Microsoft Defenderis the simple way to protect your digital life and all of your devices. It's included as part of your Microsoft 365 Family, or Personal, subscription at no extra cost.
Important:This article is about theMicrosoft Defenderapp that is included with Microsoft 365 Family or Personal subscriptions.If you're looking for information about the Microsoft Defender antivirus that is built into Microsoft Windows, seeStay protected with Windows Security.
If you haven't installed Defender on your devices yet, follow the steps inInstalling Microsoft Defender.
Microsoft Defender is asecurity app that helps people and families stay safer online with malware protection, web protection, real-time security notifications, and security tips. MicrosoftDefender is included in a Microsoft 365 Family or Personal subscriptionand works on your phone (Android or iOS), PC, and Mac.
Windows Security, formerly known as Windows Defender Security Center, is an app built into Windows 10 or 11 that helps keep your PC more secure. It includesMicrosoft Defender Antivirus,an antivirus tool that helps protect you against viruses, ransomware, and other malware.
For more information, seeStay protected with Windows Security.
Windows Defender Firewall is firewall software built into Windows that controls which network traffic is allowed, or blocked, from passing to or from your computer across the network. Windows Defender Firewall is on by default.
Anti-malware
Malware is malicious software which can steal or damage your personal data such as files, photos, or messages. It may also track or spy on you, steal your money, or use your device to cause other mischief like attacking other people.
On Windows, Mac, and Android Microsoft Defendercan check files or apps you download and install, as well as run scans of files already on your system to spot any malware that may threaten your device.
To learn more about anti-malware seeGetting started with anti-malware in Microsoft Defender.
Tip: Stay up-to-date and install the latest updates on all your devices and apps (especially browsers)to help prevent malware.
Microsoft Defenderworks alongside your existing antimalware solutions, even if they're made by other companies such as Norton or Bitdefender.
Web protection
Many of the digital attacks we see arethroughharmful websites that try to trick you into revealingpersonal information—such as usernames and passwords, credit cards, or other account information—or installing malware on your system.On Windows, iOS, and Android Microsoft Defenderwill checklinks that you (or anapp on your device)open to try and spot any that may be dangerous.
If we find a harmful link, we'll block it and let you know.
To learn more about web protection inMicrosoft Defender, seeGetting started with web protection.
Tip: What is phishing?It’s a trick to steal your info or get you to install malware by pretending to be a message from someone you trust. For more information seeProtect yourself from phishing.
Identity theft monitoring
We’ve partnered with Experian®to bring world class identity theft monitoring to Microsoft Defender.This feature allows you to monitor your own identity details, as well as your family’s, for breacheson both the public internet and the dark web.
Important:Identity theft monitoring is currently only available to customers in the United States.
If we spot your personal details in a breach, you’ll receive an alert and a detailed breach report telling you exactly what data was found and where. You'll getrecommendations on what to do right away to address the situation, details on how this might have happened, information on the possible risks, andtips on how to reduce the chances of it happening again.
You also get 24/7 phone access to a team of highly skilledidentity theft professionals who can guide you through the process of addressing the breached details or provide full-service identity restoration services in the event an identity thiefis using your personal details to commit fraud.
To learn moreseeGetting started with identity theft monitoring in Microsoft Defender.
Adding other devices
You can add up to 4 additional devices (for a total of 5 per person) to yourMicrosoft Defenderaccount by installing the app on your other devicesand signing in using the same personal Microsoft account. These devices will appear on your Microsoft Defender dashboard so you can see the security status of all your devices in one place.
For more information, seeAdding devices to your Microsoft Defender account.
Helping to protect the whole family
If you're a Microsoft 365 Family subscriber, the people who have the Family Organizer rolecan help to protect the devices and identities of everybody in the family. Whenother family members installMicrosoft Defenderand choose to share their device securityor identity monitoring status, the family organizers will see that status on theirMicrosoft Defenderdashboard.
For more information,See your family's devices in Microsoft Defender.
We'd love to hear from you!
Your feedback is key to making our products better, so if there's anything you like aboutMicrosoft Defender, and especially if there's anything you don't like, please let us know! You can send us feedback in the app by going to the Help andfeedback menu.
On Windows or Mac, select the  
Visit the Microsoft Defender community on Microsoft Answers!
Want to ask, or answer, questions about Microsoft Defender? Chat with others who are using Defender? Visit the Microsoft Answers community for Microsoft Defender here!
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