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IT Support & Hardware · Foundational

Microsoft Defender Antivirus

The built-in antimalware engine in Windows that provides real-time and cloud-delivered protection.

Definition

Defender Antivirus uses signatures, behavior monitoring, and cloud protection, managed via the Windows Security app, Group Policy, or Intune. It integrates with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for enterprise detection and response. It switches to passive mode when another antivirus is primary in some configurations.

Example

Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan to remove a rootkit that hides from normal scans.

Exam tip

Use Defender Offline scan for persistent malware that resists normal removal.

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