Microsoft releases Windows Defender Final

General Topics
1

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
++++++By design, the final release of Windows Defender removes Windows Defender (Beta 2)++++++
Windows Defender features
• New option to display Windows Defender system tray icon even when there are no pending actions needed.

• Enhanced performance through a new scanning engine.

• Streamlined, simplified user interface and alerts.

• Improved control over programs on your computer with enhanced Software Explorer.

• Multiple language support with globalization and localization features.

• Protection features for all users, whether or not they have administrator rights on the computer.

• Support for assistive technology for individuals who have physical or cognitive difficulties, impairments, and disabilities.

• Support for Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.

• Automatic cleaning according to your settings during regularly scheduled scans.

Microsoft encourages all Windows Defender (Beta 2) users to download and install Windows Defender.

Known issues
• By design, the system tray icon for Windows Defender does not appear if you do not need to take action.

• Windows Defender might prompt you to remove some peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing programs. If you choose to remove such a program, Windows Defender deletes all the contents of the Program Files folder associated with the P2P program. Because some P2P programs store downloaded files in a default folder under Program Files, this might remove all files you have downloaded through the file-sharing program. For example, KaZaA stores .exe and .dll files at C:\Program Files\Kazaa. Downloaded files are stored at C:\Program Files\Kazaa\My Shared Folder. If you use Windows Defender to remove KaZaA, all files and folders under C:\Program Files\Kazaa are removed. If you have installed any P2P file-sharing programs, it is a good idea to back up your downloaded files before you run Windows Defender.

• You do not need to remove other antispyware or antivirus programs to run Windows Defender. Other programs or Windows Defender might prompt you to allow or block an action, but there are no other known incompatibilities between Windows Defender and other antispyware or antivirus programs.

• Windows Defender offers only limited Group Policy settings. The final version of Windows Defender will include administrator (.adm) files so that you can configure those limited settings in Windows Defender through Group Policy.

2

Updated, thanks for the notice

3

I use Spyware blaster, Spybot search and destroy, Adaware and Avast. Do I really need Windows defender?

4

Windows Defender has a Background scanner that SpywareBlaster, Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D do not have. But if you scan often with adaware and keep SpywareBlaster up-to-date you should be fine

5

Thanks .:Mac:.

6
But if you scan often with adaware and keep SpywareBlaster up-to-date you should be fine
For me, this is to much like work when I can have a resident scanner work for me in the background. A scanner that's constantly updated and after an initial run can be scheduled to run when you're not using your system. Why do things the hard way ???
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Because poor detection rates of Windows Defender, imho. :slight_smile:

8

Anyway, a combination of the apps work well. I got a ton of anti-malware programs already (on my signature) and I’m wondering if its really worth it. They all work out great, and as far as I know, my PCs pretty clean.

But then again, everything is worth it for PC security; I’d rather be better off safe than sorry.

9

I’ve said it before you can have too much of a good thing and that goes for security products too, not to mention you have to keep them up to date. Yes it is good to have some overlap provided those programs aren’t resident to cater for each may have signatures not covered by the other. So two resident anti-spyware scanners is a no, the same as two resident AVs.

I added SuperAntiSpyware (free, set as non-resident) to trial and took off one of the others Spybot S&D as it I felt was the least effective combined with poor updates connections and the large non-incremental updates, it’s history. So I still have the same number of anti-spyware tools and it isn’t ever growing.