One of the most frustrating things to deal with is a new virus that begins to plague your system. A common question people have is if you require third-party anti-virus software if you’re already running Microsoft Defender, the default protection that comes with the Windows 10 operating system.
While Microsoft Defender might be enough protection for some people, it’s always a good idea to ensure you’re protected even further by using a third-party anti-virus software package. For most situations, Microsoft Defender will be more than enough, but there are certain scenarios where other applications are required.
If you find yourself puzzled about third-party anti-virus software and if you really need it, you should keep reading.
Is A Third-Party Anti-Virus Needed With Windows 10?
All Windows 10 computers come with Microsoft Defender, also commonly referred to as Windows Defender. Microsoft Defender provides protection from:
- Spyware
- Malware
- Viruses
Microsoft Defender also regularly scans emails for viruses and other threats that could lead to issues with your computer. Microsoft Defender does a good baseline job of protecting most computers from a variety of threats, but it does have its limits.
The main reason why people end up considering third-party anti-virus software is because Windows Defender doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles that other anti-virus software has.
Some of the limitations of Windows Defender are:
- There isn’t a whole lot of endpoint protection
- Virus investigation isn’t completely automated
What Does Microsoft Defender Do?
Microsoft Defender is the default anti-virus software that comes built into every Windows 10 operating system. Microsoft has provided anti-virus protection ever since its operating system was released.
Microsoft defender keeps a computer protected against malware and also provides a number of other security features for a computer.
For those that aren’t wanting to invest in a third-party anti-virus program, Microsoft Defender can provide peace of mind in ensuring that the majority of threats will be eliminated, proactively quarantined, or defended against.
Microsoft Defender doesn’t require installation. When you purchase your computer, it will already be installed and built into the operating system. Microsoft Defender has a strong focus on the real-time protection of a computer. It also provides offline scanning capabilities.
How To Use Microsoft Defender Optimally
There are a number of ways that you can make the most out of Microsoft Defender.
First, open up Microsoft Defender by clicking the Start button and typing “defender” into the search bar. Once it appears on the list of programs, click on it to open it up.
1. Update It
Keep your antivirus software up-to-date. Updates are released every week, so you should always make sure that your version of Microsoft Defender is updated. The best way to do this is through automatic updates (which can be turned on in the settings).
2. Use Real-Time Protection
Use Microsoft Defender’s real-time protection feature. This will help keep you safe from viruses like CryptoLocker by scanning files as soon as they’re downloaded and opened.
3. Keep Track of Data Storage
Keep tabs on how much space your antivirus software consumes on your hard drive. The less space it uses, the better.
4. Filter Out Websites That Have Been Marked
Use the SmartScreen Filter to help prevent malicious websites from loading on your browser by checking whether they’ve been flagged by other users or by Microsoft itself before allowing access to them on your machine. This feature works with IE, Edge, Chrome, and Firefox browsers but not Safari (yet).
5. Run Full System Scans
If you want to run a full system scan, click on “Scan this computer.” This will take some time—it may take up to an hour depending on your computer’s specifications—but once it is complete, you should be satisfied that your system is free from viruses and other threats.
If you have already run a full system scan on your computer, but still think that there are threats present on it, click “Next.” This will allow you to run another full system scan.
The same warning applies here: it may take up to an hour for this scan as well! If there are still threats present after this second scan has been completed (and chances are good there probably will be), then it’s time for us to start looking into other defensive measures against these threats.
Run a full scan every week or two. Full scans can be time-consuming and aren’t necessary if your computer isn’t experiencing any problems or has been recently cleaned by another antivirus program—but they do help keep your computer running smoothly and free of malicious code.
Can I Use Both Windows Defender And An Antivirus?
You can use both Windows Defender and an additional anti-virus program, but you should know that they won’t work together.
As already mentioned, Microsoft Defender is a built-in antivirus program that comes with Windows 10. It’s been around for years, and it’s one of the most trusted options for protecting your computer from malware and viruses. It’s also free.
But many people still prefer to use an additional antivirus program to help protect their computers from malware, viruses, and other threats.
Yes, you can use both Windows Defender and additional anti-virus software.
While Microsoft Defender does a very good job of protecting you from viruses and other malware, it isn’t perfect. If you have a more advanced virus that it doesn’t know how to deal with, then you might want to install an additional antivirus program in addition to Windows Defender.
There are also cases where some people just prefer using two different antivirus programs instead of one—one for their computer’s internal protection, and another for their internet protection (a firewall).
If this sounds like something you’d like to do, then by all means go ahead. You can use both Windows Defender and an additional antivirus program at the same time.
If you want to use both Windows Defender and an antivirus program, here’s how:
1) Install your third-party antivirus on top of Microsoft Defender. This means installing it after you’ve already installed Windows 10—and then running two separate programs on your computer at once.
2) Run both programs at the same time. You’ll need to keep them open at all times while they’re both running in order for them to protect your computer from malware attacks.
What Antivirus Software Should You Get For Windows 10?
Kaspersky Anti-Virus is the best anti-virus software for Windows 10, and it continues to rate high across many different sources.
This software doesn’t have some of the other features that come with other types of anti-virus software, such as parental controls and a limited VPN service, but Kaspersky Anti-Virus is extremely proficient at providing you the best protection from:
- Ransomware
- Phishing emails
- Hackers
- Stalkers
Bitdefender Anti-Virus Plus is another piece of software that is highly recommended for people running Windows 10. It comes with a password manager with an unlimited amount of entries, as well as a secure browser where you can feel safe handling your banking details for shopping online.
Bitdefender Anti-Virus Plus also comes with a VPN service, but also lacks parental controls in the same way that Kaspersky does. Bitdefender Anti-Virus Plus is a straightforward anti-virus software package that you can feel confident in providing you with the best protection that you deserve.
Norton AntiVirus Plus is another great anti-virus software package that comes with a two-way firewall, a password manager with unlimited entries, and even a backup software that provides 2 gigs of online storage.
Norton has developed a strong reputation for being very reliable at keeping computers protected from incoming threats. While the upfront cost might seem fairly pricey for some, it’s usually worth it for the peace of mind in knowing that viruses won’t take hold of your most valuable information.
When you’re looking for anti-virus software, there are a number of things you should consider:
- The ratings of the software in the Windows Store
- If there are on-demand scans
- Firewall protection
- Privacy policies
- History browsing cleaning
- Price
- Contract duration
- How many devices the anti-virus program will support