Microsoft
Microsoft Defender’s antivirus product built into Windows 10 and 11 is generally good enough at detecting and removing malware that most people don’t have to pay for a separate antivirus product. Today, Microsoft is expanding the consumer version of the product. The new app, called Microsoft Defender for Individuals, offers malware protection for multiple operating systems, security tips, and the ability to check the security status of all devices signed into your or your family’s Microsoft account. It is now available to Microsoft 365 subscribers and works on Windows, macOS, iOS/iPadOS, and Android devices.
This new Defender software is an offshoot of Microsoft’s Defender business product, which provides anti-malware protection and centralized control for IT administrators. The Defender app supports different features on different operating systems. On macOS and Android, it provides real-time protection against malware. On Windows, it doesn’t include this feature, as the Defender Antivirus software is already included by default with all installations of Windows 10 and 11. Antivirus Protection is also not available on iOS and iPadOS, where Apple restricts the sort of stuff third-party apps can do. “Security Tips” are provided only in the Windows and macOS versions of the app.
Like the version of the Defender antivirus app built into Windows, the Microsoft Defender app will suspend other antivirus software like Norton or McAfee if you have it installed, and only enable itself if those other apps are uninstalled or disabled first. The Defender app also doesn’t replace the functionality of the Windows Security app in Windows 10 or 11, which provides a centralized dashboard for scanning for malware, checking and changing the device’s security settings, but doesn’t provide information for anyone else. system than the PC you are currently using.
Microsoft Defender for Individuals is available with a Microsoft 365 account, which also gives you access to 1TB of OneDrive storage, an Outlook email inbox, Microsoft Office apps, and video calling with Microsoft Teams. An individual Microsoft 365 account costs $70 per year and covers up to five devices associated with one person’s Microsoft account. A family account starts at $100 per year and covers up to six people, who can log in on five devices each.
