Windows 10: Can Windows Defender windows-10 easily detect the presence of any Keylogger malware?

Back in December-2024, I had discovered that my main mail account and Steam account had been hijacked. The only explanation I had was that I most probably had a Keylogger malware installed. I am usually very carefull when I am on internet but there must have a time where I clicked when I shouldn't.I managed to get them back and change the passwords. I was on TotalAV anti-virus and it did not detect this.So if I stick with Windows Defender only on my Windows-10, will it always detect these Keylogger malware and remove them?

:)

 

Windows Defender notification of malware detection

Hello,

Thank you for keeping us posted and we appreciate your continued patience on this issue.

At this point, I suggest you to update the Windows Defender program and check if it helps.

To check for new Windows Defender definitions manually:

• Open Windows Defender.
• Click the arrow next to the Help button, and then click Check for updates. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Also, check if the detection is of the same malware file or not. Again, see if it is any specific program or a file you try to access which triggers the detection.

Additionally, view the log in Event Viewer to check if the malware is removed every time it is prompted.

To open the Event Viewer. To do so, follow the below steps.

• Go to the Control Panel and choose to click on the
  Administrative Tools icon.
• The above action will open up a new window of the Administrative Tools where you will see the
  Event Viewer.
  

You can view Windows Defender "Operational" events in Event Viewer under Applications and Services Logs -> Microsoft -> Windows -> Windows Defender.

Kindly keep us posted, for us to be able to assist you further.

Thank you.

 

Windows Defender Fails Malware Test

Microsoft’s very own antivirus software, Windows Live OneCare, was recently found to be failing Vista users, and now the same has been discovered for its free anti-spyware application. In tests carried out by Australian company Enex Testlab, Windows Defender struggled to detect just half of the malware which it was tested with, with the quick scan finding missing most of the malware and the full scan finding only 53.3%. It would be best to note that the test was financed by competing company PC Tools, which claims the test was unbiased, although the winning software (detecting 88.7% of malware) was PC Tools’ very own Spyware Doctor. Windows Defender was released as a final version in October 2006, so it is relatively new and of course (being free) costs less than Spyware Doctor.

Source: Techworld.com

 

Would Windows Defender detect the installation of a keylogger?

Don't know why you would assume that. No, I was a victim of a keylogger back on my Windows 7 computer. The person who installed that k/l appears poised to do it again. At the time, I did not have AV software so she was able to install the k/l with no problem. I finally got it off my machine but not before some damage had been done.