Don't buy an anti-virus - do THIS instead!

Summary

The video advises users to stop paying for third-party antivirus software for Windows 10, as the built-in Microsoft Defender offers effective protection for free. Initially, Microsoft Defender had a poor reputation, but with recent updates, it has improved significantly, earning high scores from independent testers like AV-Test. The video walks viewers through enabling and configuring Defender, covering essential features such as real-time protection, anti-ransomware, and a firewall. It emphasizes the importance of keeping security features active to safeguard against malware, phishing scams, and ransomware attacks. Defender updates automatically and provides comprehensive protection for everyday users.

Takeaways

• 💻 Windows 10 has a built-in antivirus called Microsoft Defender, so you may not need to pay for third-party antivirus software.
• 🆓 Microsoft Defender is completely free and included as part of the Windows 10 operating system.
• 🤔 In the past, Microsoft Defender was not considered reliable, but with the May 2020 update, it became much more effective.
• 📊 Microsoft Defender scored 6 out of 6 in a test by AV-Test.org, indicating it's a top-tier antivirus solution.
• ⚠️ Defender sometimes flags legitimate software as malware (false positives), but users can manually override these warnings.
• 🔄 If you already have another antivirus installed, Windows Defender won't be active, but it will automatically take over once the other antivirus is uninstalled.
• 🛡️ Windows Defender offers standard antivirus features, such as quick scan, deep scan, real-time protection, and cloud delivery protection.
• 🔒 A critical feature to enable is 'Controlled Folder Access,' which offers protection against ransomware by securing selected folders.
• 🧱 Windows Defender also includes a built-in firewall that monitors traffic to and from your network, providing additional security.
• 🌐 App and browser control helps protect against phishing scams, malicious downloads, and other web-based threats while browsing.

Q & A

What is the main message of the video script?

The main message of the video is that users should stop paying for third-party antivirus software on Windows 10, as Microsoft Defender, a free built-in antivirus, is sufficient for most users' protection needs.

What concerns do people typically have about using only Microsoft Defender for antivirus?

People are often concerned about whether Microsoft Defender is as effective as paid antivirus solutions and whether there are hidden catches or limitations.

How has Microsoft Defender improved over time?

Microsoft Defender has significantly improved since its early versions. With the May 2020 Windows 10 update, it became a much more reliable and effective antivirus solution, as evidenced by its high scores on independent tests like those from AV-Test.org.

How does Microsoft Defender compare to other antivirus programs according to AV-Test.org?

According to AV-Test.org, Microsoft Defender scored a perfect 6 out of 6 in antivirus protection, placing it among the top-rated products.

What is a potential downside of Microsoft Defender mentioned in the video?

A potential downside of Microsoft Defender is that it occasionally generates false positives, meaning it sometimes flags legitimate software as malicious.

What are some of the key features of Microsoft Defender that the video highlights?

Key features of Microsoft Defender include real-time protection, cloud-delivered protection, automatic updates, tamper protection, and anti-ransomware measures through controlled folder access.

What does 'controlled folder access' in Microsoft Defender do?

'Controlled folder access' is a feature that protects selected folders from ransomware by preventing unauthorized changes to those folders, ensuring that malware cannot encrypt important files.

How does the Windows Firewall complement Microsoft Defender's antivirus capabilities?

The Windows Firewall helps by monitoring network traffic to and from the computer, making decisions about which traffic should be allowed or blocked, providing an additional layer of protection.

What is the 'App and Browser Control' feature in Microsoft Defender?

'App and Browser Control' is a feature that helps protect users from downloading malicious files and warns them about potentially dangerous websites, enhancing online security.

What should users do if they currently have a third-party antivirus installed and want to switch to Microsoft Defender?

Users should uninstall their current third-party antivirus software. Once uninstalled, Microsoft Defender will automatically take over as the default antivirus protection.

Outlines

00:00

🛑 Stop Paying for Antivirus Software on Windows 10!

The speaker urges users to stop paying for third-party antivirus software for Windows 10. Many people believe that antivirus is necessary for safe internet use, but Windows 10 comes with its own antivirus, Microsoft Defender, built into the operating system. Historically, users purchased antivirus software out of habit, but this is no longer necessary. The video will address common concerns, such as whether Microsoft Defender is effective, whether it is truly free, and how to set it up.

05:01

👋 Welcome to the Channel: Tech Tips and Reviews

The speaker introduces himself as Lon Sega, explaining that his channel covers a variety of topics, including Wi-Fi, gadgets, tech tips, phones, and more. He invites viewers to subscribe if they are interested in these subjects and encourages them to stick around for the rest of the video.

🛡️ Why Microsoft Defender Might Be Enough for Your PC

The speaker shares his personal experience of paying for antivirus software from reputable companies like Kaspersky and Norton. While these programs offer additional features, they can become expensive, especially for households with multiple computers. When his antivirus license was about to expire, he researched other options and discovered that Microsoft Defender, built into Windows 10, has improved significantly. Once considered ineffective, Microsoft Defender has now become a strong antivirus option following the May 2020 Windows 10 update.

