Does Windows Defender actually do anything

[kodi]

Just wondering has anyone ever had windows defender actually do something?
All mine seems to do is ask for updates every couple of days and that is about it.no popups telling you what it has caught or blocked in fact I wonder if it is actually working.

 

[Dinesh]

Just wondering has anyone ever had windows defender actually do something?
All mine seems to do is ask for updates every couple of days and that is about it.no popups telling you what it has caught or blocked in fact I wonder if it is actually working.

Its completely useless. Cant detect any spyware or virus. A complete waste.

 

[Brink]

Hello Brian,

Windows Defender acts as a pretty good anti-malware program that compliments a good antivirus program. I have never had it catch anything for me as well though.

However, you might consider using the newer Microsoft Security Essentials instead. It basically replaces Windows Defender, and has antivirus and anti-malware protection included. It's one of the best free ones that you can use for great protection.

 

[Dinesh]

Hello Brian,

Windows Defender acts as a pretty good anti-malware program that compliments a good antivirus program. I have never had it catch anything for me as well though.

However, you might consider using the newer Microsoft Security Essentials instead. It basically replaces Windows Defender, and has antivirus and anti-malware protection included. It's one of the best free ones that you can use for great protection.

I agree with Shawn. I have replaced windows defender with MSE.

 

[Corrine]

The linked change log from the MMPC illustrates the depth of new and updated detections in version 1.85.1476.0, dated July 5, 2010: Definition change log.

 

[kodi]

Thanks for the quick replies .
I am running Avast free and have been using it since it first came out and would not change it as I am quite happy with it,also running Malwarebytes (paid Version) so i think I am covered

 

[JonM33]

Just wondering has anyone ever had windows defender actually do something?
All mine seems to do is ask for updates every couple of days and that is about it.no popups telling you what it has caught or blocked in fact I wonder if it is actually working.

It's a good built-in anti-spyware program. It is better than nothing at all and can be easily replaced with any anti-spyware program of your choice.

Hello Brian,

Windows Defender acts as a pretty good anti-malware program that compliments a good antivirus program. I have never had it catch anything for me as well though.

However, you might consider using the newer Microsoft Security Essentials instead. It basically replaces Windows Defender, and has antivirus and anti-malware protection included. It's one of the best free ones that you can use for great protection.

I completely agree. I have noticed more licensed AV programs tend to be discounted now ever since MSE was released. I guess Microsoft really cut into their profit margin by releasing a quality product that works, has an intuitive interface and is all-in-one.

 

[kodi]

It's gone just gave it the boot

 

[Brink]

Brian,

If it helps, I run Avast Free AV with MSE at the same time for double protection. They worked together to make sure that they do not conflict with each other, and I never had a issue with them running together yet.

Out of the two I would say that MSE is clearly the best choice if you just wanted to use one program instead. Avast has seemed to of slipped in the ranks and not quite as good as it use to be, and is now a ok free option.

 

[kodi]

I did not think it was advisable to run two AV's at the same time, but if you say that they work together I will try running Avast and MSE together.

 

[Corrine]

Hi, Kodi.

You are correct. It generally is not advisable to run two AV's at the same time since it can cause conflicts. As Brink explained with regard to Avast & MSE:

They worked together to make sure that they do not conflict with each other, and I never had a issue with them running together yet.

 

[mitchell64]

Just wondering has anyone ever had windows defender actually do something?
All mine seems to do is ask for updates every couple of days and that is about it.no popups telling you what it has caught or blocked in fact I wonder if it is actually working.

I did have it spring into action once with Vista, saying my Hosts file had been changed.

When i had a look it had been changed (by me with Admin rights) and i did this edit about 9 weeks before Defender gave me the alert.

I stopped using Defenders Real Time protection a long time ago and just used it for on demand scans. The last time i did a clean install i disabled Defender completely

 

[Jacee]

Hate to say it, but I've always disabled Windows Defender.
Sometimes it causes more problems then necessary.

I use SpywareBlaster by Javacool Javacool Software , along with Avira Premium Security Suite on all three of my computers.

I also have SuperAntiSpyware (a paid for subscription) and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (set to "manual" in Services), to scan when I want to.

I whole heartedly recommend Microsoft Security Essentials if you need a free anti-virus program.

 

[Borg 386]

I whole heartedly recommend Microsoft Security Essentials if you need a free anti-virus program.

Agree Jacee, MSE has caught several things that McAfee missed (McAfee came with the PC, what can I say)

I have noticed more licensed AV programs tend to be discounted now ever since MSE was released. I guess Microsoft really cut into their profit margin by releasing a quality product that works, has an intuitive interface and is all-in-one.

It was really interesting that when MSE was being beta tested, most software reviewers were giving it excellent marks.

Then a report came out, a "independent test" which claimed MSE missed a whole bunch of stuff and was inferior.

About two months later, someone uncovered that the "independent test" was actually financed by McAfee and Norton. Maybe they were a bit worried?

 

[JonM33]

It was really interesting that when MSE was being beta tested, most software reviewers were giving it excellent marks.

Then a report came out, a "independent test" which claimed MSE missed a whole bunch of stuff and was inferior.

About two months later, someone uncovered that the "independent test" was actually financed by McAfee and Norton. Maybe they were a bit worried?

I don't recall any negative reviews of MSE but I do remember other AV vendors shrugging MSE off as if they weren't worried about the competition.

 

[SIW2]

I wasn't keen on mse when I tried it - Avast seems to be quicker and uses less resources, updates more often , too.

Each to their own.

 

[JonM33]

I wasn't keen on mse when I tried it - Avast seems to be quicker and uses less resources, updates more often , too.

Each to their own.

I used to use Avast. It served me well until it let some malware through. The major thing I didn't like about it was the two separate interfaces. It had one interface for the realtime protection and another interface for manual scanning, which looked like some car CD player (see attached). Even though it was free I didn't like having to register.

 

[kodi]

I wasn't keen on mse when I tried it - Avast seems to be quicker and uses less resources, updates more often , too.

Each to their own.

I used to use Avast. It served me well until it let some malware through. The major thing I didn't like about it was the two separate interfaces. It had one interface for the realtime protection and another interface for manual scanning, which looked like some car CD player (see attached). Even though it was free I didn't like having to register.

ALL programs let some through, that is the old version you should try the new Avast 5

 

[JonM33]

ALL programs let some through, that is the old version you should try the new Avast 5

Already moved on, using Microsoft Security Essentials now.

 

[Greg S]

I wasn't keen on mse when I tried it - Avast seems to be quicker and uses less resources, updates more often , too.

Each to their own.

I used to use Avast. It served me well until it let some malware through. The major thing I didn't like about it was the two separate interfaces. It had one interface for the realtime protection and another interface for manual scanning, which looked like some car CD player (see attached). Even though it was free I didn't like having to register.

Hi jon, it's all in one window now. It has different pages but only one window. I agree about the version in your pic, I hated that setup. In my opinion that was the worst.