Microsoft Defender - Mobile security antivirus

Welcome to Microsoft Defender

Microsoft Defender serves as an online security tool designed for both personal and professional use. Microsoft Defender for individuals is a user-friendly application that helps protect you and your family from various threats, providing features such as antivirus scanning, VPN, threat monitoring, multi-device alerts, and expert advice. It can be accessed through a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription.

Centralized Security Management:

- Monitor the security status of your family's devices and identities in one place.

- Receive timely notifications and suggestions for threats across all your devices.

Protection of Personal Data:

- Continuous scanning for threats to your identity and personal information on the dark web.

- Benefit from credit monitoring with regular alerts and monthly credit reports, as well as access to identity theft restoration specialists 24/7.

- Enjoy up to $1 million in identity insurance coverage, including up to $100,000 for fund recovery.

Secure Browsing on Public Networks:

- Safeguard your Wi-Fi connection with privacy protection.

- Enable a virtual private network (VPN) within the Defender app to keep your location and IP address private.

Device Security Assurance:

- Defend your devices against new and existing threats, receiving alerts if malicious apps are detected.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint:

- An industry-leading endpoint security solution powered by the cloud, offering protection against ransomware, file-less malware, and sophisticated cyber attacks across platforms.

Additional Information:

- Accessibility services are utilized by Microsoft Defender to automatically block malicious web pages potentially accessed through links in SMS, messaging apps, browsers, and email.

Find answers to commonly asked questions

- Product overview

What is Microsoft Defender for individuals?

Microsoft Defender for individuals is a cross-device security app that helps individuals and families protect their personal data and devices. Stay safer online with malware protection, timely security alerts, VPN, identity theft monitoring, and credit monitoring in a single app for you and your family.

Where is Microsoft Defender for individuals available?

Microsoft Defender for individuals is available where Microsoft 365 Personal and Family are sold with a few exceptions.

Identity theft monitoring, credit monitoring, and VPN are only available in the United States and United States territories.

What features are available with Microsoft Defender for individuals?

Microsoft Defender for individuals includes the features below.

A dashboard whare you can:

    ● Monitor your online security status in a single, centralized view.

    ● See your and your family’s devices, identity theft monitoring, and credit status all in one place.

    ● Add or remove devices.

    ● Manually turn VPN on and off.

Protection across your devices that:

    ● Helps prevent and detect malware.

    ● Continuously scans for new and existing threats.

    ● Gives you control over what is scanned by enabling you to identify apps and files that you consider safe.

Safety alerts and recommendations including:

    ● Timely alerts about changes to your device status, threats to your personal identity, and changes to credit activity or score.

    ● Recommendations to help keep your data and devices secure.

    ● Tips that help improve your overall security.

 Identity theft monitoring that:

    ● Alerts you if your personal information is compromised online.

    ● Provides specialist recommendation support, anytime, day or night.

    ● Includes restoration services if an active identity theft is found, anytime, day or night.

    ● Enable family organizers to view their family members’ identity monitoring status.

    ● Offers up to $1 million of restoration insurance.

    ● Offers up to USD100,000 in lost funds reimbursement.

Credit monitoring and reporting services that:

    ● Alert you of any changes in your credit activity and score.

    ● Provide you with a monthly credit report email.

    ● Enable you to request a credit report as needed.

Privacy protection so you can:

    ● Manually connect to a VPN, which is secure and encrypted, before connecting to public or unsecure Wi-Fi networks.

How do I get Microsoft Defender for individuals?

1. The Microsoft Defender for individuals app is available for download in the Microsoft Store, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store. Microsoft Defender for individuals is available for direct download for Mac and can also be accessed from any connected device on the Microsoft Defender web portal.

2. A Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription is required. Sign into the app with your personal Microsoft account. Upon sign in, your personal account is validated for a Microsoft 365 subscription and access to Microsoft Defender for individuals is granted.

3. If you don't have a valid Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription, you can purchase a subscription in the app or on the Microsoft 365 comparison page.

- Subscriptions

Do I need a Microsoft 365 subscription to use Microsoft Defender for individuals?

Yes, a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription8 is required to use Microsoft Defender for individuals. If you're already an existing Microsoft 365 subscriber, you'll gain access to Microsoft Defender for individuals upon sign in. If you're not currently a Microsoft 365 subscriber, you'll be required to purchase a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription plan to access Microsoft Defender for individuals upon sign in.