🏆 Microsoft Defender Earns Top Ratings in AV Tests

The speaker mentions the AV Test website, which evaluates antivirus software, and reports that Microsoft Defender received a top score of six out of six in June 2020. While the program occasionally flags legitimate software as malware (false positives), users can override these alerts. The speaker is impressed by the performance of Microsoft Defender, considering it a viable and free alternative to paid antivirus software.

🔧 How to Enable Microsoft Defender and Key Features

The speaker provides a step-by-step guide to activating Microsoft Defender on Windows 10. Users can find it by searching for 'Windows Security' on their computer. If a third-party antivirus is installed, the Defender options will be hidden, but after uninstalling the current antivirus, Defender will automatically take over. The video walks through the different scanning options, such as quick and deep scans, and discusses the importance of enabling features like Real-Time Protection, Cloud Protection, and Controlled Folder Access, which protects against ransomware.

🔒 Additional Protection: Firewall and Browser Control

In addition to antivirus features, Windows 10 includes a built-in firewall that monitors incoming and outgoing traffic, providing an extra layer of security. The speaker emphasizes the importance of enabling 'App and Browser Control' to prevent downloads of malicious files and provide warnings about phishing scams. These features, which are sometimes available only in premium antivirus programs, are included for free in Windows 10.

👍 Final Thoughts and Tips

The speaker wraps up the video by offering another Windows 10 tip, encouraging viewers to check out more tips and tricks on his channel. He invites new viewers to subscribe, give the video a thumbs up, and look forward to more helpful content. He expresses appreciation for the audience and signs off.

Keywords

💡Windows Defender

Windows Defender is the built-in antivirus software in Windows 10. In the video, the speaker explains that users no longer need to purchase third-party antivirus software because Windows Defender offers solid protection for free. This tool, once considered inadequate, has improved significantly with regular updates, becoming a competitive option.

💡Antivirus Software

Antivirus software refers to programs designed to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software, or malware. The video discusses how many people traditionally purchased antivirus software like Kaspersky and Norton, but now, Windows 10 offers built-in protection with Windows Defender, making additional purchases unnecessary for most users.

💡False Positive

A false positive in antivirus software occurs when legitimate software is incorrectly flagged as a threat. The video mentions that although Windows Defender is highly rated, it occasionally generates false positives, which users can manually override. This is a minor downside of an otherwise solid antivirus solution.

💡AV-Test.org

AV-Test.org is an independent institution that evaluates and ranks antivirus software. The speaker refers to AV-Test.org’s evaluations of Windows Defender, highlighting that it received a score of six out of six in their June 2020 report. This underscores the credibility of Windows Defender as a top-tier antivirus solution.

💡Real-Time Protection

Real-time protection refers to the continuous monitoring of a system to detect and neutralize malware as soon as it appears. In the video, the speaker advises ensuring that this feature is enabled within Windows Defender to protect against threats in real time, keeping the system safe without manual scans.

💡Controlled Folder Access

Controlled Folder Access is a security feature in Windows Defender that helps protect files from ransomware attacks. The speaker emphasizes the importance of enabling this feature, explaining that it prevents unauthorized programs from accessing or encrypting files, adding an essential layer of protection against ransomware.

💡Firewall

A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. In the video, the speaker highlights that Windows Defender includes a built-in firewall, which adds another level of security by blocking suspicious traffic, protecting users from external threats.

💡Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a user's files and demands payment, often in cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, to restore access. The video explains that Windows Defender's Controlled Folder Access feature helps protect users from such attacks by blocking unauthorized access to important folders, preventing ransomware from encrypting files.

💡Cloud-Delivered Protection

Cloud-Delivered Protection in Windows Defender refers to the use of cloud-based technology to rapidly identify and block emerging threats. The speaker advises ensuring this feature is turned on, as it allows the antivirus software to quickly update and respond to new viruses and malware, even before full definitions are downloaded to the system.

💡App and Browser Control

App and Browser Control is a feature in Windows Defender that protects users from malicious websites and files. In the video, the speaker explains that this feature blocks downloads of suspicious files and prevents access to phishing websites, providing an additional layer of protection when browsing the web.

Highlights

Windows 10 has a built-in antivirus called Microsoft Defender, making it unnecessary to pay for third-party antivirus software.

Microsoft Defender has significantly improved since its initial release and is now considered a top-rated antivirus solution.

The May 2020 update for Windows 10 integrated Microsoft Defender directly into the Windows Security suite.

According to AV Test.org, Microsoft Defender scored 6 out of 6 in recent tests, indicating its effectiveness.

While effective, Microsoft Defender may occasionally produce false positives, flagging legitimate software as a threat.

Microsoft Defender includes features such as real-time protection, cloud-delivered protection, and automatic updates.

Controlled Folder Access is a crucial feature in Microsoft Defender that provides anti-ransomware protection.

The built-in Windows Firewall monitors network traffic and makes decisions on whether to allow or block incoming and outgoing connections.

App and Browser Control in Microsoft Defender offers additional protection by blocking suspicious websites and preventing malware downloads.

