Institute’s test results (for July and August) showed Defender as only 97.0% effective against zero-day malware attacks, 2.5% below the industry average. Zero-day attacks happen the same day developers discover a security vulnerability, and they’re growing in popularity among cybercriminals. Īnother 2017 study by the IT-Security Institute showed Defender falling behind other antivirus software in preventing zero-day malware attacks. Defender received an overall protection rating of 99.5%, falling behind seven other cybersecurity software.

The AV Comparatives study tested 17 major antivirus software brands and ran from July to November 2017. Be aware of future trends in malware attacks and choose antivirus software based on its ability to defend against growing threats such as zero-day attacks and ransomware.

Detecting and eliminating malware threats is the primary consideration. Overall Protection: Defender Falls Behind Other SoftwareĪny antivirus software needs a good protection rating. Defender also lacks consumer-friendly features that are growing in popularity - like password managers and a built-in virtual private network (VPN). Windows 10 users should examine recent comparison studies that show where Defender lacks effectiveness before settling for Microsoft’s default antivirus option.Īn AV Comparatives 2017 study shows Windows Defender falls behind other antivirus software in protection, usability, and performance. However, not all antivirus software are the same. Microsoft has Windows Defender, a legitimate antivirus protection plan already built into Windows 10. Whether you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 10 or you’re thinking about it, a good question to ask is, “Do I need antivirus software?”.

Is windows defender a good antivirus