Upgrade to Defender - Confused? Just a bit

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jonah
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J

Jonah

I have been looking at upgrading some non critical machines to
Defender Beta2 but from what I have read here and on other M$ Ngs I am
very reluctant to go near or it even to try it out on a test box for
that matter.

MSAS Beta is not the greatest antispyware app in the world but it is
stable, controlable and perfectly adequate for everyday monitoring /
scanning. I have had a couple of minor problems with it but nothing
out of the ordinary for a beta.

OK I understand Defender is a beta, what I don't understand is some
(experienced) posters here are advising upgrading from MSAS beta to
Defender despite the apparantly endless list of problems. Its seems to
me a major step backwards from MSAS Beta1- so why advise upgrading to
it?

I am not refering to or quoting any individual MVPs advice to upgrade
given here or elswhere because that would be out of context to the OP
they were advising, I am just asking the question in general.

Another thing I am seeing is it appears to delete / quarantine things
without asking for confirmation; is this correct and more importantly
can you set it up to ask for confirmation before removing files or
not?

I would have to be mad to install it and check myself 8-)

Jonah
 
Jonah--did you ever read these groups when Microsoft Antispyware was the
subject--There are very few issues posted here that weren't posted about the
beta1 product: Deleting music, not updating properly? Confusing UI?

I have no hesitation in recommending that all beta1 users upgrade to beta2.
Yes this group is full of problems--that's what it is here for. A fair
number of problems have been fixed since Valentine's day, but there are
definitely some left that are known, but not fixed. Just as there were with
beta1.

Beta2 is not without its problems, but even with them, I'm quite certain
that it is doing a better job of protecting the customer than beta1 did--and
that's the bottom line.

There is a checkbox in Tools, general settings, automatic scanning--to
"Apply actions on detected items after scanning" You can uncheck that to be
sure that you will be making explicit choices about all detections.
 
Jonah--did you ever read these groups when Microsoft Antispyware was the
subject--There are very few issues posted here that weren't posted about the
beta1 product: Deleting music, not updating properly? Confusing UI?
Click to expand...

Yeah I did, I test boxed it first where it could do no real harm, I
thought it was very good from the start TBO but I had used Giant so it
was not a major shock for me.
I have no hesitation in recommending that all beta1 users upgrade to beta2.
Yes this group is full of problems--that's what it is here for. A fair
number of problems have been fixed since Valentine's day, but there are
definitely some left that are known, but not fixed. Just as there were with
beta1.

Beta2 is not without its problems, but even with them, I'm quite certain
that it is doing a better job of protecting the customer than beta1 did--and
that's the bottom line.
Click to expand...

Just seems to have more serious failings than a Beta 2 should have
especially for inexperienced users who are tempted to install it
having used beta1 without major problems. Most of the problems with
beta1 were "don't like the interface" and deleting stuff as you say -
probably P2P.

I had trouble with updates in the early version but it was fixed
pretty quickly. Beta 2 seems to be mixed with the latest WGA Updates
fiasco which has caused a lot of aggravation, I have been fixing WGA
udate related issues for a few weeks now (nice little earner thanks to
M$ I should pay them commission). The beta 2 update issues just muddy
the waters + its own issues and make me a little more sceptical than
usual I suppose.
There is a checkbox in Tools, general settings, automatic scanning--to
"Apply actions on detected items after scanning" You can uncheck that to be
sure that you will be making explicit choices about all detections.
Click to expand...

Thats what I wanted, it was not clear if full control was in place
from what I have read so far. Go on then I will stick it in a test box
and have a look.

Going to see my psychiatrist on Monday anyway.

8-)

Jonah
 
Jonah said:
On Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:47:34 -0500, "Bill Sanderson MVP"

Going to see my psychiatrist on Monday anyway.
Click to expand...

I don't think your bill will be greatly increased by the experience of
trying out Windows Defender--but let us know before it gets to that point
what is "bugging" you.
 
Jonah said:
Linuxgirl eh

Posting with OE?

and I'm mad???
Click to expand...

That's not what I said.....I was simply agreeing with you. Oh.....and I only
post with IE (sometimes) on this group. 80% of my clientel still use
Windoze......simply can't break them of the habit. :)

LG
 
That's not what I said.....I was simply agreeing with you. Oh.....and I only
post with IE (sometimes) on this group. 80% of my clientel still use
Windoze......simply can't break them of the habit. :)

LG
Click to expand...
Yeah LG I know I was being ironic - sorry. What flavour Linux do you
use? I use Suse mostly and dabble with mandriva. Work is all windows
based though like yours but its a living I suppose.

Jonah
 
I don't think your bill will be greatly increased by the experience of
trying out Windows Defender--but let us know before it gets to that point
what is "bugging" you.
Click to expand...
LOL - Split Personality - my brain runs XP in but all the apps are
win95 with severe compatability issues. And I am dual booting Suse
just to make things more complicated.

Cheers Bill

Jonah
 
snip

Ok I installed defender on a test machine today, no problems, no
update issues, no detections, no nothing. Very easy to use, nice
interface and I am very impressed.

This test machine however has virtually nothing more than a clean XP
install and Office + AV so I am going to leave it a few days before
updating from Beta1 on other more complex installations.

Maybe I just got lucky, a new engine got released today?

Jonah
 
There was new engine code in the March 23 updates--which are the newest
currently...

There are definitely bugs unfixed--some of them involve a rev to the UI
code, which we haven't seen yet.
 
There was new engine code in the March 23 updates--which are the newest
currently...

There are definitely bugs unfixed--some of them involve a rev to the UI
code, which we haven't seen yet.
Click to expand...

K Bill I will wait till its sorted before putting it on anything else.
Thanks for your help.

8-)

Jonah
 
The real problem isn't a question of whether beta 1 had problems, it
certainly did !in testing however by the time the general public were
encouraged to download and install it was a fonctioning program, with most of
its bugs sorted ! Whilst Defender is being openly pushed as a improvement and
the public encouraged by microsoft to replace beta 1 immediatly ! perhaps
they haven't sent out update notices yet but anyone reading the web page
imagines beta 2 to be an upgrade from the previous working version ! and the
possibilty to download a working version beta 1 withdrawn ! In downloading
this version I certainly didn't expect to have faults previously overcome
included ! Unfortunatly Microsoft renamed the program but labeled it beta 2 !
where as it should be regarded as another program completly and named
accordingly beta 1 !!
 
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