Microsoft Defender, the antivirus is coming to iOS and Android: here’s what it will do
Microsoft’s antivirus could soon arrive on iOS and Android, with the aim of preventing malware and phishing attacks.
Microsoft is bringing its antivirus software, Microsoft Defender, to iOS and Android too. To announce, it is the same company with an official blog post. Unfortunately, the page does not read many details regarding the initiative, except that during the RSA Conference, we will discover more details about it, which will be held from 24 to 28 February 2020 in San Francisco.
Microsoft Defender ATP (Advanced Threat Protection) is already available on macOS and Linux in the form of a public preview (it has arrived in these hours). The parent company of the Windows system, also stated in the post that supports Linux was a feature particularly requested by users, and now it is possible to try it for all interested parties.
The innovations in Defender ATF are part of the wider Microsoft 365 strategy. The company wants all proprietary services to be usable regardless of the platform in use, so obviously the same services must be compatible with macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, without exceptions. Security is one of the company’s main focus, and Microsoft does not hide that it is in a better position in the sector than other competitors.
As for Defender on iOS and Android, it is not clear what the function of the applications will be, especially on the Apple operating system. iOS was born as a closed system and with various limitations, also and above all, concerning software that I play forcefully must intervene with the deeper parts of the operating system (such as an antivirus). On the Apple Defender platform, it could be limited to use with Microsoft apps only, such as a solution to avoid phishing attacks via email.
