Author Topic: Windows Defender Still Needed?  (Read 10046 times)

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dkeat

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Windows Defender Still Needed?
« on: October 12, 2008, 08:13:22 PM »
Greetings,

I am just wondering if there is any purpose in having and running Windows Defender if one is using the avast! product. I would like to remove it if it serves no further purpose.

Thanks,

Dave

Offline Lisandro

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Re: Windows Defender Still Needed?
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2008, 08:41:22 PM »
Well... Microsoft makes the disabling of Windows Defender a little odd... it's also embedded into the Security Center. But since first releases of Windows Defender I never saw any activity from it, I mean, everything were handled by the antivirus (avast) and NOT by Windows Defender that seems to do nothing...
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dkeat

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Re: Windows Defender Still Needed?
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2008, 08:57:11 PM »
Hello again my Brazilian friend.

Not sure what you mean. Windows Defender, a I use it, is an application. You start it up and it scans for spyware. There is also a component that is installed with Windows Live Messenger that scans IM files, etc.

After I read your post I got curious and looked in the Control Panel to see if it was there as an unistallable application. It isn't.

If it can't be uninstalled, then I guess I have to rephrase my question. I CAN turn off regular scanning and just leave it there on the pc. That is, if it isn't doing anything useful.

Dave

Offline Lisandro

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Re: Windows Defender Still Needed?
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2008, 09:05:09 PM »
Not sure what you mean. Windows Defender, a I use it, is an application.
It's a resident, it runs in background, using computer resources for nothing... It runs as a service (automatically started by default).

I CAN turn off regular scanning and just leave it there on the pc. That is, if it isn't doing anything useful.
You can, your choice.
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dkeat

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Re: Windows Defender Still Needed?
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2008, 09:17:26 PM »
Well okay. Thanks.

YoKenny

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Re: Windows Defender Still Needed?
« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2008, 10:35:42 PM »
I like Windows Defender because it notifies me of a modification to my HOSTS file.

It also notifies me that MBAM is trying to modify C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\mbamswissarmy.sys when I run a Quick scan that I permit.

Offline Marc57

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Re: Windows Defender Still Needed?
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2008, 10:46:48 PM »
In my opinion, I would leave it on, I've had it catch things that Avast missed.
« Last Edit: October 12, 2008, 10:48:35 PM by marc57 »
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Offline Lisandro

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Re: Windows Defender Still Needed?
« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2008, 11:34:02 PM »
In my opinion, I would leave it on, I've had it catch things that Avast missed.
Well... I would pay to see that... it never happened to me, never... ::)
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Offline jadinolf

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Re: Windows Defender Still Needed?
« Reply #8 on: October 13, 2008, 12:12:40 AM »
In my opinion, I would leave it on, I've had it catch things that Avast missed.
Same here so I would keep it.
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YoKenny

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Re: Windows Defender Still Needed?
« Reply #9 on: October 13, 2008, 01:23:27 AM »
In my opinion, I would leave it on, I've had it catch things that Avast missed.
Well... I would pay to see that... it never happened to me, never... ::)
Modify the HOSTS file and see if avast! complains.

timcan

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Re: Windows Defender Still Needed?
« Reply #10 on: October 13, 2008, 01:59:51 AM »
 [/quote] Modify the HOSTS file and see if avast! complains.
[/quote]

Hi, :)  that's not the job for an antivirus,is it?

wyrmrider

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Re: Windows Defender Still Needed?
« Reply #11 on: October 13, 2008, 05:02:07 AM »
Windows Defender
I do not use it with W98 however
if not windows Defender what?
It does pop up if something tries to install something
or modify the registry
which is nice to know

The scanner my not be as cutting edge as it was when it was Giant Anti Spyware but neither is Ad-Aware
but that's not the point
show me a good alternative first before removing the real time protection
t-timer?
Spyware Terminator?
Spyware doctor free?
Do'nt throw the baby out with the bathwater

Offline Marc57

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Re: Windows Defender Still Needed?
« Reply #12 on: October 13, 2008, 06:21:34 AM »
In my opinion, I would leave it on, I've had it catch things that Avast missed.
Well... I would pay to see that... it never happened to me, never... ::)


Tech, I downloaded a file that was infected, Defender caught it, I then turned off defender to see if Avast would see it, It didn't.  I then moved it to the chest and sent it to Alwil. This was about a month ago.

BTW, Avast now sees the file as infected.
« Last Edit: October 13, 2008, 06:26:53 AM by marc57 »
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Offline Lisandro

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Re: Windows Defender Still Needed?
« Reply #13 on: October 13, 2008, 04:57:36 PM »
Tech, I downloaded a file that was infected, Defender caught it, I then turned off defender to see if Avast would see it, It didn't.  I then moved it to the chest and sent it to Alwil. This was about a month ago.
Can you send me a link to that file by IM?
I wish I could even test what Defender is doing in my computer...
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Metalhead85

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Re: Windows Defender Still Needed?
« Reply #14 on: October 23, 2008, 09:33:14 PM »
It's never detected a thing..but scince i installed it i'm clean..i guess it never got a real test..but i actually like how it analyzes the running programs and startup programs..i use it instead of task manager to know more about running tasks.