Microsoft Defender has been the name of Microsoft’s antivirus software for years. Now the tech giant has a new app for Windows 11 and 10 that will be automatically installed on a number of PCs by the end of February. Primarily, the forced installation will apply to users with a 365 Family or 365 Personal subscription. The app will also be added to the Microsoft 365 installer, so those who subscribe later will also get the new app installed immediately. This is said to be reflected on a support page. The way this is done unannounced and automatically has drawn criticism, with some concerned users quickly fearing malware. Basically, new unannounced apps shouldn’t just appear on your desktop. But it’s not malware. Microsoft Defender is a dashboard that brings together the security capabilities of your various connected devices. For the actual scans, the app uses tools that are located in the device’s operating system. For example, on Windows that would be Windows Security, but if you open the app on Android you can launch Android malware scans and more from there. The app is also free to download and use for people who don’t have a Microsoft 365 subscription, although this version will have fewer features.