Windows Defender is an application or rather a suite of services that provides security for Windows. The program protects against both viruses and malware of other types - spyware, Trojans and others. Windows Defender is a default application that comes free of charge with Windows systems.


The antivirus provided by Microsoft consists of a number of different services, which can be divided into two large categories - the antivirus application and the firewall (the so-called firewall). The latter is responsible for protecting your computer from malware by constantly "patrolling" your Internet connection.


Windows Defender - history


Interestingly, although the name Windows Defender is still in the popular consciousness and colloquially almost everyone calls the application that, the original name has been changed several times - the current functioning brand is Microsoft Defender Antivirus. In one of the Windows 10 updates (more specifically, in an update released nearly 2 years after the original release of the system and bearing the number 1703 or code name "Redstone 2") Windows Defender officially changed its name to Windows Defender Antivirus. Nearly 3 years later, in 2020, the application's name was changed again - this time to Microsoft Defender Antivirus, which remains to this day.


The history of Windows Defender dates back to the early 21st century and the period of Windows XP's dominance in the operating system market. Initially, it could be downloaded for free as an anti-spyware program in the version for Windows XP with Service Pack 2. In subsequent editions of Windows, the application was already shipped with the system as an integral component. There is no denying that the program has come a long way, and in the early days of its market existence it was quite clearly inferior to competing programs in terms of effectiveness.


Today, Microsoft Defender Antivirus is considered still basic software, but nevertheless, for a large part of home users, it is completely sufficient to protect their operating system and files on the computer. However, it is sometimes criticized for its rather slow updates relative to the best commercially available programs with similar functionality.


How to disable Windows Defender. Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows 11


In Windows, the antivirus from Microsoft does not need to be launched manually every time - it activates with the system startup and is designed to run in the background without involving the user in its operation. However, there are times when we want to disable it - sometimes its "suspiciousness" towards certain programs can be annoying, and sometimes the computer is simply protected by another antivirus program. Disabling Windows Defender is not difficult - it only requires a visit to two sections of the system settings.


Windows Defender - how to disable the program and firewall in Windows 10 and 11? 


In Windows 10, Defender shuts down in exactly the same way as in Windows 11. The path is below:


Start → Settings → expand the menu by clicking on the 3 dashes in the upper left corner → enter Privacy and Security → Windows Security → Virus and Threat Protection


Then uncheck two functions: Real-time protection and Protection delivered from the cloud.


In the Virus and Threat Protection menu, you will also find another tab - Firewall and Network Protection. Enter it and you will see three options: Network with Domain, Private Network and Public Network. Deselect them all.


After each change, the system will ask you to confirm the changes made.


Windows Defender in Windows 10 and Windows 11 - enabling


To enable Windows Defender, just reverse the process using the same tabs:


Antivirus: Start → Settings → expand the menu by clicking on the 3 dashes in the upper left corner → enter Privacy and Security → Windows Security → Virus and Threat Protection


Then select two functions: Real-time Protection and Protection delivered from the cloud.


Firewall: Start → Settings → expand the menu by clicking on the 3 dashes in the upper left corner → enter Privacy and Security → Windows Security → Virus and Threat Protection


Then check the Network with domain, Private network and Public network options.


Windows Defender - how to disable the program and firewall in Windows 7? 


Control Panel → Windows Defender → tools → options → Administrator → uncheck the "use this program" tab.


How to remove Windows Defender in Windows 7?


Note: removing the program is a much greater intrusion into the operating system than simply temporarily disabling Windows Defender.


On the Start menu, type services.msc and click on the icon in the list. In the pane, find Windows Defender and click on that name. Check the "disable" option in the startup options.




Does Windows Defender provide sufficient protection?


The question of whether we need additional protection beyond Windows Defender cannot be answered other than "it depends." Every user has his or her own digital habits, uses certain programs, visits certain websites and has a different approach to system security. Some users pay no attention to malware protection, while others can be very basic or even overzealous in this regard. It can be assumed that if a given user makes basic use of the computer and uses only original, proven programs, Windows Defender will probably prove to be sufficient protection.


Note that Windows Defender is able to coexist relatively smoothly with other antivirus programs, but "conflicts" between them can happen - it will usually be helpful to temporarily disable one of them. 


In addition to Windows Defender (or de facto Microsoft Defender Antivirus), the most common antivirus programs include COMODO Antivirus, Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, G-Data and many others.