(If you don't like any of these options there are better free antivirus programs you can install - see the best free antivirus software for more.) How to check if Windows Defender is running However, if you don't activate that McAfee or Norton trial, Defender won’t automatically enable itself, so you’ll be vulnerable to malware. This is because the two may conflict with each other and cause performance problems. The revamped Windows Defender rubbed many security software companies up the wrong way, so Microsoft provided an option to turn off Defender when a trial version of a security suite was installed on a new PC or laptop. However, you may wish to turn it off for a period of time for one of many reasons and we're going to show you how.
Microsoft is actively combatting the growing threat of Malware with Windows Defender, a free built-in service in Windows 10 that keeps you safe when you're browsing the internet.
