In times before Windows 10, the use of an own AntiVirus program was necessary to run the PC reasonably safe.
Initially, Microsoft did not offer a solution here at all, later, in Windows 7, the Microsoft AV could be installed under the name Microsoft Security Essentials and
since Windows 8, an anti-virus protection is integrated in Windows, the "Windows Defender". Windows Defender can be found in the settings under"Virus & threat protection". To make it appear that the firewall works in conjunction with the virus scanner, Windows Firewall has been renamed Windows Defender Firewall in Windows 10.

But how good is the integrated virus protection? Is Defender the best AV or is Windows Defender just enough to protect the PC?

Is Windows Defender good enough?

Which virus scanner is the best?

In general, virus scanners are getting better and better, manufacturers of antivirus software are constantly working on improvements, so it can also happen that certain products do not always cope equally well with viruses.

A current comparison of virus scanners can be found, among others, on the sites: AV-Comparatives.org and av-test.org, here is a current list of tested virus scanners from these sites and the current position of the Microsoft virus scanner:

Windows Defender: a simple solution

It is definitely convenient to trust Windows Defender: After installing Windows, Windows Defender is automatically active and does its job.

Summarized