

Bitdefender, Panda Free Antivirus, and Trend Micro do almost exactly the same thing Panda goes a bit farther, preventing unauthorized programs from even reading protected documents. But you can add to the list of protected folders. Once activated, this feature prevents unauthorized programs from making any changes to files in your Documents, Videos, Movies, Music, and Favorites folders. Dig into the antivirus settings, find the setting called Controlled Folder access, and turn it on. It's not turned on by default, however, and it's hard to find.

Ransomware is a huge worry these days, and Microsoft has put a simple kind of ransomware protection right into Windows Defender. That's not to say the upgrades aren't beneficial. In fact, while its lab test scores have improved, it still doesn't come close to challenging the best third-party solutions-even the free ones. That doesn't mean it's now a security suite, by any means. In addition to antivirus, it manages Windows Firewall, SmartScreen Filter, and Microsoft's parental control system, and also helps with PC health and performance issues. Not so long ago, the venerable Windows Defender got a new name- Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center-and a leap in functionality. How to Set Up Two-Factor Authentication.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.
