Why I don't recommend Windows Defender

TL;DR

Despite performing well in some tests, Windows Defender is not recommended as a standalone product due to its inability to effectively protect against various threats.

Transcript

Very often these days people will send me links like this And ask me why I do not recommend Windows Defender as a standalone product Now if you see here this chart by AV comparatives for March 2017 Windows actually did quite OK In fact it did a lot better than some of the other security products, if you look at this graph and you see Microsoft 99.7... Read More

Key Insights

• 😋 Windows Defender performed well in a specific AV comparatives test in 2017 but has limitations in detecting new threats.
• 🫥 The presenter emphasizes the importance of having secondary lines of defense, such as anti-ransomware components or behavior blockers.
• 👶 Windows Defender's inability to effectively detect new threats quickly is a cause for concern, especially in the context of scam campaigns.
• 🕵️ The presenter acknowledges that Windows Defender may eventually detect certain threats but is uncomfortable with the time it takes.
• 🔒 Using Windows Defender in conjunction with other security products is deemed acceptable, but it is not considered complete protection.
• ✋ Other security products may have a higher chance of blocking threats even if they are not detected by their signature or heuristic scanners.
• 🫥 Windows Defender's lack of a strong secondary line of defense is the primary reason why it is not recommended as a standalone product.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why does the presenter not recommend using Windows Defender as a standalone product?

The presenter does not recommend Windows Defender alone because it fails to effectively protect against new ransomware samples and lacks a secondary line of defense.

Q: How did Windows Defender perform in an AV comparatives test?

Windows Defender performed well in the AV comparatives test in March 2017, with a detection rate of 99.7%.

Q: What is the presenter's main concern with Windows Defender's detection capabilities?

The presenter's main concern is that Windows Defender takes too long to detect new threats, which is problematic considering the prevalence of scam campaigns.

Q: Can Windows Defender be used along with other security products?

The presenter suggests that using Windows Defender alongside additional security products, such as a firewall, is acceptable. However, Windows Defender alone is not considered complete protection.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Windows Defender performed well in an AV comparatives test in March 2017, with a detection rate of 99.7%.

• However, the presenter does not recommend Windows Defender as a standalone product because it fails to protect against new ransomware samples effectively.

• The presenter highlights the importance of having a secondary line of defense, such as an anti-ransomware component or behavior blocker, which Windows Defender lacks.