Does Windows Defender offer real-time protection against malware?

Yes, Windows Defender offers real-time protection against malware. Windows Defender is Microsoft’s own built-in security software for Windows operating systems that proactively scans for, monitors, and blocks malicious software from infecting your computer. This includes malicious software such as virus, trojan, rootkit, worms, spyware, adware, ransomware, and any other form of malicious code or software.

Windows Defender is a free service from Microsoft, designed to detect and remove potential threats from your computer to help protect against viruses, spyware, other malicious software, and even potentially unwanted programs. It runs in the background and is constantly monitoring for new threats or existing threats that may have changed or become more dangerous over time. It can detect new threats that are currently live on your system, as well as prevent them from entering and causing harm. Windows Defender is also capable of removing existing threats that have already been installed on your system.

Windows Defender has several layers of protection to guard against threats. The first layer is a Behavior monitor, which looks out for suspicious activities and attempts to block malicious programs before they can inflict damage. For example, it will scan for suspicious web pages that have been recently visited, alerting you and blocking any malicious scripts found. It also has an anti-virus layer, which scans and detects pre-existing viruses, as well as new, incoming threats. The final layer of protection is what’s called a remediation layer, which helps to repair any damage done by a virus or other type of malicious code, including removing files and data that were altered by the threat.

In addition to the proactive scanning it does for viruses and other malicious software, Windows Defender also offers real-time protection. Real-time protection means that it can detect and block threats as soon as they enter your system or network. It does this through scanning incoming files and data, identifying any threats that are present, and notifying you if a threat is detected. If a threat is identified, Windows Defender can then take action to block the threat and prevent it from taking further action.

Overall, Windows Defender is an effective tool that offers real-time protection against malware. Its layers of protection detect and block the vast majority of threats before they can cause damage to your computer, ensuring that your data remains safe and secure. Even better, it does all of this for free, making it a great choice for those looking for a reliable, cost-effective solution for keeping their computers safe from malicious attacks.