Mcafee and windows defender (2024)

FAQs

Can I use McAfee and Windows Defender together? ›

You can run one Anti Virus at a time. You can't turn On both McAfee & Defender at the same time to protect your system. You can have only one AV protection turned On at a time that will protect your computer.

It is generally not recommended to disable Windows Defender if you have another antivirus program like McAfee installed.

You do need an antivirus for Windows 10, even though it comes with Microsoft Defender Antivirus. That's because this software lacks endpoint protection and response plus automated investigation and remediation.

Disabling or uninstalling Microsoft Defender Antivirus isn't recommended in general; if possible, keep Microsoft Defender Antivirus in passive mode if you're using a non-Microsoft antimalware/antivirus solution.

As ​ already mentioned, you need to disable Windows Defender in order for McAfee to work properly. Disabling Windows Defender is little tricky as it gets enabled from time to time if you disable them from settings.

Is Windows Defender good enough? Windows Defender is a good basic virus protection software, but you may not find everything you want if you are extremely security-focused. A third-party antivirus or anti-malware software will likely find threats that Windows Defender may miss.

So, once you uninstall McAfee, you'd want to enable another antivirus to protect your system from malware. The Windows Defender antivirus that's built into the Windows Security application is adequate for most users, and these are the steps you can take to re-enable it.

Note that your computer will be vulnerable to malware after turning off Defender. You'll need to turn off Tamper Protection to turn off Microsoft Defender: Open the Windows Security app. Click Virus & threat protection.

Both antiviruses offer excellent protection against real-time malware attacks, phishing, and other online threats, but Microsoft Defender offers near-perfect protection, while McAfee protects you from 100% of threats online and offline.

We recommend keeping the antivirus protection that came with the system as it protects the device from threats. Mcafee is a paid antivirus service that provides all-in-one protection to safeguard your privacy and identity with award-winning antivirus and VPN so you can enjoy life online.

Is Norton 360 better than Windows Defender? ›

Norton 360 2024: A Microsoft Classic vs. Norton's Powerhouse Antivirus. If you're a Windows user, Microsoft Defender may be just the thing you need for extra security features. But Norton 360 comes with even more features, like parental controls, a VPN, and more.

If you switch Real-time protection off, it will automatically turn back on after a short delay. This is to ensure you are protected from malware and threats. If you install another antivirus product, Microsoft Defender Antivirus automatically disables itself and is indicated as such in the Windows Security app.

If you're using a non-Microsoft antivirus/antimalware product on your device, you might be able to run Microsoft Defender Antivirus in passive mode alongside the non-Microsoft antivirus solution. It depends on the operating system used and whether your device is onboarded to Defender for Endpoint.