Solved Can the Windows Defender icon be made to show in the notification area

I recently ditched my AV and started using Windows Defender.

I like the comfort of seeing the WD icon in the lower right notification area so I know it wasn't accidentally or maliciously turned off but it doesn't show up in the regular Properties of that area.

I don't want to pin it to the lower left area. (I noticed my wife's Win 10 does show the icon in that location)

I know I have to update to Win10 shortly and I will but is there a similar solution for my Win7?

robls99 said:

I recently ditched my AV and started using Windows Defender.

I like the comfort of seeing the WD icon in the lower right notification area so I know it wasn't accidentally or maliciously turned off but it doesn't show up in the regular Properties of that area.

I don't want to pin it to the lower left area. (I noticed my wife's Win 10 does show the icon in that location)

I know I have to update to Win10 shortly and I will but is there a similar solution for my Win7?

Click to expand...

The 'Defender' in Win7 isn't a proper AV, it only detects PUPs (potentially unwanted programs). For all my W7 machines I install Microsoft Security Essentials, a proper AV that uses the same scan engine and definitions as W10's Defender. It will have that reassuring icon in the system tray.

You can still download it here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=5201

There are two to choose from, the larger download will be the x64 version, the smaller should be for x86.


Although updates for W7 stopped when W7 reached end of support, Microsoft have said that MSE updates will continue until 2023.

Microsoft said:

Microsoft will continue to release signature updates (including engine) to service systems currently running Microsoft Security Essentials until 2023.

Click to expand...

What is Microsoft Security Essentials?

Bree,

Thanks for that GREAT info.
I downloaded the 64k version and you were absolutely right that now I have my notification icon.

Can I still use my Malwarebytes along with MSE?

robls99 said:

Bree,

Thanks for that GREAT info.
I downloaded the 64k version and you were absolutely right that now I have my notification icon.

Can I still use my Malwarebytes along with MSE?

Click to expand...

I don't use Malwarebytes myself. You can certainly run an on demand scan with Malwarebytes (or anything else) while another AV such as MSE is running. As for real time protection it's not generally a good idea to have two AVs running at the same time.

Do you have the paid version of Malwarebytes with the real time protection? In Windows 10 installing Malwarebytes (or any other AV) with real time protection will disable the built in Microsoft AV and take over from it. Though from what I've read it's possible in W7 to have both MSE and Malwarebyte running side by side. See here....

Clarification of Exclusions needed running alongside Microsoft MSE - Malwarebytes for Windows Support Forum - Malwarebytes Forums

Bree,

Thanks for the addl. info.

It gets a little complicated but I'll make sure to exclude each one from the other.

Have a great week,

Rob