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In other words, it will handle all your anti-malware scanning and Microsoft Defender won’t run in the background. Note: Starting with Malwarebytes 4, the Premium version of Malwarebytes now registers itself as the system’s security program by default. Since it doesn’t interfere with traditional antivirus programs, we recommend you run both programs for the best protection.

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It uses completely different strategies for protecting you: antivirus will block or quarantine harmful programs that find their way to your computer, while Malwarebytes attempts to stop harmful software from ever reaching your computer in the first place. Malwarebytes claims to be able to replace your traditional antivirus entirely, but we disagree with this.

It also contains anti-ransomware, to block extortion attacks like CryptoLocker. The latest version of Malwarebytes combines these three tools into one easy-to-use package for a low yearly fee. As of version 3.0, it also contains an anti-exploit feature, which aims to block common exploits in programs, even if they are zero-day attacks that have never seen before - like those nasty Flash zero-day attacks. Unlike traditional antivirus programs, Malwarebytes is good at finding “potentially unwanted programs” (PUPs) and other junkware. Malwarebytes is the program we recommend here. Antivirus Isn’t Enough: Use Malwarebytes, TooĪntivirus is important, but these days, it’s more important that you use a good anti-exploit program to protect your web browser, which is commonly targeted by attackers. If you choose to use a third-party antivirus, just be sure to disable the bloated, unnecessary features they try to install. If you don’t want to use Microsoft Defender for some reason, we have a roundup of the best third-party antivirus software available. Chrome and Firefox, similarly, include Google’s Safe Browsing, which blocks many malware downloads.

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Plus, Windows 10 and 11 already include the various other protections introduced in Windows 8, like the SmartScreen filter that should prevent you from downloading and running malware, whatever antivirus you use. Microsoft Defender does not do any of these things - it does one thing well, for free, and without getting in your way.

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Just look at all the extra garbage Avast tries to install alongside its antivirus. Something that protects you against viruses but opens you up to other vectors of attack is not good security. Furthermore, the way they hook themselves into your browser and operating system often causes more problems than it solves. Other antivirus programs may occasionally do a bit better in monthly tests, but they also come with a lot of bloat, like browser extensions that actually make you less safe, registry cleaners that are terrible and unnecesary, loads of unsafe junkware, and even the ability to track your browsing habits so they can make money.

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RELATED: Beware: Free Antivirus Isn't Really Free Anymoreįurthermore, security is about more than raw protection scores. It’s up there with the best third-party antivirus options. Its performance in the preceding months was comparably excellent - it has had perfect protection scores for almost two years. AV-TEST found that it caught 100% of the “widespread and prevalent malware” in January and February of 2022, along with 100% percent of the zero-day attacks in the same time frame.

What if you want to use something else?įirst, let’s look at those scores. If you look at that antivirus comparison we linked to above, you’ll notice that Microsoft Defender - while excellent - has some stiff competition. But Is Microsoft Defender the Best Antivirus? What About Other Programs? So in short, yes: Microsoft Defender is good enough (as long as you couple it with a good anti-malware program, as we mentioned above - more on that in a minute). It was bad enough that we recommended something else, but it’s since bounced back, and now provides excellent protection. RELATED: Do I Really Need Antivirus If I Browse Carefully and Use Common Sense?įor a short while, Microsoft’s antivirus fell behind the others when it came to comparative antivirus software tests - way behind. Best of all, it doesn’t slow down your system, and mostly stays out of your way - which we can’t say about most other antivirus programs. Microsoft Defender comes built-in to Windows, and automatically scans programs you open, downloads new definitions from Windows Update, and provides an interface you can use for in-depth scans. When you install Windows 10 or Windows 11, you’ll have an antivirus program already running. So which ones should you use, and do you need to pay money for them? Let’s start with the first part of that combo: antivirus.

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