Windows Defender - What is it?

[Charliec]

What is Windows Defender and is it needed? I have Vista (no SP1) and
I also have Norton Internet Security installed.

Thanks
******************************************************
Charliec

 

[Nonny]

What is Windows Defender and is it needed? I have Vista (no SP1) and
I also have Norton Internet Security installed.

Vista has something neat called "Help and Support".

The Internet has something neat called "Google"

 

[Adam Albright]

Vista has something neat called "Help and Support".

The Internet has something neat called "Google"

This newsgroup has something dumb. Smart ass trolls like Nonny.

 

[Kayman]

What is Windows Defender and is it needed?

WD monitors the start-registry and hooks registers/files to prevent spyware
and worms to install to the OS.
Interesting reading:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136195/article.html
"...Windows Defender did excel in behavior-based protection, which detects
changes to key areas of the system without having to know anything about
the actual threat."

I also have Norton Internet Security installed.

Unfortunate choice!

 

[Not Me]

Windows Defender is a, anti-spyware program from MS.
It also has been expanded somewhat to block some programs from running at
startup.
[It blocks my Cancer research software from running at boot
(http://boinc.berkeley.edu) and like UAC, irritates people.
It is standard with Vista and I do not believe it can be removed.

Personally, I won't allow Norton near any of the 250+ machines I administer.

 

[TaurArian]

Charliec, see:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

--

TaurArian [MVP] 2005-2008 - Update Services
http://taurarian.mvps.org
======================================
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
Computer Maintenance: Acronis / Diskeeper / Paragon / Raxco


| What is Windows Defender and is it needed? I have Vista (no SP1) and
| I also have Norton Internet Security installed.
|
| Thanks
| ******************************************************
| Charliec

 

[Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM]

Windows Defender is a, anti-spyware program from MS.
It also has been expanded somewhat to block some programs from running at
startup.
[It blocks my Cancer research software from running at boot
(http://boinc.berkeley.edu) and like UAC, irritates people.
It is standard with Vista and I do not believe it can be removed.

Personally, I won't allow Norton near any of the 250+ machines I
administer.

What is Windows Defender and is it needed? I have Vista (no SP1) and
I also have Norton Internet Security installed.

Thanks
******************************************************
Charliec

It doesn't block my SETI, which is also through BOINC.

 

[Charliec]

Thanks for your assistance

Vista has something neat called "Help and Support".

The Internet has something neat called "Google"

******************************************************
Charliec

 

[Charliec]

Thanks for the reply. I was just wondering if it would possibly
conflict with Norton Internet Security and/or Norton Antivirus?

Hi Charliec,

Windows Defender is antispyware program that is built into Vista. It
would be a good idea to allow this program to run in the background to
help protect your computer. It will not interfere with any other
program, unless it's spyware or malware. Consider it extra free
protection. You can read more about Windows Defender here:

'Windows Vista Help: Using Windows Defender'
(http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/4ef8da25-133e-4947-99c1-5c7951d48a151033.mspx)

Hope this helps,
Shawn

******************************************************
Charliec

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

What is Windows Defender

It is anti-spyware software.

and is it needed?

You should have some anti-spyware software, but it doesn't have to be
Defender. In fact, a single anti-spyware program is generally not good
enough, and it's safer to have at least two. I would keep Defender if
I were you.

I have Vista (no SP1) and
I also have Norton Internet Security installed.

Ugh! Norton is, in my view, the *worst* choice of security software
available.

 

[Not Me]

Windows Defender is a, anti-spyware program from MS.
It also has been expanded somewhat to block some programs from running at
startup.
[It blocks my Cancer research software from running at boot
(http://boinc.berkeley.edu) and like UAC, irritates people.
It is standard with Vista and I do not believe it can be removed.

Personally, I won't allow Norton near any of the 250+ machines I
administer.

What is Windows Defender and is it needed? I have Vista (no SP1) and
I also have Norton Internet Security installed.

Thanks
******************************************************
Charliec

It doesn't block my SETI, which is also through BOINC.

I even edited the link in startup to 'run as admin' and it still blocks it.

 

[Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM]

Windows Defender is a, anti-spyware program from MS.
It also has been expanded somewhat to block some programs from running
at startup.
[It blocks my Cancer research software from running at boot
(http://boinc.berkeley.edu) and like UAC, irritates people.
It is standard with Vista and I do not believe it can be removed.

Personally, I won't allow Norton near any of the 250+ machines I
administer.

What is Windows Defender and is it needed? I have Vista (no SP1) and
I also have Norton Internet Security installed.

It doesn't block my SETI, which is also through BOINC.

I even edited the link in startup to 'run as admin' and it still blocks
it.

Weird!

 

[Not Me]

Windows Defender is a, anti-spyware program from MS.
It also has been expanded somewhat to block some programs from running
at startup.
[It blocks my Cancer research software from running at boot
(http://boinc.berkeley.edu) and like UAC, irritates people.
It is standard with Vista and I do not believe it can be removed.

Personally, I won't allow Norton near any of the 250+ machines I
administer.

What is Windows Defender and is it needed? I have Vista (no SP1) and
I also have Norton Internet Security installed.

It doesn't block my SETI, which is also through BOINC.

I even edited the link in startup to 'run as admin' and it still blocks
it.

Weird!

That's what I thought, but it is the same on every Vista machine I have
installed it on.
I even made sure to update to the latest BOINC direct from berkeley.edu.
I have checked every setting repeatedly and asked on the BOINC boards, no
one seems to have a solution.
It works fine on the 50+ XP machines I run it on.
http://boincstats.com/stats/boinc_user_graph.php?pr=bo&id=947c97dddcdecaea359f3510864be3b1