I agree with IainB...(Icon/GUI

[Guest]

....that a task tray icon (optional) should be added to confirm a) startup and
b) running.
From briefly reading the comments here, I think a GUI closer to the
MS/Giant Antispyware would facilitate examination and tweaking. I understand
the reasoning behind trying to keep the interface from casual snooping, but
there's more than a few people who like to know and control a program's
functions.

 

[SteveC]

As others have mentioned, you can, if you wish, edit the run command for
WindowsDefender in RegEdit to take out the -hide at the end of the command.
Then when you start or log onto Windows, you will be greeted each time with
theWindows Defender window showing the green all normal screen, which you
can then close and proceed knowing it's working.

However, if Windows Defender fails to start, you should be greeted with an
error message anyhow. I got this all week on the Win2000 machine I was
updating (fixed and lengthily detailed elsewhere). I do agree, however,
that an optional tray icon is the way to go on the next release.

 

[Guest]

Thanks. I did notice that in the notification settings, if you check
"Notify...allowed programs," you'll get a tray icon/balloon alert that
Defender is starting, in lieu of a full screen. I just think tray icons are a
nice reassuring touch for the paranoid among us.