When we hear the name Defender, we think of antivirus software in Windows. The “Defender” is built into the system and provides a satisfactory level of security, due to which many refuse to install third-party antiviruses.
However, now Microsoft has decided to bring the Defender brand to other platforms, and to several different systems at once – Android, iOS, iPadOS and macOS. This is not the first time in recent years that the Redmonds have focused on cross-platform. A good example is the Edge web browser, which can now even be used on Linux.
The new multi-platform Microsoft Defender varies by operating system and should not be considered a typical antivirus. For example, there is no antivirus software on iOS and iPadOS, so here the application offers protection against webphishing along with a dashboard that allows you to conveniently and quickly check the level of protection of other devices, such as a Windows computer or Android smartphone.
Microsoft Defender for Android is a larger application. Here, users, in addition to the functions known from iOS, also have anti-virus protection and the ability to scan the device for malicious applications.
The new Microsoft Defender is not free. It’s available to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plan subscribers ($6.99 or $9.99 per month) and can be downloaded for all of the above platforms from the app stores or directly from the Microsoft website.
