Is Defender now full-featured AV as in Win8?

[gregrocker]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[andrew129260]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[andrew129260]

And greg, if they run windows 7 on a dual core with that specs it will be fine with panda. Panda is very light. Give it a try. I have a pc running with those specs I gave to someone and it works well.

 

[Jonguy30]

I'm curious, is Defender (the old defender, not Win8 defender) even a good scanner? Does it ever detect anything? I haven't heard of anyone using it. To me it's just an unnecessary component in windows (bloat). It's also disabled every time you install an AV.

 

[andrew129260]

I'm curious, is Defender (the old defender, not Win8 defender) even a good scanner? Does it ever detect anything? I haven't heard of anyone using it. To me it's just an unnecessary component in windows (bloat). It's also disabled every time you install an AV.

See post 9

 

[Jonguy30]

I'm curious, is Defender (the old defender, not Win8 defender) even a good scanner? Does it ever detect anything? I haven't heard of anyone using it. To me it's just an unnecessary component in windows (bloat). It's also disabled every time you install an AV.

See post 9

That bad? It does make you wonder why Microsoft even bothered with it and then caused more confusion by re-branding MSE as defender in Win8.

 

[whs]

I think there was a name clash with the Munich School of Engineering (MSE) and this software development group.

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks, will give Panda a try. Didn't know it was that lightweight.

The issue is apparently MSE built into Win8 would face a huge anti-trust challenge in EU and some other places, but Anti-Trust agreements already grandfathered in clearance for Defender.

 

[andrew129260]

Thanks, will give Panda a try. Didn't know it was that lightweight.

The issue is apparently MSE built into Win8 in EU and some other places would face a huge anti-trust challenge, but Anti-Trust agreements have already grandfathered in clearance for Defender.

It's a cloud av. Can't get any lighter. I don't use there toolbar, its unnecessary. No bloat comes with it, just there toolbar is recommended by them as it scans websites for infection before clicking on them. Also look at the latest av comparatives and av test for it. It's doing well on the items of protection wise.