Microsoft has been
working on a cross-platform Microsoft Defender client for
Windows 11, Windows 10, macOS, Android, and iOS. The remodelled
app which is based on web components (WebView) will help
consumers keep tabs on antivirus, malware scan, phishing,
compromised passwords, and more.
The official
store description of the app claims that Microsoft Defender
or Windows Defender is a security app that gives you peace of
mind. Microsoft says the new app comes with a personalized
dashboard where you can view the security status of your
Windows device and other connected devices in one place.
Microsoft appears to have jumped the gun and released Windows
Defender’s early preview ahead of schedule and effectively
confirmed just what we can expect once the security app arrives
in the Windows Insider program — likely in the coming weeks.
According to our tests, Windows Defender Preview was updated
earlier today with support for login using personal Microsoft
accounts. At the moment, Windows Defender Preview doesn’t work
outside the United States and most of the features are
currently unavailable, so it’s pretty safe to assume that this
wasn’t supposed to go live now.
Based on code references, we know that the Microsoft Defender
preview app is codenamed Gibraltar and it has been available
for Microsoft employees for a while now.
We also did some digging and found indications that this new
app won’t be a replacement for existing Microsoft Defender
solutions in Windows. Unlike the existing Defender client, this
new app will only cover a variety of basic security threats and
it is supposed to act as a dashboard rather than a malware
removal tool.
As we mentioned at the outset, Windows Defender preview lets
you log in with any account, so it would be possible to add
family members to the dashboard and get a security overview of
all connected devices. You’ll be able to invite family members
using QR code invites and users will be required to install a
mobile or desktop app.
Of course, the security dashboard is going to be more
comprehensive if your connected device runs Windows. For the
rest of the devices, you can monitor alerts for compromised
passwords, malware alerts, theft issues, etc.
Microsoft Defender preview doesn’t have an official release
date, but it’ll land in Windows 10 and Windows 11 Insider
Preview in a few weeks or months.
