Windows Defender is the default security solution for Windows 10 and Windows 11. For some time now, the application has stood out by becoming one of the most efficient antiviruses on the market.
The application is impactful on several criteria. AV-Comparatives’ tests also confirm this. Windows Defenders ensures a high rate of detection of malware and viruses while providing effective protection. The recurring evaluation of this service from Microsoft is important because its market share is dominant. Exact figures are difficult to obtain but we know that it now exceeds 50%. Clearly 5 out of 10 computers use Windows Defender.
The most recent AV-Comparatives tests once again confirm quality services but also highlight a major weakness, a kind of “Achilles’ heel” of the antivirus. Its offline detection rate plummets to lower than most competing antivirus solutions.
Windows 10, what is the best antivirus? Windows Defender takes top marks
Windows Defender, a mixed record according to AV-Comparatives
According to the March 2022 Malware Protection Test study Microsoft Defender has one of the worst offline detection rate results. It managed to detect 60.3% of all threats. Only Panda Free Antivirus and Trend Micro Internet Security do worse with respective rates of 40.6% and 36.1%. The other 14 antivirus solutions have better offline detection rates. Bitdefender, VIPRE and Total Defense Essential Antivirus (Bitdefender engine) are the big stars with a rate of 97.8%.
On the other hand, if Internet access is available, the performance of Microsoft Defender improves significantly. Its detection rate climbs to 98.8%. It’s a good result but it’s not one of the best recorded. Avast and AVG (part of Avas) achieve detection and protection rates of 99.5% and 99.98%. McAfee provides a detection and protection rate of 99.3% and 99.97% and G Data of 98.6% and 99.99%.
In testing Microsoft Defender caused five false alerts. If ESET comes away with no false positives Panda signs the false detection record (96).
| Offline detection rate | Online detection rate | Online protection rate | False detection | |
| Avast | 94.2% | 99.5% | 99.98% | 10 |
| AVG | 94.2% | 99.5% | 99.98% | 10 |
| Avira | 96.0% | 98.7% | 99.96% | 1 |
| Bitdefender | 97.8% | 97.8% | 99.99% | 8 |
| ESET | 96.1% | 96.1% | 99.77% | 0 |
| G DATA | 98.6% | 98.6% | 99.99% | 59 |
| K7 | 94.6% | 94.6% | 99.85% | 25 |
| Kaspersky | 78.0% | 95.4% | 99.98% | 2 |
| Malwarebytes | 77.3% | 93.3% | 99.75% | 7 |
| McAfee | 75.7% | 99.3% | 99.97% | 3 |
| Microsoft | 60.3% | 98.8% | 99.96% | 5 |
| NortonLifeLock | 79.9% | 99.6% | 100% | 4 |
| Panda | 40.6% | 87.2% | 100% | 96 |
| TotalAV | 95.9% | 98.5% | 99.93% | 1 |
| Total Defense | 97.8% | 97.8% | 99.98% | 8 |
| Trend Micro | 36.1% | 87.5% | 98.61% | 9 |
| VIPRE | 97.8% | 97.8% | 99.98% | 9 |
In the end Windows defender needs an internet connection to give the best of itself. In such a context, it is positioned at the top of the table but without breaking a record according to AV-Comparatives.