Windows Defender tests Phishing, Exploit, Malvertising at Microsoft

Windows Defender is the default security app for Windows-based devices. Like the Windows Firewall, it may not yet offer the most satisfactory protection or functionality, but is there to protect the systems right after installation.

Usually Windows friends install another security application and replace the default Microsoft application. It is what we say better than your name. Here, Microsoft is said to be developing the latest Windows Defender in an effort to make it competitive in the market.

So to promote the ever-growing application, Microsoft has two Windows Defender security testing websites. The first is called Windοws Defender SmartScreen Demo Pages and is basically a page that represents SmartScreen.

The SmartScreen Filter is a component of Windows Defender that is designed to protect against malicious sites, downloads, and malware.

Note: none of the test pages is malicious and contains no malicious files.

You will find the following tests:

Phishing: Displays a suspicious page warning and prompts for immediate action.
Phishing page: known phishing page to be blocked by security software.
Malware Software Page: A page used to host malware. It should be prevented from implementing security.
Blocked download: Start downloading from the page. Download should be blocked due to the reputation of the URL.
Exploit Page: A page designed to attack browser vulnerabilities.
Malvertising: A page displaying malicious ads.
Known harmless program: the application of course should not be ruled out.
Unknown Program: Windows Defender SmartScreen should display a warning.
Known Malware: SmartScreen should block the program.

Click any of the available options to try them out.

The second page is now called Windows Active Defense. Some of the tests require you to sign in to the site while others can run without logging on.

You will find the following tests:

Protection provided by Cloud: Protection provided by the cloud on the computer.
Possible Unwanted Applications (PUA): Download a fake PUA file to check if it is blocked.
Network Protection: Loads a suspicious URL to control your network protection.
Exploit Protection: test the custom protection settings for Exploit
Access Controlled Folder: download the Controlled Folder Access test tool
Block at First Sight (connection required): The function immediately analyzes new files and immediately afterwards if they are suspected blocked by each computer.
Attack Surface Reduction: Sample downloads to enable ASR rules.

Note that the tests were designed specifically for Windows Defender for obvious reasons. Although other security applications may block some of the simulated malware, they will not block them all because they are designed for Windows Defender.

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