“Microsoft Defender is surprisingly effective for free antivirus software, and with a Microsoft 365 subscription, you get ...

A: Windows Defender Antivirus (known simply as Windows Defender in the past) is a fully capable means of antivirus protection for Windows PCs. Is it a replacement for other free versions of threat ...

A recent Microsoft announcement throws users into a panic with the implication that Microsoft’s venerable antivirus tool is longer free. The truth is a bit more nuanced. When the IBM PC was new, I ...

If you’re new to using a computer or new to Microsoft, or on the flip side, very, very experienced you might be thinking: Do I really need an antivirus program for my Windows 11 computer? The short ...

You get what you pay for. That’s what they always say, right? And while that can be true for many things, antivirus software is a little different. There are reputable free antivirus solutions out ...

Microsoft's move to free is likely to win plaudits from consumers, but McAfee and Symantec won't likely sit there and take it. During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried changed beats several times, ...

Who should know more about PC threats than the company whose software makes most of them possible? Is Microsoft’s upcoming, free anti-malware app the company’s way of apologizing to customers? Not ...

Windows' built-in security software just doesn't keep you as safe as the best antivirus. We examine the need for third-party protection in this week’s edition of SecurityWatch. I review privacy tools ...

Big quote: Microsoft introduced Smart App Control a few years ago, promising a new AI-based layer of security for Windows users. But now the software giant is claiming that the feature can be ...

SAN FRANCISCO – Major antivirus vendors responded with guarded optimism Tuesday to Microsoft’s announcement that it will buy antivirus technology from Romania’s GeCAD Software and offer its own ...

We explore how Windows Security and Microsoft Defender protect your Windows 11 computer and why you might want to consider an alternative. Dianna Gunn built her first WordPress website in 2008. Since ...