Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Davey Winder is a veteran cybersecurity writer, hacker and analyst. There are a number of antivirus, anti-malware, and internet ...

Toggle the Real-time protection switch off. You may receive a User Account Control (UAC) prompt asking if you want to allow the change to occur. Select Yes. When you're ready to turn system protection ...

Q: Are Windows Defender warnings that pop up with a phone number legit? A: Microsoft’s built-in security tool has improved over the years, and it still blocks plenty of everyday threats. But the ...

Update, March 31, 2025: This story, originally published March 29, has been updated with an explanation of LOLBINS as well as further technical information regarding the Windows Defender Application ...

Windows Defender does a decent job of blocking malware but lacks many of the protection features found in suites like Trend Micro Internet Security.