Do you turn Windows Defender ON or OFF?

I have found this program to be totally useless and have never ever caught anything, SAS or Malwarebytes pwn it!

Adding to that, the Windows Defender service just sits there in your running services doing nothing......

This is my opinion.......what do you guys think?

 

Off.
I want outbound protection, so I use the freeware PC Tools firewall.
Trying to set-up outbound rules with Windows firewall didn't look appealing to me.

 

Off. It's supposed to turn off automatically when you install some other antivirus/firewall program.

 

Off. It's pointless.

 

I never get a notification that something was catched but maybe it catches stuff but never tells you about it ?

 

ummm............... no

 

keep it ON if you have no real time spyware protection.

 

I suppose ESET NOD32 AV have real-time protection?
Avira Antivir Personal 9 have it too. However, the Windows Defender didn't show it detects any before.
I haven't disable it yet. I wanna ask Windows Defender uses "how many" resources?

 

ON.

cheers ...

 

I left it on since my last recovery a couple months back.

I also un KIS 2010.

Now, why have I left Windows Defender on? - Its the same as UAC - it keeps an eye on system files and adds another layer of defense.

Windows Defender does use a bit of RAM, but I think I can live with that.

You can imagine keping UAC and Windows Defender like side airbags and frontal ones in a car.
Just a safty belt was enough - some people survived crashed, but it tends to be safer wih airbags.

 

I was wondering why recently almost all people related PC stuffs to Vehicle LOL.
Baserk said CCleaner is like Car Wash.
DetlevCM said UAC and WD is Airbags.
I myself, said the Overclocking is like pushing the Car Speed Meter beyond its number. =.=!

 

On. I know what I'm doing on the net', so I really don't need anymore advanced protection other than Windows Defender.

 

That'S difficult to say.

At my grandfather's I get Kaspersky warning me of a hackign attempt every now and then.
Going online via a manufacturer supplied modem, 1 computer.

Then - to my surprise - KIS found a (hamless) virus in KIS - I did some reading and that virus (at the time not malicious) was on the CD of a German computer magazine.

(At the time it had no malicious payload and looked for some specific office software)

So you can get viruses from trustworthy sources.

 

LOL and what is windows defender really doing other than using up your resources? ummmm,,,,,,nothing ,,,,,,

 

Actually it does do something.

It monitors changes to your system and informs you about changes its not sure about.

The fact that you don't see Windows Defender running doesn't mean its pointless.

 

Proof? Don't just give me your opinion.

 

HERE U GO

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/...eless-features-and-programs-in-windows-vista/

Windows Defender – Without question, Windows Defender is much improved and will be further improved by the days. However, probably a lot of users already depend on much reliable and much user friendly third party anti-spyware such as Spyware Doctor and etc, and do not need another anti-spyware software in the system in duplication. Furthermore, most user will need free anti-virus program, unfortunately Windows Defender is not one. Here’s the guide to disable and uninstall Windows Defender.

 

I wouldn't consider that site a good point of information.

Calling UAC and superfetch useless is wrong.
UAC is useful - it can be annoying while sertting up a computer I'll grant that, as will many others.
Superfetch - you do notice a significant improvement in start up times of often used programmes.
The file compression - most home users don't have LAN but buy a cheap Wi-Fi router.
The touch more tech savy buy a better router and few, generally people who own a house will bother with a LAN network.
The exception is a single computer directly connected to a router/modem.
Windows Defender - it does add a layer of security - in fact I noticed it spring into action - asking if I want to allow a change (I did in these cases).
Windows Media Centre - opinions vary, but there are uses who are happy with it.
Maybe a tad pointless for a laptop - but for people who want a Media Centre it can be useful.
My key problem on my mother's laptop with the Media centre was that controls were confused and laggy.
(I've got Vista Business).

Because some site says "xyz is pointless" it doesn'T have to be.

And Windows Defender isn't pointless!!!

 

To each his own, if you think it's worth using it, up to you...... each one is entitled for his own opinion

 

I have windows defender running, mainly because i don't really know what good its doing but it seems mostly harmless . I shall read through this thread properly later to see what the consensus is.

 

Avira free has only basic spyware protection. WD won't show tracking cookies as spyware/ adware.

 

I have it turned off. I use another firewall with outbound protection.
Much better than Windows "Defender".

 

Windows Defender is not a firewall.

Its a windows built in self defence against system modification and potential spyware.

 

I made the same mistake in my response. I was thinking of the firewall.
When I switched from XP to Vista, I immediately disabled everything Windows related to Security. I never even considered the Windows Defender and have never tried it or looked at it. My only method of protection is to Disable Active Scripting in the Internet Zone, and have a firewall to warn me of outbound connections.

 

Ah.

Anoter thing I noticed - Windows Defender works perfectly alongside a full Internet Security Suite (KIS in this case)

 

My latest finding for Windows Defender is, it uses about 3.5MB of RAM.
By disabling it, you can free-up 3.5MB of RAM. LOL.

