Ajiri
Computer Scientist : HND Graduate, From Ozoro Polytechnic Delta State, Nigeria. Worked At Salus Trust LTD.

Windows Defender, aka Microsoft Defender.
Big-name antivirus protection platforms like McAfee, Norton, Avast, AVG, Kaspersky, and more have long defended computers and mobile devices from potential viral threats. News that Avast has been selling user data makes it a great time to drop excess unnecessary potential snooping threats. Now Microsoft has built up its Windows Defender to a level that, many say, is enough to protect you without the need for these other services. Is this true? We lay it all out for you to decide.
Microsoft has started taking endpoint security seriously, and as such the current Windows Defender is often found to outperform a lot of the third-party dedicated antivirus software competition when it comes to malware protection.
What's good about Windows Defender?
One of the stand-out features of Windows Defender is that it's really fast. Since this is built by Microsoft, into Microsoft systems, it can be optimized to perform far more efficiently than a third party option. As such, the system impact of Windows Defender is minimal, making it ideal for use on a tablet or laptop where battery life will be impacted far less.
What does Windows Defender offer?
The software can scan your system for known malware signatures, but it can also monitor your software for signs of an infection.
Why get extra antivirus software?
There are still instances where you might want to pay for an antivirus service. These are mainly due to the extras that some of these software packages bundle in for you. Many offer related services like VPNs, credit monitoring and protection, online password vaults, and more.
Which services work well?
Even with Windows Defender, and everything we've said so far, another layer of security can't hurt. Also, for malware, another option is essential.
Bitdefender
Bitdefender is a great example as it not only covers the virus protection side of things, like Windows Defender, but it also tackles malware, ransomware, Trojans and rootkits. Essentially this is a do-it-all solution in one package. There's even a VPN thrown in, plus a password manager and even some banking tools. It's a whole lot of bang for your buck. Talking of, this will cost you as little as $20 for a year. There are lots of options with one, two, and three-year tiers, each with one, three, five, or ten devices supported. Check out the Bitdefender pricing options here.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2020
The best protection at the best price
VIPRE
Another option is VIPRE, which is ideal for those that want an extra layer of email security. This minimal solution offers an email quarantine for suspicious emails, like phishing schemes. A copy is sent to the quarantine folder where you can open them securely to check if they're legitimate without putting your system at risk. This starts at $45.99 for one device for a year and goes up to ten devices – check out all the pricing options here
VIPRE Advanced Security
Basic, yet powerful protection
Avast Premium Security
Avast is also worth looking at since it offers excellent malware protection, ransomware defense, webcam monitoring, an auto gamer mode and works across lots of devices. This is really feature-rich and, as such, costs a bit more, starting at $48 for the year for a single device and going up to $72 per year for ten devices. Head over to Avast to see for yourself.
Avast Premium Security
A step above the rest
What downsides are there to Windows Defender?
While near perfect at keeping you safe and protected from malware, there are a few instances where Microsoft still has work to do. Granted, these are largely superficial menu gripes, but they're worth mentioning.

The suspect is accused of stealing data from millions of customers , including Social Security numbers, linked bank accounts, and other personal information, Capital One disclosed Monday.
The Justice Department identified the suspect as Paige Thompson, a software engineer in Seattle who formerly worked for Amazon. She was caught after she was found to have been boasting after the Capital One hack online, court documents say.
Thompson could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
Here's everything we know about Paige Thompson, the suspect behind the Capital One hack affecting 100 million customers:
Paige Thompson is a 33-year-old software engineer. She's known online by her alias "erratic."
According to Thompson's resume found online, she attended Bellevue Community College in Washington in 2005. However, she left after a little more than a year to pursue a career opportunity.
Thompson was arrested Monday in Seattle, where she resides. Since leaving college, she's worked as a software and systems engineer at various companies in the Seattle area.
Most recently, Thompson worked as a systems engineer for Amazon's cloud software business, Amazon Web Services, which Capital One uses. An Amazon spokesperson told Bloomberg that she last worked there in 2016.
A "firewall misconfiguration" left Capital One's cloud servers vulnerable, which Thompson was able to access. She worked on Amazon's cloud products when she was employed there, but an Amazon spokesperson told Bloomberg the hack didn't require insider knowledge.
According to the Department of Justice, Thompson posted about her data breach on GitHub, a website for developers to share code. A GitHub user, only identified as an "external security researcher," saw what Thompson had shared, and tipped off Capital One.
Further investigation by Capital One and the FBI found more instance where Thompson had boasted about her hack. The FBI found she has posted about it in Slack, Twitter, and Meetup.
On Twitter, where she goes by the alias "erratic," Thompson sent a direct message reading, ""Ive basically strapped myself with a bomb vest, f------ dropping capital ones box and admitting it."
Thompson is charged with one count of computer fraud and abuse. If convicted, she could face a sentence of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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