Microsoft 365 plans include: Family ($9.99 /month) or Personal ($6.99 /month). A 30-day Microsoft 365 Family trial is available for qualified users.

What Microsoft 365 subscription option is best for me when using Microsoft Defender for individuals?

Microsoft Defender for individuals is available with either Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription plans.

With a Microsoft 365 Personal plan, you can sign in with your Microsoft account and receive device protection7 for yourself on up to five devices simultaneously. With the Microsoft 365 Family plan, you and your family members can sign in with their Microsoft account and receive device protection on up to 30 total devices simultaneously (five per person, up to six people total).

Identity theft and credit monitoring is available for one person with a Microsoft 365 Personal subscription. A Microsoft 365 Family subscription includes identity theft and credit monitoring for up to six people. Learn more about Microsoft 365 Family plan benefits.

If I’m using a corporate-managed mobile device and I already have Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, can I gain access to Microsoft Defender for individuals?

Yes, if you have a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription. Check your subscription status or purchase a Microsoft 365 subscription to get started with Microsoft Defender for individuals.

You can also learn more about using your personal Microsoft Defender on a device managed by your organization.

- System requirements

What are the system requirements for Microsoft Defender for individuals?

Windows: Windows 10 version 19041 or higher. ARM64 support on Windows 11 build 22621 or higher.

MacOS 11.0 and up, and both Intel and Apple Silicon CPU. Disk space required: 2 GB.

iPhone: iOS 14.0 or later

Android: Android OS 8.0 and up

Is Microsoft Defender for individuals built into the Windows operating system?

No, Microsoft Defender for individuals is a Microsoft 365 app1 for that can be downloaded from Apple, Google, and Microsoft app stores, as a direct download on Mac, or accessible via the Microsoft Defender web portal. Once downloaded, the Microsoft Defender app extends the device protection already built-in to Windows Security beyond your PC to your mac, iOS, and Android devices.7

- Security

What is the difference between Microsoft Defender for individuals and Windows Security?

Microsoft Defender for individuals is a cross-device app that helps individuals and families stay safer online. Defender provides a simplified security dashboard, antivirus protection, antiphishing protection, identity theft monitoring, credit monitoring, and VPN. Defender for individuals brings device protection to iPhones and iPads, Android phones and tablets, PCs, and Macs. Defender for individuals is available in the Apple, Google, and Microsoft app stores, as a direct download for Mac, or accessible via the Microsoft Defender web portal. Defender for individuals requires a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription to use.

Windows Security, (formerly known as Windows Defender Security Center), is security built into Windows to help protect your device and data. Windows Security is pre-installed and automatically enabled. Windows Security includes Microsoft Defender Antivirus software that helps protect your Windows device and data against viruses, ransomware, trojans, and other malware unless a non-Microsoft Antivirus solution is active. Windows Security virus and threat protection status is displayed within Microsoft Defender to provide a unified view of your security status, across all your devices. 

Is the same protection provided across all devices and platforms?

Microsoft Defender for individuals provides anti-malware protection on Android and macOS devices and web protection on Android and iOS devices. Identity theft monitoring and credit monitoring is available for Android, macOS, Windows, and iOS devices, and on the Microsoft Defender web portal. VPN is available for Android and iOS.

For Windows PC and devices, anti-malware and web protection is provided by Windows Security.

Will Microsoft Defender for individuals work with my antivirus software such as Norton and McAfee?

Yes. Because our priority is to ensure your PC has protection, the Microsoft Defender app works with built-in Windows Security or your third-party antivirus solution—rather than replacing it. You can extend Microsoft Defender for individuals protection to your Mac, iOS, and Android devices and get a unified, at-a-glance view of your device’s protection status on the Defender dashboard, including that gathered from other antivirus solutions you may be using. To manage your security settings further, you can launch either your Windows or third-party security solution from within Microsoft Defender for individuals.

- Identity theft and credit monitoring

What is included in identity theft monitoring? How does it monitor my personal identity?

Identity theft monitoring includes:

    ● Advanced online scanning for your identity and personal data (See “What information is monitored?” below).

