When I use Microsoft Defender - and I have been using it a lot lately - it is always with ConfigureDefender.
Enable / disable real-time protection
Enable / disable cloud-delivered protection
Enable / disable Windows Firewall
Enable / disable controlled folder access
Auto reactivate real-time protection
Auto reactivate cloud-delivered protection
Auto reactivate Windows Firewall
Auto reactivate controlled folder access
Manage and add exclusions
Manage notification settings
Perform scans
View and edit protection history
Actively monitor if Defender is disabled, and reactivate if it is
Tray icon to quickly disable / enable Defender, run scans, etc.
Various links to Microsoft Defender
Utility links to Protection History, Windows Security, Windows Update and Control Panel
Windows Hybrid Hardening Light (WHHLight) is a simplified configurator of (Windows built-in) application control features. It works on Windows 10 and 11 to support antivirus and prevent malware. WHHLight is a hybrid of Windows built-in security layers: SmartScreen, Software Restriction Policies (SRP), and Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC). After the initial configuration, WHHLight can be closed, and all protection comes from the Windows built-in features. SmartScreen, SRP, and WDAC work well with any antivirus - Microsoft Defender is not required.
where do you find MS security baselines? MS used to have an app you could run to test your security (geeez I forget was what it was called) but I haven't seen it for a few years...Others - Microsoft security baselines
If I plan to run only Windows Security + a hardening tool I would chose Hard Configurator or WHHlight. With Hard Configurator you have ConfigureDefender, Firewall Hardening and lot's of other option to play with. I really like the forced smartscreen and SRP options
@n8chavez Maybe add WHHlight, HC and DefenderUi to the vote otherwise it could result in lots of "other" votes.
I use WD+Hard_Cofigurator+ Configurator Defender and nothing more, it is the best security for me and I am very pleased with it.