Solved Windows Defender is 22.5 MB - is it legit?

[rcanino]

Hi All -

I am curious why this latest definition is so large (Definition 1.173.27.0). I'm surprised there's no information on the web about it. I've searched and there's no mention of this definition specifically (other than to download it).

The links inside Windows update, "More information" and "Support information" are useless.

I don't remember seeing a definition this huge - 22.5 MB. Normally they are a few KB or maybe a few hundred KB. But 22.5 Megabytes?

Anyway - I'm just looking for a little reassurance I guess, that this update is safe to install.

Thank you very much folks!

 

[maxie]

Yes that seems right it is in the Link below ....

How to manually download the latest definition updates for Windows Defender

 

[rcanino]

Ah - good point. I saw that page earlier but didn't try clicking the d/l link. Now that I did I see it's 22.5 MB, direct from MS.

Thanks Maxie!

 

[maxie]

Most welcome

 

[tomwald]

This update never completes for me - I've left it for ten mins and it just sits there. When I restarted it hung there too. I've tried in safe mode, I've tried the separate download, nothing.

Anyone else have a problem? Any ideas how to get the update to apply? I figure security system updates are moderately important.

 

[bej]

Are you installing the update using "Run As Administrator" ?

 

[tomwald]

Are you installing the update using "Run As Administrator" ?

Yes, when I ran manually I did. Windows update runs as administrator, and I'm running as an admin user too.

 

[Layback Bear]

Okay lets start here.
Windows Defender in Windows 7 is very old and obsolete.
Do you have any anti virus programs installed at the present time.
If you do have another anti virus program install it probably turned off Windows Defender; as it should.

 

[tomwald]

Okay lets start here.
Windows Defender in Windows 7 is very old and obsolete.
Do you have any anti virus programs installed at the present time.
If you do have another anti virus program install it probably turned off Windows Defender; as it should.

Yes, Avast! free. Do you think I should disable windows defender? I only really kept it for the malware cleaning part, but I use malware bytes, Ad Aware, and Spybot as well.

 

[Layback Bear]

Windows 7 built in Defender should be turned off.
Just go to the Start Orb and type in Defender and then tick on it.
It should indicate it is off.
Keep it off and forget about it. It is no longer needed.

 

[derekimo]

Windows 7 built in Defender should be turned off.
Just go to the Start Orb and type in Defender and then tick on it.
It should indicate it is off.
Keep it off and forget about it. It is no longer needed.

For reference...

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/6397-windows-defender-turn-off.html

 

[tomwald]

I disabled the service, thanks for the advice