 

well why? the security settings and configuration made for millions of people are great, so why not use them? the included firewall of vista is the same used on the windows 2008 servers, and good enough for tons of businesses and all. and it's integrated with the network stack, allowing it to be 100% saveguarding all the time, unlike any other firewall.

and defender doesn't do any harm (but i disabled it anyways, just as antivirus). but as the firewall (just as UAC) is a passive security guard that doesn't cost any runtime performance at all, just leave them on the way they are.

there is no, 0 need for any other firewall than windows firewall. you're not special enough to have those higher security needs than billion-dollar companies all over the world


i'm irritated how people always disable the microsoft stuff and then take some random proprietary stuff from some other company of which they don't know anything about them. microsoft is the one who know their os best, and their security problems best. use their tools, when ever you can, it's for your own best.

 

I'd be interested to know the billion dollar companies who rely solely on Windows firewall.
Which moron companies are those if I may ask kindly?
Most modern day consumer firewalls offer also many other features, from a pure HIPS to user-independent behavioural blocking, cloud-based file analysis etc.
Whether those products can still be named 'firewall' is another question/semantic issue.

The assertion that Microsoft knows it's security problems best might be true, the assertion that their security software is 'best practice' is bollocks, imao.
(The assertion that disabling every security tool, simply because it bears the name Microsoft, is 'best practice', is bollocks also imho).
But how is the combination of, f.i. Windows firewall and WD Defender (with full HIPS), a better/stronger package than Comodo's .FW, the one from Online Armor or Outpost's free firewall?
Or do you consider such software ' random proprietary stuff from some other company'?

 

what he says!

another layer of defense will do no harm.

 

I have it on for now. I'm considering tryout out Microsoft Security Essentials when it's available, Paul Thurrott gave it a favorable review.

 

I leave it turned on-it's never in the way and does it's scans in the background, In fact I forgot i left it enabled.

 

i use NOD32 instead, no need for a second 'protection' system.

 

Yeah I know but I have an old habit to call it a firewall. Don't ask me why.

 

well, everyone it's own opinions. still holds true that the microsoft version is the most integrated, the least "in your face", and the fastest firewall. and, good enough for the whole world. but you know better for yourself, and that's okay. it feels great to know better than the world, makes one feel intelligent

and yes, there are tons of win2003 and win2008 server directly exposed to the internet, and they all work fine. and in companies, no other firewall is actually interesting per-client and per-server, as it's the only one directly configurable for the whole company with group policies. and the only firewall that works before the network actually goes online.

else, some DOS attack can force some system to reboot, and during the reboot the firewall is down, and you can enter the system very easily.

 

jup. maybe by then, i can drop avast on new systems, having them clean and microsoft only. that makes it very easy to then determine what's needed and what not: everything non-microsoft is not needed

 

It is one of the services that gets turned off as soon as I get to the desktop after the fresh install of Windows Vista/7. Obviously, UAC is turned off too.

 

It is adviseable to keep UAC turned on.

The same goes for Windows Defender.

Would you mind explaining why youturn UAC off?
Don't you want you system protected?

 

Many users(included me) just disable UAC for the sake of not being ANNOYED.
I know(maybe other know too) UAC is very important(stop telling me about UAC I know it very well) but my laptop doesn't have any infections for 1 year without UAC turned on. Compared to my friend's who believe UAC is important, they have virus infection though. This is due to they lack of a good IS/AV and something like SAS, MBAM and SB.

 

@DetlevCM
For the exact same reason as DarkSilver.

 

LOL! YEP! +rep for you.
But I have my Windows Defender turned on. However, I didn't notice any benefits from it. I just want to add another layer of defense/security to my system only. LOL.

 

I thought I wrote a reply...strange....OK.

Where exactly do you get UAC?

I only get it with CCleaner, Defragmenting - not the everyday software.
I could easily use my laptop for weeks, months and not see UAC pop up, or I can have it every day.

Windows Defender - again, it will give you a little notice or accept chanesin system settings.
It will ask you if its not sure what to do.

 

XD
+rep for you mate...

 

This thread made me revisit the Windows firewall outbound rules > Start > Run > MF.msc. But creating outbound rules like a traditional firewall is just not feasible.

I had been using PC Tools free firewall until a few days ago, but the latest version has a bug which is creating problems on my machine. I then found this lightweight freeware firewall that is very simple and works perfectly. This is now my new firewall.

http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/

 

I use Microsoft Security Essentials, which automatically turns off Windows Defender.

 

It only does so in Vista...

I'm sure my old laptop runnin WIn7 as a server at home has Windows Defender running...

On my Vaio with Vista I just checked and its off (went to MSE after KIS impacts performance too much on a SSD)

 

http://social.answers.microsoft.com...t/thread/5309cb8d-02e1-40e8-974f-0dcedb9ab9fd

 

No. I tested MSSE on both my desktop and laptop. Both were using Windows 7.
After I install MSSE, the Windows Defender was turned off by itself.
In addition, my friend's desktop also installed MSSE and he said Windows Defender was turned off automatically too.

However, you can turn-on the Windows Defender again in the Control Panel. Yet, it's waste of time and resources because MSSE have more than what Windows Defender have.

 

Hmm...
whatever...


I don't really care that laptop runs as a server (little website) and to share a printer at home... so I don't really care - as long as it works

But thanks for the quote above.

 

I keep it on, even it never detected anything. Not even a message for something.