More Hidden Gems In Your Microsoft 365
Subscription
Introducing Microsoft Defender Identity Monitoring
Applications
As the image above shows, there are a number of useful free applications that come with a Microsoft 365 subscription besides Office. In September 2023, The Dispatches offered an extensive multi-part tutorial on the free webpage creation tool, Sway. Sway is available to any Consumer with a Microsoft365 subscription. Another example of these valuable apps included with a Microsoft 365 subscription is Microsoft Defender. MS Defender is more than antimalware alone. Defender also includes an extensive collection of identity monitoring tools.
Let's take a look at this hidden gem from Microsoft. Be sure to have your Microsoft username and password at the ready.
Log on to office.com and sign in with your Microsoft credentials. You will see "Welcome to Microsoft 365." From the menu bar on the left, click Apps. When the extensive list of applications that come with your Microsoft 365 subscription opens as shown, click Microsoft Defender. The Defender application will launch.
 |
Click the Apps button on the home
screen at
office.com. You will see different boxes that link to and the various applications that are available with your Micrsoft 365 subscription. Each box opens a different applet. Click Microsoft Defender to open Defender. |
|
|
|
| When Defender opens, you will see a
few different boxes. Each box opens a different
applet. When Defender starts, the first thing you are shown are any alerts. In this case, I have had a recent address change. Click See details to check this address change. In my case, it was correct. If your app shows an address change that you did not make, then it's Ruh Row Time! |
|
 |
|
| The Credit monitoring box shows your
current credit score. Click the Credit monitoring box to see details about your latest credit report. |
|
 |
|
| At the Dark web monitoring box, things
could get interesting. You are shown a list of personal information that could be compromised. Cybercrooks sell people's stolen personal information on the Dark web. If you decide there are other pieces of information you wish to monitor, click Add info to monitor. A list of types of info is shown. Click the info type and add it your own list. |
|
 |
|
| The Device protection box shows which
of your devices are monitored by Defender. On your smartphone, this feature takes some getting use to. Every smartphone acts differently. This tutorial just applies to a Windows desktop PC or notebook. Your mileage may vary. |
|
 |
|
An old adage states, "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get you."
Paranoia while online, and in today's interconnected world in general, is not an expression of an irrational fear. It only means you are conscious and alive.
The Microsoft Defender Identity Protection is not free, but it is easy. The Microsoft Defender Identity Protection is just one more feature you have already paid for along with your Microsoft 365 Office subscription.
So I ask you this:
Why
not get your money's worth?
Give it a try.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯¯
Gerald Reiff
Back to Top
←
previous
post
next post
→
If you find this article of value, please
help keep the blog going by making a contribution at
GoFundMe
or
Paypal