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Microsoft Defender
RecommendedMicrosoft Corporation · Etats-Unis
The pleasant surprise. Windows Defender is no longer the sieve it used to be. For a careful user, it is sufficient. Pair it with Malwarebytes for decent free protection.
Overall
Detailed scores
Protection
7.5Malware, ransomware, phishing detection, real-time protection
Performance
7.0CPU/RAM impact, scan time, system slowdown
Features
5.0Firewall, VPN, password manager, parental controls, dark web
Usability
8.5Interface, installation, notifications, false positives
Value
10.0Price, covered devices, free version, renewal pricing
Specifications
Plateformes
WindowsMax devices
1Price/yr
FreeGuarantee
Free trialFree trial
-Jurisdiction
Etats-Unis Free version
Pros
- Free and built into Windows — zero installation
- Detection that has massively improved since 2022
- No commercial popups, no forced upselling
- Updates automatically with Windows Update
Cons
- Web protection less effective than paid leaders
- No VPN, no password manager, no dark web monitoring
- Windows only — nothing for macOS, Android, iOS
- Full scans quite slow and resource-heavy
Try Microsoft Defender
Free version available