Windows Defender is a built-in malware protection program for Windows operating systems. It can detect and remove malicious software, such as viruses, worms, ransomware, Trojans, rootkits, and other malicious programs. It can also scan for malicious links and websites that may harm your computer or its data.
Windows Defender uses multiple techniques to detect threats, including signature-based detection, which is the most common type of detection. Signature-based detection looks for known malware signatures that match the malware code stored in the Windows Defender virus dictionary. This dictionary is constantly updated with new signatures as they become available.
Windows Defender also uses heuristic-based detection, which looks for malicious activity on the computer and can detect unknown, or zero-day, malware. It does this by looking for specific patterns of code or behavior associated with malicious software. Windows Defender also has cloud-based protection which can detect new malware before it is detected on the computer. It does this by comparing the unknown file to millions of known malicious files in Microsoft’s cloud database.
In addition to the standard types of malware, Windows Defender can detect a variety of other threats such as phishing websites, spyware, and other potentially unwanted applications. It also includes a feature known as “Controlled Folder Access” which is designed to prevent ransomware from encrypting your files.
To further strengthen your computer’s security, Windows Defender can be paired with other third-party anti-malware software. This will provide an additional layer of protection and help to make sure that any threats that slip through the cracks are caught.