Solved Why Does Windows Defender Keep Needing Updates?

[HenriK37]

I'm puzzled, Why does Windows Update keep trying to tell me I need to update Windows Defender when I have Kaspersky Internet Security (KIS) installed and have deinstalled Microsoft's own anti-virus software?

Thanks, in advance, for any insight.

 

[DonnaB]

Hi HenriK37,

have deinstalled Microsoft's own anti-virus software?

Not sure what you mean by the above. The only anti-virus software that Microsoft developed is Microsoft Security Essentials. Windows Defender is the resident (built in) anti-spyware software and should have been disabled by default when you installed Kaspersky Internet Security.

Check to see if the Windows Defender service is disabled. The link below will provide instructions on how to do so.

How to Start or Disable Services in Windows 7

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

Windows Defender (WD) under Win7 is not the same as WD under Win 8/8.1.10.
It is just a weak anti-malware/anti-spyware application under Win7, not an AV.

It's been such a long time since I've had to do this on my own rigs (which also run Kaspersky), I don't recall whether or not Kaspersky will or will not automatically disable WD when you install it or not.
But IIRC, I remember that WD on at least one system kept trying to check for updates on a Win7 box with Kaspersky, even though WD itself was disabled. That sounds like the behavior you are reporting.

I think there may be another, separate setting (perhaps in the WD GUI itself) that will turn off WD from checking for its own updates, too.
(In other words, unless this setting is turned off, too, WD may continue to check for definitions updates, even though the service/program itself is disabled from real-time protection and scanning.)

In any case, you cannot uninstall WD from Win7, but you CAN disable it.
I would start with this tutorial to be sure it really is disabled:
Windows Defender - Turn On or Off

If that doesn't fix it, there are some other things to try, such as setting the WD service to disabled in the management console...

MM

 

[RolandJS]

"...deinstalled Microsoft's...Windows Defender..." The last time I tried that, it got me reaching for my Windows 8 install dvd because I permanently made W8 a non-genuine, non-validatable, Windows 8. Hopefully, you simply used Services to Disable [not remove] Windows Defender's services.

 

[AddRAM]

How To Uninstall, Disable, and Remove Windows Defender

But I wouldn`t remove it.

 

[HenriK37]

Thanks to all for some great advice and comments.

When I said "... Microsoft's own anti-virus ..." I meant to say "... Microsoft Security Essentials ..." Oops!

I guess I didn't read things carefully as I always thought 'Windows Defender' was part of 'Security Essentials' in Win 7 and that if you removed 'Security Essentials' (something you are told to do prior to installing Kaspersky Internet Security), 'Windows Defender' would disappear. I am glad to have it cleared up that they are two different Microsoft applications.

Again, thanks to everyone for such useful information.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

Yes, MS confused everyone (probably including themselves) when they rebranded what was MSE under Win7 to be WD under Win 8/8.1/10.

So, yeah, for WINDOWS7, Windows Defender is the built-in anti-spyware thing, not to be confused with MSE, the true AV.
Yes, you can uninstall MSE (and should do so if you use another, 3rd-party AV).
Yes, you can DISABLE WD, but it's not advised to try to uninstall it.

It is a mess...

Did you manage to beat WD into submission and to get it to stop trying to update itself?

MM

 

[AddRAM]

I don`t think it was confusing at all, 7 came with Defender, if you wanted to add MSE it was an optional update, and Defender was automatically turned off, what`s confusing about it ?

Stupid maybe, confusing ? No

 

[MoxieMomma]

I don`t think it was confusing at all, 7 came with Defender, if you wanted to add MSE it was an optional update, and Defender was automatically turned off, what`s confusing about it ?

Stupid maybe, confusing ? No

Well, obviously, the OP was confused (with no offense to the OP).
And, working at several computer fora, I have seen this confusion many, many times.

Why would MS rebrand "MSE" under one OS as "WD" on a different version of Windows?
Why would they use "WD" to name 2 different products on 2 different platforms?
Why would they essentially rename MSE to a name already used for a different, less-capable product on a different platform?
Yes, that could be and was confusing for some users.

I'm not interested in debating this.
It's great that you --as an advanced and savvy user -- understood the name changes.
But not everyone did.
I merely expressed empathy with the OP for the request to clarify some of the terminology.

Thanks,
MM