Compare the best free antivirus tools for Windows 10 in 2026, including real-time malware protection, phishing defense, ...

Microsoft patched two actively exploited Defender zero-days affecting Windows systems and security components.

And it's almost always disabled.

Microsoft claims Windows Defender is all the protection you need. I've been testing antivirus software for decades, and the evidence—not to mention the threats it can't protect you from—says otherwise ...

Windows Defender has several security settings, including some you need to switch on to get the utmost protection. Here's why.