Microsoft’s integrated antivirus software known as Windows Security now, does not require subscription. It is also free. It is highly regarded by the world’s leading antivirus labs, and offers solid protection against malware without affecting the performance of your system. It also includes ransomware protection as well as a password manager and other useful features. It’s not equipped with some of most important features that are found in premium antivirus suites and isn’t a great user interface.
The threat and virus protection features the standard quick, complete and custom scans. It also includes an extensive offline scan mode that can tackle hard-to-remove threats. The firewall and network security module is quite easy to navigate, although it’s not as comprehensive as rivals. Its biggest drawback, however, is that it’s only compatible with Windows devices and if you’re trying to protect an Android or Mac Mac or Android phone, you’ll have to look for a different option.
Family options include parental controls as well as the possibility of monitoring the health of your family’s devices. There’s a password manager that is hidden in the Edge browser and is able to sync to your other devices. The downside is that you aren’t able to manage the features directly from the app and you must use a web browser to access them.
As opposed to many other antivirus programs it doesn’t connect into the Windows kernel – a practice that could open up new attack see this opportunities for black hats and possibly compromise your operating system. Additionally, it offers an effective behavioural detection feature and stops users from accidentally downloading malicious files.