Is Windows Defender Safe?
Windows Defender is a Chrome extension with a Nerq Trust Score of 48.2/100 (D). It is below the recommended threshold of 70. Security: 90/100. Popularity: 0/100. Data sourced from Chrome Web Store metadata, permissions analysis, developer verification, and update history. Last updated: 2026-03-23. Machine-readable data (JSON).
Is Windows Defender safe?
NO — USE WITH CAUTION — Windows Defender has a Nerq Trust Score of 48.2/100 (D). It has below-average trust signals with significant gaps in security, maintenance, or documentation. Not recommended for production use without thorough manual review and additional security measures.
Trust Score Breakdown
Key Findings
Details
| Author | Unknown |
| Category | chrome |
| Source | N/A |
Safety Guide: Windows Defender
What is Windows Defender?
Windows Defender is a Chrome extension — Microsoft Defender Browser Protection. Phishing and malware protection by Microsoft..
How to Verify Safety
Review permissions carefully. 'Read all data on all websites' is high risk.
You can also check the trust score via API: GET /v1/preflight?target=Windows Defender
Key Safety Concerns for Chrome extensions
When evaluating any Chrome extension, watch for: excessive permissions, data harvesting, permission creep.
Trust Assessment
Windows Defender has a Nerq Trust Score of 48/100 (D) and has not yet reached Nerq trust threshold (70+). This score is based on automated analysis of security, maintenance, community, and quality signals.
Key Takeaways
- Windows Defender has a Trust Score of 48/100 (D).
- Review carefully before use — below trust threshold.
- Always verify independently using the Nerq API.
Detailed Score Analysis
| Dimension | Score |
|---|---|
| Security | 90/100 |
| Privacy | 90/100 |
| Reliability | 50/100 |
| Transparency | 60/100 |
| Maintenance | 60/100 |
Based on 5 dimensions. Data from Chrome Web Store metadata, permissions analysis, developer verification, and update history.
What data does Windows Defender collect?
Windows Defender has a privacy score of 90/100. Review the documentation and privacy policy for data handling details.
Full analysis: Windows Defender Privacy Report · Privacy review
Is Windows Defender secure?
Security score: 90/100. This meets the recommended security threshold for production use.
Nerq monitors this entity against NVD, OSV.dev, and registry-specific vulnerability databases for ongoing security assessment.
Full analysis: Windows Defender Security Report
How we calculated this score
Windows Defender's trust score of 48.2/100 (D) is computed from Chrome Web Store metadata, permissions analysis, developer verification, and update history. The score reflects 5 independent dimensions: security (90/100), privacy (90/100), reliability (50/100), transparency (60/100), maintenance (60/100). Each dimension is weighted equally to produce the composite trust score.
Nerq analyzes over 1.8 million software entities across 18 registries using the same methodology, enabling direct cross-entity comparison. Scores are updated continuously as new data becomes available.
This page was last reviewed on March 23, 2026. Data version: 1.0.
Full methodology documentation · Machine-readable data (JSON API)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Windows Defender safe?
What is Windows Defender's trust score?
What are safer alternatives to Windows Defender?
What permissions does Windows Defender need?
Is Windows Defender's publisher verified?
Disclaimer: Nerq trust scores are automated assessments based on publicly available signals. They are not endorsements or guarantees. Always conduct your own due diligence.