Many offer related services like VPNs, credit monitoring and protection, online password vaults, and more. These are mainly due to the extras that some of these software packages bundle in for you. There are still instances where you might want to pay for an antivirus service. The fact that Windows Defender keeps itself updated and scans, all without you needing to do a thing – or even noticing it running – really makes this a very appealing option. Now, in recent testing, since the June update, it scored perfectly when it came to zero-day attacks. This was previously a problem area for the service. That's something that even some of the paid-for services fail at from time to time, including names like McAfee and Symantec, according to AV-comparatives.Īnother area that the Defender did well in was zero-day attacks. One of the stand-out features that Defender offers is its ability to make sure that absolutely no malware can take over its test systems. The software can scan your system for known malware signatures, but it can also monitor your software for signs of an infection. This is a refreshing offering when you consider this is free to use and is as, if not more, capable than the paid services.

Unlike a lot of the free software out there, this won't try to get you to sign up to a paid service, continually pestering you or using ads. You don't have to think about it or worry about it slowing you down or eating through your battery. That means it's far less effort than the competition since it just works. As such, Windows Defender works away quietly in the background keeping your system safe.

Windows defender is a good antivirus