Keylogging malware protection built into Windows

Devices running Windows 11 and Windows 10 have built-in protection against malware and malicious software with Microsoft Defender Antivirus. Microsoft Defender Antivirus can detect and block keyloggers, screen scrapers, and other types of malware threats that can track, steal, or compromise data on your device.

What are keylogger malware and screen scraper malware?

keyloggerAlso known as keystroke loggers, can record keystrokes, screenshots, and clipboard data. Screen scrapers are malicious programs that secretly take screenshots or record videos of a device’s screen, but this type of malware functionality can exist independently without keylogging capabilities. In both cases, the stolen data is transmitted over the network to the attacker.

What is Microsoft Defender Antivirus and what does it do?

Microsoft Defender Antivirus is the next-generation protection component of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, which ships with all versions of Windows 11 and Windows 10 and offers the following additional features: Endpoint detection and response and Automated investigation and resolution. Microsoft Defender Antivirus uses machine learning, artificial intelligence, and the cloud-based Microsoft Intelligent Security Graph to instantly block malware in milliseconds. It can also analyze a threat’s behavior and process tree and block fileless malware and human-assisted attacks.

How does protection work?

First, let’s take a closer look at how to prevent malware keyloggers from entering your system. Turned on by default in Windows 11 and Windows 10, protection against malware starts the moment you turn on your device. Windows uses Secure Boot, Trusted Boot, and Prudent Boot to verify firmware, bootloader, kernel, drivers, and anti-malware software before loading them. These technologies help prevent malware from tampering with the boot sequence and damaging your device before the Microsoft Defender antivirus software starts.

Once launched, Microsoft Defender Antivirus utilizes multiple scanning engines to instantly block malware. Behavioral blocking and suppression in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint can identify fileless malware and stop threats even after they have started running.

What happens if I don’t use Microsoft Defender Antivirus?

Users can consider enhancing the security of their unmanaged personal devices by using Copilot+ PC as a secure core PC, providing advanced security for commercial and consumer devices. Secure Core PCs have the Microsoft Security Baseline (a group of settings implemented by Microsoft based on feedback from security experts) as well as hardware-assisted security features enabled by default without any action required from you. In addition to the protection layers of Windows 11, Secure Core PC offers advanced firmware protection features and a dynamic root of trust for measurement, providing protection from chip to cloud. Learn more New Windows 11 security features.

What happens if no malware is detected and I try to disable Microsoft Defender Antivirus?

Tamper proofIt is included in Windows 11 and Windows 10. On by defaulthelps protect against keyloggers by preventing some security settings, such as Virus & Threat Protection, from being turned off or modified by malware.

What happens if a user with administrator privileges on their computer turns off real-time scanning?

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen can block malware downloads before they enter your system, even when Microsoft Defender Antivirus real-time scanning is turned off. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint’s additional detection engine can still find keyloggers.

How do I know if I have keylogger protection if I’ve never been detected?

To demonstrate how Microsoft Defender for Endpoint detects and blocks, we provide three keylogging examples below that disable two Windows 11 and Windows 10 built-in protections: These protections include:

• Microsoft Defender AntivirusScans disk and memory for malware.
• Microsoft Defender Smart ScreenIt helps block malware downloads, including downloads by third-party browsers and email clients.

The example screenshot below shows three keyloggers detected by Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.

Keylogger example 1

In addition to keylogging, this keylogger also performed some discovery activities, also known as reconnaissance activities. Both types of activity were detected.

Keylogger example 2

In this example, the keylogger created another file. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint was able to detect suspicious behavior.

Keylogger example 3

Here the keylogger was not launched for the first time. Even when the keylogger was explicitly allowed to run by an end user (including administrator rights) authorizing execution, the keylogger was unable to capture keystrokes and screenshots due to other prevention mechanisms.

The image below shows the three keylogger detections tested above. Even though real-time protection was previously disabled, Microsoft Defender Antivirus appears as a scan source because Microsoft Defender for Endpoint’s enhanced detection and response (EDR) may request Microsoft Defender Antivirus scan files. Learn more Detect and respond to endpoints in blocking mode.

Protection features built into Windows 11 and Windows 10 help protect against malware keyloggers by preventing them from entering and running on your system. For even better protection, consider using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. By combining built-in protection with Microsoft Defender for Endpoints, you get better, coordinated protection across Microsoft products and services.

For more information, download: Windows 11 Security Guide PDF and see 13 reasons why you should use Microsoft Defender Antivirus with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.

Keep the conversation going. Find best practices. Add to bookmarks Windows Technology Communitythen follow us @MSWindowsITPro X and above linkedin. Looking for support? visit Windows on Microsoft Q&A.