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Clear answers for a more certain endpoint.
Get practical answers on SafeLayerAV, Microsoft Defender, unfamiliar files, and endpoint privacy.
In this guide
6 essential questions
Start with the topic closest to the decision you need to make.
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01
Getting started
- Does SafeLayer replace Windows Defender?
- No. SafeLayer is designed to operate alongside Microsoft Defender. It adds a hold-and-inspect barrier before unfamiliar files can execute, while Defender continues to provide its own scanning and protection.
- Which Windows versions are supported?
- SafeLayer AV supports Windows 10 and Windows 11 endpoints.
02
Protection decisions
- What happens when SafeLayer cannot decide automatically?
- Files that need a closer look wait in the Action Center until you restore, rescan, or vault them. Clean files are returned to their original location; malicious files remain isolated in the Quarantine Vault.
- How does SafeLayer handle unknown malware?
- Signature scanners can only identify a threat after someone has named it. SafeLayer starts by containing the unknown, moving suspicious files out of reach first, then checking them through multiple security layers.
03
Visibility and privacy
- Where does my data go during inspection?
- Files stay on your PC. SafeLayer is local-first by design. Only a file fingerprint is used when a second opinion needs to be checked.
- Can I review what SafeLayer has blocked or held?
- Yes. Protection Insights shows detections, scan history, security activity, and diagnostic information so you have a clear record of what happened on your PC.
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