For years the reflex was simple: buy a third‑party antivirus suite and assume you were safer — but the calculus has shifted. A growing number of users and reviewers now say you can reasonably ditch paid antivirus software and rely on the built‑in protections in Windows Security (Microsoft...
Enable Controlled Folder Access & Whitelist Apps to Protect Against Ransomware (Win10/11)
Difficulty: Intermediate | Time Required: 15 minutes
Introduction
Ransomware encrypts or locks your files and demands payment to restore them. Controlled Folder Access (CFA) is a built‑in Windows Defender...
application whitelisting
block history
controlled folder access
enterprise cfa management
get-mppreference
group policy cfa
powershell
protected folders
ransomware
real-timeprotection
set-mppreference
windows 10 cfa
windows 11 cfa
windows defender
windows security
Windows’ built‑in antivirus has quietly become the practical choice for millions of users, and the recent pushback against paid suites is no accident — the free Windows security stack now combines deep OS integration, modern cloud and AI detections, and targeted anti‑ransomware controls that...
Zenity’s expanded integration with Microsoft Copilot Studio embeds inline, real‑time attack prevention directly into Copilot Studio agents, promising step‑level policy enforcement, data‑exfiltration controls, and telemetry for enterprises that want to scale agentic AI without surrendering...
Microsoft has quietly shifted a crucial enforcement point for enterprise AI: Copilot Studio now offers near‑real‑time runtime security controls that let organizations route an agent’s planned actions to external monitors and receive an approve-or-block verdict while the agent executes...
Microsoft has quietly pushed a new enforcement point into the live execution path for enterprise AI agents: Copilot Studio now supports near‑real‑time runtime security controls that let organizations route an agent’s planned actions to external monitors and receive an approve-or-block decision...
Microsoft is putting a second line of defense around AI agents: Copilot Studio now supports advanced near‑real‑time protection during agent runtime, a public‑preview capability that lets organizations route an agent’s planned actions through external monitoring systems — including Microsoft...
Not long ago, running a Windows PC without a paid third‑party antivirus felt like leaving your front door open — today, that advice is overdue for a rethink because Windows’ built‑in protections are both better and far more capable than most people realize.
Background
Windows has a long...
Security software is supposed to defend your PC — but when it’s outdated, duplicated, or packed with extras, it can quietly turn into the single biggest cause of a “slow but not ancient” Windows machine.
Background
Modern antivirus products have evolved far beyond a single malware scanner. What...
In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, Microsoft's Project Ire emerges as a groundbreaking initiative designed to autonomously identify malware at scale. This project leverages advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques to enhance the detection and...
When it comes to securing a modern PC, few subjects trigger as much debate as the real necessity of third-party antivirus on Windows 11. For decades, the adage that “every Windows user needs antivirus” was as universally accepted as locking your front door—but today, things are changing...
In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, device security has become an essential pillar of personal computing. For millions of Windows 11 users, Microsoft Defender acts as the primary gatekeeper against an ever-expanding array of viruses, malware, and nefarious cyber threats. While many...
antivirus
cyber threats
cybersecurity
device security
firewall
malware prevention
real-timeprotection
security
security settings
security troubleshooting
system protection
threat detection
windows 11
windows defender
windows defender activation
windows security
windows tips
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) within enterprises has brought both transformative opportunities and sobering security concerns to the fore. As organizations seek to jumpstart productivity through AI-driven automation and workflows, the proliferation of both sanctioned and...
ai asset visibility
ai governance
ai in defense
ai infrastructure security
ai risks
ai security
digital transformation security
incident response
real-timeprotection
regulatory compliance
security innovation
security integration
security partnerships
shadow ai
threat intelligence
unified security
vulnerability management
workflow automation
In 2025, the landscape of free antivirus software for Windows 11 users offers robust protection without the need for financial investment. This article evaluates five leading free antivirus programs, highlighting their features, performance, and suitability for different user needs.
1...
It starts innocently enough: you sit down at your Windows 11 PC, open up a few browser tabs, perhaps launch a productivity app or two, and suddenly, your once-speedy computer sounds like it’s prepping for lift-off. Fans whirl, windows stall, that spinning wheel taunts you. A quick peek at the...
antimalware
antivirus
cleanup
defendersettings
malware
memory usage
pc optimization
performance boost
pirated software
real-timeprotection
security tips
system bloat
system performance
system slowdown
task scheduler
troubleshooting
windows 11
windows defender
windows security
Hold on to your digital hats, folks! Today, we're peeling back the virtual curtain on Microsoft's antivirus and threat protection powerhouse right within the hallowed halls of the Windows Security app. Whether you're a computer whiz or just someone trying to keep your tech safe from the digital...
If you’re even a little serious about keeping your Windows system healthy, you’ve probably crossed paths with Windows Security. For the uninitiated, it’s Microsoft’s all-in-one stock antivirus and system security powerhouse, built into Windows 10 and Windows 11. More specifically, today’s focus...
Hello,
In Windows 10 I am facing the following problem. In the "Virus and threat protection" settings I set the option to "Manual scan" and on restart it goes back to "Quick scan". I also turn off "real time protection" and it turns itself back on.Any solution to disable it permanently?
Thanks!
If I switch it off in Settings, it just helps itself to turn right back on the next time I boot the computer. I read that Group Policy editing is necessary to permanently disable it, but I have Windows 11 Home (not Professional) and can’t seem to access that function. Does this mean I am...
How can I check from command line if Defender is currently enabled?
How can I check from command line if Defender is currently enabled AND RealTimeProtection enabled?
I don't know if the tools MSASCui.exe and MpCmdRun.exe are suitable for this task.
If Defender is disabled they probably don't...