Microsoft Defender

Windows Defender is the well-known security tool from Microsoft that protects your system and your data against spyware and other malicious applications.

Formerly named “Microsoft AntiSpyware”, Windows Defender is included by default in the latest 3 Windows editions (Vista, 7 and 8) and can be downloaded and installed separately on Windows XP and Windows 2003.

In my opinion, Windows Defender is one of the best things offered by the latest Windows editions. Though it is neat, lightweight and easy-to-use, it is also really handy and reliable. I like a lot the fact that it maintains a history of detected suspicious system activities and potentially malicious software, letting you review what actions have been taken regarding these detections. Furthermore, it provides 3 types of scanning (quick, full and custom) which can be scheduled to be automatically performed whenever you want. It also allows you to choose what actions you want Windows Defender to perform, by default, when it detects suspicious software (remove them, quarantine them, ignore and allow them).

The scan reports are comprehensive and thorough, providing loads of info about the detected items. Another handy feature is the fact that you can choose to exclude certain file types and locations from your computer from being scanned for malware by Windows Defender.

In an end note, Windows Defender is a handy feature of your Windows system that adds a bit of extra protection against spyware and other types of malware. It works perfectly fine in conjunction with other acknowledged antivirus programs.