With the Windows 10 update, the new Windows Defender Security Center has arrived. It is more functional than previous versions and has extra features like a SmartScreen filter and a parental control system. It also runs Windows Firewall, a program that protects you from external threats.
Due to its feature-rich nature, you may be wondering if you still need a third-party antivirus and security suite to protect yourself from various threats. Is Microsoft Defender sufficient as an antivirus?
Does Windows 10 need a third-party antivirus?
If you’re looking for a top-notch antivirus, you’re fine with Windows Defender. This firewall can protect you especially if you frequently download files from social media or websites. This is because the people working on this project have recognized cybersecurity threats in the past. With Windows Security, they found a way to get rid of them.
Windows Defender Security Center comes with continuous and comprehensive security. With this feature enabled, you don’t need to install any other security software to protect your system. It is designed to increase security for Windows 10 users and Surface device users. Here are two such examples of how Microsoft Defender can protect your system.
Turn on Exploit Protection in Windows Defender
There is one type of attack that can create problems for your operating system despite the difficulty in finding the items it needs to find to be successful. This is because this attack involves accessing certain items through memory.
The solution, therefore, is to configure how the data is run. The idea is to prevent code from being executed from data-only memory pages.
In Windows 10, you can find the settings for preventing data execution. An advantage of having it is that you can use it to make life difficult for malicious software authors. What you can do is set it to completely eliminate attacks that hide malicious code.
- To get started, tap on the Windows key and launch Windows Defender Security Center.
- Go to App & Browser Control.
- Scroll all the way down to Exploit Protection. Click Exploit Protection Settings.
- Under Data Execution Prevention (DEP), choose On. By default, it may already be active.
Enable Ransomware Protection in Windows 10
The Ransomware is malicious software that can invade your system and block access to authorized users. With this type of cyberattack, the invasion will only stop when you pay a ransom.
Fortunately, Windows 10 can improve your security from this type of threat. Its recent edition of Microsoft Defender is designed to protect you from ransomware. But ransomware protection isn’t turned on by default. So it’s up to you to configure it.
- Tap the Windows key and launch Windows Defender Security Center.
- Jump to protection from viruses and threats.
- Scroll down until you find Ransomware protection.
- Open this section.
- Search Controlled folder access. Now move the cursor to the right.
