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    Who uses Windows Defender?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by MaXimus, Jun 1, 2008.

  1. MaXimus

    MaXimus Notebook Deity

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    I think it's a POS. Spybot Search & Destroy is 100 times better! Do you use it and why?
     
    MaXimus, Jun 1, 2008
    #1
  2. JCMS

    JCMS Notebook Prophet

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    Yeah I do.
     
    JCMS, Jun 1, 2008
    #2
  3. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    Hi.

    Do you mean the one built into vista?

    If so, I do run it now and again.

    regard

    John.
     
    Tinderbox (UK), Jun 1, 2008
    #3
  4. redrubberpenguin

    redrubberpenguin Notebook Consultant

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    A lot of people and publications say Spybot isn't nearly as good now as it was when it first came out. Meanwhile, I've heard that Windows Defender is actually quite decent, so I run it once in a while, along with AVG.
     
    redrubberpenguin, Jun 1, 2008
    #4
  5. arktrance

    arktrance Notebook Guru

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    Yeah, I use Windows Defender. Honestly, I've never had a problem with spyware. The only thing I have on my laptop downloaded is Avira Antivir. No other firewalls or spyware programs. I'm careful with what I do.
     
    arktrance, Jun 1, 2008
    #5
  6. Harper2.0

    Harper2.0 Back from the dead?

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    spyware blaster FTW!
     
    Harper2.0, Jun 1, 2008
    #6
  7. orev

    orev Notebook Virtuoso

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    I use it, mostly because it's there. It seems to update often and runs without me noticing it. Otherwise, I also use AVG Free 8 and whatever that comes with. I don't really worry about spyware though.
     
    orev, Jun 1, 2008
    #7
  8. AKAJohnDoe

    AKAJohnDoe Mime with Tourette's

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    Nope. I shut down Windows Defender.

    And I'm unimpressed with the state of SpyBot S&D as well.
     
    AKAJohnDoe, Jun 1, 2008
    #8
  9. StormEffect

    StormEffect Lazer. *pew pew*

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    I don't actively use Defender, I just have Nod32 installed.

    Every once in awhile I'll run an AdAware scan.
     
    StormEffect, Jun 1, 2008
    #9
  10. Padmé

    Padmé NBR Super Pink Princess

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    I tried it awhile back and wasn't thrilled with it. I use SpywareBlaster along with AVG 8.
     
    Padmé, Jun 1, 2008
    #10
  11. THAANSA3

    THAANSA3 Exit Stage Left

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    How do you completely disable Windows Defender?
     
    THAANSA3, Jun 1, 2008
    #11
  12. XPS1330

    XPS1330 Notebook Deity

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    I'm not careful but I always know how to get out of it ;)
     
    XPS1330, Jun 1, 2008
    #12
  13. AKAJohnDoe

    AKAJohnDoe Mime with Tourette's

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    Windows Defender is actually one of the more straightforward programs; it has configuration options.
     
    AKAJohnDoe, Jun 1, 2008
    #13
  14. Arki

    Arki Super Moderator

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    Using XP. No Windows Defender for me. Been over a year and it's never done anything for me.
     
    Arki, Jun 1, 2008
    #14
  15. booboo12

    booboo12 Notebook Prophet

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    Both Spybot and Windows Defender are pretty crummy to be honest.
     
    booboo12, Jun 1, 2008
    #15
  16. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    I have it but I'm not happy with it, one day is on, the next day off, and so on.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 1, 2008
    #16
  17. Leon

    Leon Notebook Deity

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    Try A^2 or SuperAntiSpyware. Better than Windows Defender, SpywareBlaster, and anything else.
     
    Leon, Jun 1, 2008
    #17
  18. McGrady

    McGrady Notebook Virtuoso

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    I have it disabled but update it and run it on demand along side SAS.
     
    McGrady, Jun 1, 2008
    #18
  19. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    How do they compare with spybot?
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 1, 2008
    #19
  20. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    How did you arrive at that conclusion?
     
    swarmer, Jun 1, 2008
    #20
  21. Leon

    Leon Notebook Deity

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    Let's just say:
    Spybot & Windows Defender = McDonald's
    SpywareBlaster = Decent Restaurant
    A^2 and especially SAS = Extremely Expensive Gourmet Restaurant
     
    Leon, Jun 1, 2008
    #21
  22. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    So they don't give you much, but it looks really nice and it's overpriced?

    Guess I'll check out SpywareBlaster... ;)
     
    swarmer, Jun 1, 2008
    #22
  23. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Who taught you how to talk to a monkey? Now I understand, I need A^2 or SAS.

    But it looks like A^2 is not free.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 1, 2008
    #23
  24. Leon

    Leon Notebook Deity

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    Leon, Jun 1, 2008
    #24
  25. Leon

    Leon Notebook Deity

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    Lol... Ok, high quality free gourmet.
     
    Leon, Jun 1, 2008
    #25
  26. coolguy

    coolguy Notebook Prophet

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    But mcDonald's is the most profitable fast food chain.

    SAS is slow for me. A quick scan takes more than 15 minutes (that's too slow when compared to WD's 2-3 min quick scan).
     
    coolguy, Jun 2, 2008
    #26
  27. coolguy

    coolguy Notebook Prophet

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    Both SAS free and A-squared free don't have real time spyware protection, which is absolutely needed.
     
    coolguy, Jun 2, 2008
    #27
  28. stewie

    stewie What the deuce?

