Is Defender now full-featured AV as in Win8?

gregrocker · 21 Jul 2014

I understand MSE was renamed Defender and built into Win8 as a full-featured AV (actually MSE).

But is the Defender which runs in the background on Win7 the same, using the same definitions, or not?

The reason I'm asking is I'm upgrading a 1gb Core2 Duo for a friend who doesn't want to buy any more RAM and I think it can be made fast by defaulting only to Defender since MSE is spiking the RAM. I would give him the necessary warnings and have several scanners on his desktop, but am still not sure.

whs · 21 Jul 2014

I would not recommend to rely on Defender alone. It is mostly geared to protect against spyware but Defender is not a full AV program. MSE is a better choice but if you want a small footprint, I would use Norton Internet Security.

PS: I would not venture to install Windows 7 on a duo core 1GB machine. That is going to run like molasses.

gregrocker · 21 Jul 2014

So the Win7 Defender is not the full-featured, actually-MSE that is built into Windows 8 and runs by default?

This would mean it uses different definitions. Do we know this for sure?

Thanks!

whs · 21 Jul 2014

Defender in 8.1 is not the same as Defender in 7. In 8.1 it is an upgraded MSE. But I am not sure what the difference of the definition files is. Even if they were the same, the usage may be different.

maxie · 21 Jul 2014

The Definitions in Windows 8 are 1.179.644.0 .. I do not have a Windows 7 Laptop with me to check if they are the same ..

Jonguy30 · 21 Jul 2014

My MSE (Win 7) is showing 1.179.660.0 so they are not the same.

andrew129260 · 21 Jul 2014

Windows defender in xp through 7 ONLY looks for spyware and PUPS. Not viruses.

Only MSE is a antivirus. MSE was then merged into windows defender in windows 8 and higher. Windows defender in windows 8 is mse rebranded to windows defender.

Layback Bear · 21 Jul 2014

Do not depend on Windows Defender in Windows 7.
It can not do the job.
That is why after installing MSE on Windows 7 it will turn off Defender and use MSE.

Why the dorks at Microsoft had to confuse thing by using the same name (Defender) in W7 and W8 when they are not the same program bewilders me.

andrew129260 · 21 Jul 2014

Ya a common joke in the malware community is if windows defender finds threats on there machine, there machine is really really bad. Better just wipe.

Kari · 21 Jul 2014

This from Wikipedia:

Windows Defender, formerly known as Microsoft AntiSpyware, is a software product that helps combat malware. Windows Defender was initially an antispyware program; it is included with Windows Vista and Windows 7 and is available as a free download for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. In Windows 8, however, it is upgraded to an antivirus program.