Microsoft Defender Antivirus
Microsoft Defender Antivirus (formerly Windows Defender) is an antivirus software component of Microsoft Windows. It was first released as a downloadable free anti-spyware program for Windows XP and was shipped with Windows Vista and Windows 7. It has evolved into a full antivirus program, replacing Microsoft Security Essentials in Windows 8 or later versions.
| Other names | Windows Defender |
|---|---|
| Original author(s) | Microsoft |
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
| Stable release | 4.18.23110.3
/ 5 December 2023 |
| Operating system |
|
| Platform | Windows |
| Predecessor | Microsoft Security Essentials |
| Type | Antivirus software, personal firewall, parental control, intrusion prevention, email filtering and anti-phishing |
| License | Proprietary |
In March 2019, Microsoft announced Microsoft Defender ATP for Mac for business customers to protect their Mac devices from attacks on a corporate network, and a year later, to expand protection for mobile devices, it announced Microsoft Defender ATP for Android and iOS devices, which incorporates Microsoft SmartScreen, a firewall, and malware scanning. The mobile version of Microsoft Defender also includes a feature to block access to corporate data if it detects a malicious app is installed.