    ● Alerts and recommendations when your personal data and identity is compromised.

    ● Specialist support, available anytime, day or night to help you restore your personal data and identity when compromises occur.

    ● Up to USD1 million of identity theft insurance4 (See “Who provides the identity theft breach data and insurance? What does the insurance cover?” below).

Identity theft monitoring helps to protect you by monitoring for data breaches online and alerting you if Microsoft Defender for individuals finds your personal information on the dark web.

What is inluded in credit monitoring? How does it monitor my credit?

Credit monitoring includes:

    ● Timely alerts of any changes in your credit activity and score.

    ● Monthly credit report.

    ● Credit report requests as needed.

Credit monitoring helps you stay on top of changes to your credit score.

Users who provide their social security number within the Defender app, get the ability to view their credit score, retrieve new and historic events affecting their credit score, and receive notifications whenever a new event happens related to their credit score. Credit data is sourced from Experian®. 

Credit score is a single bureau VantageScore 3.0 provided by Experian®. The monthly credit report is provided by Experian® using single bureau data.

What identity information is monitored?

Identity theft monitoring can search for personal information you provide such as the following:

User IDs, passwords, email addresses, first/middle/last names, date of birth, residential addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, national IDs, driver’s license information, medical IDs/providers, mother’s maiden name, passport information, bank information, credit/debit card information, retail card numbers, and eBay/PayPal information.

Who’s providing the identity theft breach data and credit monitoring? What does the insurance cover?

Microsoft is partnering with Experian® to provide identity theft monitoring, credit monitoring, and support within Microsoft Defender for individuals.

If your identity gets stolen, the up to USD1 million insurance can help to cover the cost of identity restoration and expense reimbursement. Up to USD 100,000 of direct damages are covered as well, including cash recovery.

Can my family members get identity theft  and credit monitoring?

Yes, within the Microsoft 365 Family subscription, organizers within the family can add their own personal information for identity theft and credit monitoring. Family organizers may also add the personal information of additional family members for identity and credit monitoring if permission is granted. (See "What Microsoft 365 subscription option is best for me when using Microsoft Defender for individuals?" below.)

If the family member is over the age of 13, the organizer will need the member’s consent to either manage or monitor their information. Family members over the age of 13 can change the organizer’s access at any time.

Who has access to my personal information?

Microsoft does not save or store your personal information when you use identity theft and credit monitoring. This information is stored and secured by Experian®. Your personal information will not be shared with or sold to a third party or used for purposes other than monitoring.

How do I get notified and what do I do if my information is found online?

If your personal information is compromised online, Microsoft Defender for individuals will alert you and provide guidance on what action to take to resolve the problem. If you need further support, you can call an identity theft restoration expert to receive personalized recommendations or restoration support services.

- Privacy protection and VPN

What is included in privacy protection? How does it protect my personal data and anonymity?

Privacy protection includes:

    ● Ability to turn on a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

    ● Encryption of your personal information.

    ● Hiding your IP address and location.

A VPN is a secure, encrypted connection that protects users on unsecure Wi-Fi for safer browsing, app usage, gaming, and messaging. A VPN creates an encrypted “tunnel” between your device and a server out in the world. All of the traffic inside that tunnel is encrypted, so if you’re using an unsecure Wi-Fi network an attacker may be able to see that a VPN tunnel has been established but the content flowing inside that tunnel will be hidden from them.

- Customer support

How do I get help with Microsoft Defender for individuals?

Check out Microsoft Support for help in getting started, or go to the Help and Feedback menu in the Microsoft Defender app.

How do I share feedback?

We encourage you to share feedback in the app by going to the Help and Feedback menu.

To find Help and Feedback:

    ● From within Windows, select the ❓ button near the top right of the window

    ● On your Android or iOS device, tap your account avatar at the top left of the screen

Please note:

- To access the app, a Microsoft 365 subscription is required. Users must sign in with their Microsoft account, bearing in mind that the app may not be available in certain regions.

- Some features are limited to specific territories, and not all streaming services are included particularly after exceeding 50 GB of data per month.

- Certain functionalities require parent or guardian verification, especially concerning dark web threat alerts for children.

- Credit score services and identity theft insurance coverage are subject to terms outlined by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida. Kindly refer to the policy documents for detailed information.