Microsoft Defender provides basic but helpful protection against malware, ransomware, and other threats. The AV tool neatly integrates with other Windows features to offer more comprehensive security.

When the IBM PC was new, I served as the president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years. That’s how I met PCMag’s editorial team, who brought me on board in 1986. In the years since that ...

Update, March 31, 2025: This story, originally published March 29, has been updated with an explanation of LOLBINS as well as further technical information regarding the Windows Defender Application ...