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    Between the two, I actually find WD better than SBSD. Many times WD found junks that SBSD didn't.

    By the way, I don't use either anymore, since my antivirus suite has antispyware also.
     
    stewie, Jun 2, 2008
    #28
  29. Arki

    Arki Super Moderator

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    Must be different for everybody. For me, it's the other way around; WD takes longer to scan than SAS.
     
    Arki, Jun 2, 2008
    #29
  30. jtmat

    jtmat Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm a bit surprised at the number of people using win def...

    I use it... works ok...

    So many other companies either decided to go overboard with too much stuff and forgot the main reason they were popular or simply seem to give up, looking for a day job. lol
     
    jtmat, Jun 2, 2008
    #30
  31. foo_ball76

    foo_ball76 Notebook Evangelist

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    I haven't un-installed/disabled it yet... :p
     
    foo_ball76, Jun 2, 2008
    #31
  32. niGht kiD

    niGht kiD .. beach boy ♫

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    Have it disabled, and I used SUPERAntiSpyware + ThreatFire :)
     
    niGht kiD, Jun 2, 2008
    #32
  33. KarenA

    KarenA Notebook Evangelist

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    Disabled. I'm using Kaspersky Internet Security 2009. Windows Defender never catch anything for me to the point I don't realize it was running all the time.
     
    KarenA, Jun 2, 2008
    #33
  34. McGrady

    McGrady Notebook Virtuoso

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    SAS does scan longer than WinDef but I don't mind the long wait. I scan it then go do something and come back. I've tried both A^2 and SAS, and I like SAS much better. Recommend that as on demand scanner. I don't want active protection so it's perfect.
     
    McGrady, Jun 2, 2008
    #34
  35. crash

    crash NBR Assassin

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    I don't use it.

    I too am surprised at the number of people that use it. There are other anti-spyware programs that are better.
     
    crash, Jun 2, 2008
    #35
  36. WileyCoyote

    WileyCoyote Notebook Evangelist

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    I disabled mine on startup, now i use it to double check spybot. Its still a good program, just not for primary use good.
     
    WileyCoyote, Jun 2, 2008
    #36
  37. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    How is Threatfire? i had it installed but it causesd conflict with a Software called 'Joost (internet TV)'.
     
    Nocturnal310, Jun 2, 2008
    #37
  38. AKAJohnDoe

    AKAJohnDoe Mime with Tourette's

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    I find that the Kaspersky engine used in ZoneAlarm AntiVirus used in conjection with Firefox + NoScript is sufficent. I tried SuperAntiSpyware and it did not provide any additional value in my situation. I also tried out CounterSpy V2, based on this article, but it did not provide any additional value over what I already had, either.
     
    AKAJohnDoe, Jun 2, 2008
    #38
  39. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    I normally use spybot and defender, but as per someone suggestion I load ed A^2 and I got some spywares (cookies). So, I may think of getting ready of defender.
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 2, 2008
    #39
  40. scythie

    scythie I died for your sins.

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    I use it, along with ThreatFire and Avira.
     
    scythie, Jun 2, 2008
    #40
  41. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

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    I use it along with Ad Aware 2008.
     
    atbnet, Jun 2, 2008
    #41
  42. THAANSA3

    THAANSA3 Exit Stage Left

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    How did you disable Windows Defender?
     
    THAANSA3, Jun 2, 2008
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  43. Forced

    Forced Notebook Geek

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    Yes I do use it occasionally.

    Mostly as an easy way to monitor start programs, running programs, etc.
     
    Forced, Jun 2, 2008
    #43
  44. crash

    crash NBR Assassin

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    crash, Jun 2, 2008
    #44
  45. bubbatex

    bubbatex Notebook Deity

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    But is there really a downside to using it - even if you have other options? It does not seem to slow anything down..... I use SB and have Avast & Threatfire. I did not like SAS, but maybe I did not live with it long enough for it to settle down.
     
    bubbatex, Jun 2, 2008
    #45
  46. Kevin

    Kevin Egregious

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    I've left it enabled, but I don't use it. WD can't catch water in a swimming pool.

    I run my scans with AVG8.
     
    Kevin, Jun 2, 2008
    #46
  47. THAANSA3

    THAANSA3 Exit Stage Left

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    Thank you.

    Actually, I'm wondering the same thing. Is there a downside to just letting it run in the background? I don't think it slows anything down either, or does it?
     
    THAANSA3, Jun 2, 2008
    #47
  48. McGrady

    McGrady Notebook Virtuoso

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    If you can hardly tell its running in the bg then it obviously doesn't affect anything or slow anything down. However, I don't like to have things that eat my resources up so, even if just a little; I have mine disabled. I just turn it on, update it and run it every so often for kicks.
     
    McGrady, Jun 2, 2008
    #48
  49. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    No one told me again... how is Threatfire as a Defender?

    Bump!
     
    Nocturnal310, Jun 2, 2008
    #49
  50. bubbatex

    bubbatex Notebook Deity

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    Well, I just loaded SAS again and did a scan - found 14 Adware cookies. Defender is now off!

    noct - I have had Threatfire running for about a week now - it caught a few things I regularly use (even the Avast update triggered it the first time!), so it is a keeper for me. And it was recommended by the users community on this forum, so...

    BTW - anyone here actually pay for the Pro version of SAS? I would like scheduled scanning.....
     
    bubbatex, Jun 2, 2008
    #50
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