Solved Windows Defender or MSE?

[Aardvarkly]

Not another question about which is better, but how do I know if one or both of them are already installed?
I know I have Avira Free installed because there is an icon for it in the popup bar at the bottom of the screen. I have a vague memory of having one of them at some point in the past but various posts here made me wonder if they are still lurking somewhere.

 

[Alejandro85]

In Windows 7, "Windows Defender" is a built-in tool for removing a few types of viruses, if memory serves. Think of it as a small antivirus. MSE on the other hand, is a full fledged antivirus that is installed separately if you want it.
To add some confussion, since Windows 8 MSE is bundled in Windows by default and renamed "Windows Defender", while the real defender is completely gone.

You can find out if you have MSE by looking at your start menu for example, or in the control panel applet "programs and characteristics" it'll appear there for uninstallation if it's there. By merely having Win7 you'll have Defender.

 

[Aardvarkly]

Thankyou for the info. Nothing showing for either of them so you have answered my question.

 

[Volume Z]

Wait a minute, you can have MSE not installed, but not Windows Defender. You can have Windows Defender disabled, but it's installed for sure. It's built into Windows 7.