Users can manually check for antivirus updates in Microsoft Defender to ensure they have the latest protection.

If another antivirus is installed on the system, Microsoft Defender will be disabled until the third-party antivirus is uninstalled.

Microsoft Defender is entirely free and offers comprehensive protection for Windows 10 users.

The video demonstrates how to enable and configure Microsoft Defender within the Windows Security settings.

The speaker encourages viewers to stop paying for third-party antivirus software and rely on Microsoft Defender instead.

The video provides a link to an AV Test report for viewers who want to check the detailed rankings and performance of Microsoft Defender.

Transcripts

stop paying for an anti virus for your

Windows 10 computer seriously stop it

now if you're thinking whoa who would be

crazy enough to connect to the internet

today without an antivirus you would be

absolutely right but what you might not

realize is that Windows 10 actually has

an antivirus built right into the

operating system so basically we've just

been paying for an antivirus because

that's what we've done every single year

but not anymore so you might have some

questions like is Windows 10 antivirus

really any good is it really free or is

there a couple of catches we need to be

aware of let's discuss all that and then

I'll show you how to set Yours up and

yes it is absolutely free let's do

this hi guys welcome back to the channel

if this is your first time here my name

is lon Sega where I talk about Wi-Fi and

Gadget and Tech tips and phones and how

to if you're into that kind of stuff hit

that subscribe button below and let's

get on to Today's

Show so just like you over the years

I've been paying for some really great

antivirus software from companies like

kasperski and Norton of course they come

at a price but realistically that isn't

so bad especially when you think about

all those features they keep adding on

into their programs however if you have

a household full of computers and each

one of those needs an antivirus license

and they don't use any of these features

well things do start to add up now that

my license is about to expire I decided

to do a little bit of research to see

what else is going on out there and

that's when I discover the Microsoft

Defender antivirus now yes that name

isn't new that's been around for quite a

while and let's be honest when it first

came out it was actually uh horrible

horrible but things changed fast forward

to the May 2020 update for Windows 10

and now the Microsoft Defender actually

built in to Windows 10 as part of the

Windows security tools but is Microsoft

Defender antivirus any good will it

really protect your system or is it one

of those freebies that you kind of a

little bit on the fence about well that

was my question so I went to AV test.org

and that essentially is an institution

that runs constant test on antivirus and

gives them a ranking this report was

done in June of 20120 so it's obviously

very up to date at the time of recording

this as you can see it scored a good six

out of six for being one of the top

products I will have a link to this

report in the description in case you

want to go check it out the thing that

is worth noticing is that sometimes it

does do a false positive in other words

it Flags legitimate software as being an

issue of course you can overwrite that

within the program but hey it's just

worth taking a note of

that okay so six out of six that's done

good let's go show you how to enable and

what you actually get with Windows

Defender right within your windows go to

your search and then start typing

Windows security and there you'll see it

pop up open up the screen right when

that comes up you'll see it's made up of

a whole bunch of applications all

falling under Windows security on the

left hand side virus and threat

protection is the one we're interested

in and here is your windows Defenders

option now if you currently have an

antivirus installed on your computer you

will not see these options as your

antivirus is responsible for managing

your system however once you uninstall

your current antivirus well then the

Windows Defender will then take its

place and start defending your system so

what options are we interested in here

as you can see you've got the quick scan

the Deep scan as you normally would with

any antivirus virus and threat

protection settings click on manage and

here you just want to make sure all

these things are on Real Time Cloud

delivery protection automatic sample

temper protection I just have all these

things on now this is the important bit

controlled folder access you want to

click on managed and we want to make

sure that this is on this is your

anti-ransomware protection you know

those viruses or malware that get onto

your machine encrypt your drive and they

charge you a whole bunch of Bitcoin in

order to get access back to your own

computer well once you have this on it

will just make sure that those selected

folders are actually protected and those

mware can do nothing to you now you may

be asking how often do the virus

database gets updated the signatures

well well they get updated quite

regularly they get updated automatically

but of course if you want to you can

click on check for updates just to force

the latest update to happen right as

we've come custom with every other

antivirus and since we're here we might

as well discuss the great firewall that

you actually get with your Windows

security and a firewall essentially what

it does it looks at your traffic coming

into your network out of your network to

your computer away from your computer

and it makes decisions whether it's

allowed in or not allowed in you get

this on some of the more advanced

antivirus programs but you get it here

as part of Windows security and as we

out there on the web we browsing web

with downloading files we're going to

get additional protection by enabling

the app and browser control every time

we hit a s that's been reported as dodgy

or as fishing scams or we try to

download a zip file or an exe file

that's full of mware this will protect

us doesn't even allow us to download it

to our computer and gives us all those

beautiful beautiful warnings amazing

stuff from Windows security all B in and

there we go another Windows 10 tips for

you check out more tips and tricks down

here hit the head below to subscribe if

this is your first time here give the

video a thumbs up if you liked it and

I'll see you in those videos thanks for

hanging out I'll see you in those videos

let's go