Why ESET is better than Windows Defender

For more information about the compatibility of ESET solutions and Windows 10, please visit our Windows 10 compatibility page.

The 'Anniversary' release Windows 10 update - changed the way that Windows Defender is displayed, by showing its status as "Off" if any third-party antivirus protection is in use. This can look alarming, but if our ESET solution is active and running, there is no need to uninstall it. Switching to Windows Defender actually means that you lose multiple extra layers of ESET security compared to Microsoft's built-in basic antivirus. ESET also advises to switch off Limited Periodic Scanning; we explain how to do this in a dedicated ESET Support article. It is still not known exactly how this periodic scanning will affect installed AV solutions, but there can be interference, computer performance can be affected, and there will be a heightened risk of false positives.

See above for a detailed comparison of what you get with ESET - and what you don't get with Windows Defender.

The 'Anniversary' release Windows 10 update - changed the way that Windows Defender is displayed, by showing its status as "Off" if any third-party antivirus protection is in use. This can look alarming, but if our ESET solution is active and running, there is no need to uninstall it. Switching to Windows Defender actually means that you lose multiple extra layers of ESET security compared to Microsoft's built-in basic antivirus. ESET also advises to switch off Limited Periodic Scanning; we explain how to do this in a dedicated ESET Support article. It is still not known exactly how this periodic scanning will affect installed AV solutions, but there can be interference, computer performance can be affected, and there will be a heightened risk of false positives.

See above for a detailed comparison of what you get with ESET - and what you don't get with Windows Defender.

August 2, 2016.

With Windows Defender and its periodic scanning turned on, you can encounter false alarms (also known as false positives) from the periodic scanning, as well as observe unwanted notifications that his system is not secure – despite it actually being fully secure when an ESET product is installed, updated and active.

No, if ESET is installed and up to date, there is no need of trying to enable Windows Defender. It is not recommended to run Windows Defender and ESET solution at the same time as it may lead to OS freezes and deadlocks.

To stop Windows Defender from prompting you to uninstall your existing security solution, you can disable notifications in Windows Defender settings.

For a step-by-step guide on how to do this, just visit ESET Support.

ESET has been providing proven, lightweight security solutions with several layers of security for nearly 30 years. The latest versions of selected ESET products for Windows include, for instance:

• Cloud Malware Protection System
• Botnet Protection
• Network Attack Protection
• DNA Signatures
• ESET LiveGrid ®
• Exploit Blocker
• Advanced Memory Scanner
• Secure Browser
• Router & Webcam Protection
• Ransomware Protection

None of these features is offered by Windows Defender.

For more information, visit this page describing ESET’s leading-edge technology: www.eset.com/gr-en/about/technology/

By heeding the advice of Microsoft Windows Defender to uninstall the ESET product (which it does not actually mention by name), you will lose some or all of the benefits above, despite having paid for a valid license.