Windows Defender is Microsoft’s comprehensive security solution for Windows operating systems that protects against a wide range of threats, including viruses, malware, spyware, ransomware, phishing attacks, rootkits, Trojans, worms, and other malicious programs. It can also protect your system from malicious scripts and malicious websites, as well as block malicious applications from running on your system. Additionally, Windows Defender offers protection against user-mode rootkits and kernel-mode rootkits, and it includes a real-time scanning mechanism to detect and remove newly discovered threats.
Viruses are malicious programs that can install themselves, modify or delete files, or spy on your system without your knowledge. Windows Defender provides proactive protection against viruses by using heuristics and signatures to scan for malicious activity on a regular basis. It also uses cloud-based analytics to detect zero-day threats, which are brand-new pieces of malware.
Malware is a blanket term used to describe any type of malicious software, including viruses, Trojans, worms, and other types of malicious software. Windows Defender can protect your system from many different types of malware, including spoofing, browser hijacking, backdoors, keyloggers, spyware, and more. It can also scan email attachments and downloads, protecting you from malicious payloads.
Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts your data and demands a ransom payment in order to decrypt it. Windows Defender helps protect you from ransomware by actively monitoring for known ransomware variants and blocking them. It can also detect suspicious network connections and block attempts to access your computer or data.
Phishing attacks are a type of social engineering attack that attempt to gather personal information through deceptive emails or webpages. Windows Defender will scan incoming emails and webpages for signs of phishing attempts and can alert you if one is detected.
Rootkits are malicious programs that are designed to remain undetected on a system and can be used to control or monitor activity on the system. Windows Defender can detect and block user-mode and kernel-mode rootkits and can also use its cloud-based analytics to detect zero-day rootkits.
Trojans are malicious programs that are often disguised as legitimate programs and can be used to steal sensitive information or download malicious payloads onto your system. Windows Defender can detect and block Trojans before they have a chance to execute.
Worms are self-replicating malicious programs that spread themselves via network or removable media. Windows Defender can scan for known worms and can also detect suspicious network activity and block it.
Other threats that Windows Defender can protect you from include malicious scripts, malicious websites, malicious applications, malicious ActiveX controls, malicious HTML, malicious ActiveX documents, malicious media files, malicious macros, malicious cookies, and malicious code. Additionally, Windows Defender can protect you from privilege escalation and buffer overflow attacks, as well as unauthorized access attempts. It can also protect you from man-in-the-browser attacks and DNS hijacking.
Overall, Windows Defender can provide comprehensive protection against a wide range of threats, from viruses and malware to Trojans, worms, rootkits, ransomware, and phishing attacks. It can also detect and block malicious scripts, websites, applications, and other malicious code, as well as protect you against privilege escalation and buffer overflow attacks. Additionally, Windows Defender can scan incoming emails and webpages for signs of phishing attempts and it can scan your system for known worms.