Surprising Windows Defender worked pretty good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMYa2nXkBSs

~ De-linked URL - JRViejo ~

 

5 samples for WinDefender are hardly an evidence of anything. And if youre using some other browser that is not using SmartScreen (basically anything other than IE), detection will go doooown.

 

Windows 8 SmartScreen (desktop level) should work fine with other browsers too.

In my opinion Windows Defender is fine, but it wont shine in tests for some reasons ...

 

Windows Defender is great for mom & dad types that don't want to worry and are not dangerous browsers, just something to pick up anything they may find. If you have teenagers or young kids then yeah sure invest in something more, but for the standard population its way better then having nothing at all, which is what a lot of those computers used to be like.

 

"Some reasons" is because Microsoft have removed all focus on trying to predict the samples that are going to be in tests and just focus their work on protecting users. If you were to believe stupid tests that peg software like BitDefender at 99% detection (and even 100% in some), you'd be wondering why those users are still getting infected. Tests like AV-T are nonsense (so is a YouTube video with 5 samples).

 

That's because no product detects 100% of the malware out there, even if a product scores 100% in a test. I think most people on this forum knows that.

 

I can remember when windows did`nt even have a firewall so I suppose microsoft has gradually improved to the point of giving you a full security suite i.e. UAC,web filter as well as the firewall/antivirus.

I shudder to think of how many people" back in the day" went on-line with no firewall and using ie6.

 

The problem is not about if an AV can detect all malware. The problem being everyone has a hobby of beating up MSE/Defender and makes it looks like it has no advantage at all. What's the point of having an AV with high detection rate if it shuts down itself on every Friday night?

On the side note, I have a strong impression that most people who read those test results would think 99%-100% score means it can catch all malware, even for zero-day malware, which is technically impossible.

 

Haha not a hobby of mine anyways.

That's not my feeling but I could be wrong of course. If only average joes would read the reports than I could easily agree with it, but I don't think the majority reading the reports are of the average type.

 

You've seen it yourself:

"Guys guys ESET has been scoring low on tests these last. I need a new anti-viruz that is very lightweight and can catch all malware, even before the malware authors think about creating them. What should I use to protect my computar?!?!"

 

Haha yeah, though that's not really an average user, it's a user that forgot the can of salt when looking at the results

 

'Instant analysis';
That's what the casual AV user is looking for; a detection percentage which (in their mind) equals effectiveness. One number- it's the highest- therefore, it must be the best. Absolutely no attention paid to resource usage or possible compatibility issues with other applications. They download a security suite when they already have a good firewall, or just an antivirus when they need the whole package. They get their news and recommendations from CNET, PC Magazine, or PC World.
Those people have no time or inclination to make the time for proper investigation and end up installing what sounds and looks friendly.
Everybody knows Microsoft. I wonder how many random people on the street, if asked, would know what product Eset or Webroot was marketing.

 

Hey, my car scored full 5 Euro NCAP stars, yet i still died in a car crash. See where i'm going? And as far as Windows Defender goes i don't like it for two reasons, it's a sluggish snail (i'm still amazed how it scores great in performance tests, it felt horrible on a high end system with powerful quad core, 6GB of RAM and very speedy HDD) and second, it doesn't have ANY proactive feature. I mean literally NONE. The supposed cloud is a non existing vaporware that in all its time of existence i've never ever seen it do anything. Ever.

 

Not really...

Tweak the OS. You'll get something to play with. You know I'm starting to think that MSE/Defender is an AV for advanced users who don't really need to use AV software since they have other tricks which they deem as more effective than blacklisting approach. Compatibility is more likely to be a priority for these people and thus, MSE/Defender becomes the choice.

No, I don't imply that I'm an advanced user. An advanced user and a crazy user have different definitions. >=V

You are talking about SmartScreen? It did check the downloaded software reputations. That's why I disabled it.