Security News > 2022 > June > Microsoft Defender goes cross-platform for the masses

Microsoft is extending the Defender brand with a version aimed at families and individuals.

Microsoft Defender for individuals, available for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers, is a cross-platform application, encompassing macOS, iOS, and Android devices and extending "The protection already built into Windows Security beyond your PC.".

"New malware protection is not available where these protections exist on iOS and Windows," said Microsoft.

Not stomping over existing solutions and instead showing them in the dashboard is a wise move; we can imagine regulators taking a keen interest in Microsoft suggesting its own anti-malware solutions at the expense of rivals such as Norton or McAfee.

The platform uses the same tech deployed by enterprises in the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint world and includes "Continuous antivirus and anti-phishing protection," according to Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President for Security, Compliance, Identity, and Management at Microsoft.

Despite vulnerabilities turning up in its products on a depressingly regular basis, Microsoft has banged the security drum for years now, with both acquisitions and product launches in the arena.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2022/06/17/microsoft_defender/