Windows Defender Is Becoming the Powerful Antivirus That Windows 10 Needs

Discussion in 'other anti-virus software' started by Secondmineboy, Jan 30, 2016.

  1. taleblou

    taleblou Registered Member

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    true but before that IE and Edge download manager immediately scans it after the download finish sometimes before WD scans it. It tells you its a dangerous or unknown file in the download manager itself. SO this way you may get one via download manger scan and one via windows itself and WD.

    I had tried downloads that IE and edge detected them as dangerous with red border and stopped it even when WD did not detect them and when clicked to allow it to download, WD did not pick it up. So WD and windows is a secondary and third level protection, but the download manage scan of IE or edge is primary line. Its detection is far better the WD and windows.

    As I said I had downloaded many malwares in tests and saw the edge or IE protection and download scan far better then WD. SO defiantly its SEPERATE and not part of WD.
     
  2. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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    Did you try and run the malware sample from your Downloads folder??
     
  3. J_L

    J_L Registered Member

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    Maybe he's talking about the smartscreen website filter.
     
  4. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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    J_L, he may well be, but I just wanted to point out that SmartScreen Filter protects more than just IE and Edge.
     
  5. elapsed

    elapsed Registered Member

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    Now you're confusing WD with SmartScreen. What you're describing is the SmartScreen functionality, which as of Windows 8+ is system-wide, and again, it doesn't matter what browser you use.
     
  6. bjm_

    bjm_ Registered Member

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    Do I need WD for Smart Screen...?
    I've never seen Smart Screen dialog from Firefox....W8.1
     
  7. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    I'm sure someone will tell me I'm wrong but I believe that SmartScreen is actually a function of Windows Explorer, not Internet explorer. And it absolutely functions with others security suites installed. I have seen it at work with Trend Micro installed, triggered by files on the local drive.
     
  8. CHEFKOCH

    CHEFKOCH Registered Member

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    SmartScreen is mostly for IE and Edge but it also affects all other system components since IE/Edge is a part and hardly implemented into the system and his security mechanism, means if you open an url via cmd/explorer or a component which links to it, it will be scanned but in fact in FF/Chrome it's normally not necessary to directly interference there because they already using there own methods to protect against common malware with googles filter lists.
     
  9. anon

    anon Registered Member

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    Last edited: Feb 14, 2016
  10. bjm_

    bjm_ Registered Member

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  11. elapsed

    elapsed Registered Member

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    That's correct. IE/Edge have URL filtering called SmartScreen (so do all browsers), but file whitelisting (also called SmartScreen) is obviously system wide.


    No you don't need WD for SmartScreen, they have separate toggle options. The fact that you haven't seen a SmartScreen prompt means 1) It's working perfectly or 2) You've disabled it.
     
  12. taleblou

    taleblou Registered Member

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    ( keep iE/Edge smartscreen on)No. try downloading the same malware or unknown file in edge(turn WD off) and also chrome, firefox, etc(turn off their scanners), then see once the download dis complete if you will see any response from smartscreen on other browsers? The answer is NO. chrome once finishes downloading the file is ready to be run, but edge or IE when finish downloading does a quick SCANNING and tells you if the file is safe or unknown and dangerous. this happens when the system smartscreen is off and WD is off.

    Try it and see. edge and IE in win 10 have a separate scanning then the WD and system smartscreen.

    It reminds me of chrome inbuild protection that warns when certain files are dangerous during download. But the one for IE and edge is more powerful then the one for chrome and firefox. Atleast in my tests.

    By the way windows smartscreen only come on when you TRY TO RUN A FILE that is already downloaded.

    What I think is that there is 3 lines of defense in win 10 and win 8.1. Win 10 ones is better and more powerful.

    1. windows smartscreen
    2. IE/Edge smartscreen (this is the one I am talking about and is built into these 2 browsers and no others)
    3. Windows defender

    what I suggest is turn WD and system smartscreen off (keep IE and edge smartscreen on only) and test IE and EDGE and see for yourself their own smartscreen at work.
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2016
  13. bjm_

    bjm_ Registered Member

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    I have SmartScreen Filter on in IE11.....how would I enable / test in Firefox...?
     
  14. taleblou

    taleblou Registered Member

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    I have not seen smartscreen work on chrome and firefox too. Only on IE and edge. I think chrome and firefox have their own maybe?
     
  15. elapsed

    elapsed Registered Member

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    If you read my entire post you'd know the answer to that.

    In Windows 10, you can open the control panel, type "smartscreen" in search and follow the basic instructions to check if the system wide SmartScreen is on or off.

    The "SmartScreen" setting in IE/Edge is only related to URL filtering. This is provided by every major browser, look in the settings.

    In regards to URL filtering that's correct, major browsers provide their own.

    The problem here is that various people are all talking about various things and confusing each other by mixing replies. One person is talking about Windows Defender, another about SmartScreen URL filtering and another about SmartScreen file reputation...

    I'm only going to repeat this once more as I have no interest in debating it. Every file downloaded by any browser is scanned by Windows Defender, you can think whatever you want to think in regards to browser UI display.
     
  16. ance

    ance formerly: fmon

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    Well said elapsed. :thumb:
     
  17. bjm_

    bjm_ Registered Member

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    I've never seen Smart Screen dialog .... W8.1
     
  18. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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    If you have a brand new file like, say the next VoodooShield beta released, download it to your Downloads folder, then run it. I've seen it with a few other programs on my Win10 machines too.
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2016
  19. elapsed

    elapsed Registered Member

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    I'll quote the text I already responded to you with earlier.

    I'll try elaborate further. Not seeing a SmartScreen dialog might mean that you only ever download files with a good reputation, or, it might mean SmartScreen is disabled on your system.

    If you wish to check if it is enabled, follow the instructions I posted earlier. If it is enabled, it is working perfectly fine by staying out of your way when you're downloading legitimate files.
     
  20. Tornado AMR

    Tornado AMR Registered Member

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    It is certainly improving but IMO still not enough.
     
  21. Secondmineboy

    Secondmineboy Registered Member

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    I hope Microsoft has more in stock for Defender since they also have it inside Server 2016 :)
     
  22. Osaban

    Osaban Registered Member

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    On my Win 8, Smart Screen is on and works. I saw it in action every time I download and execute the Sandboxie installer. As a matter of fact it stops the the installer from executing by default. By clicking 'details' it gives you the option to ignore the warning and then one can proceed with the installation.

    On Win 8, one can check if it's on by accessing 'Control Panel/System and Security/Action Centre/clicking on Security and scrolling down/Windows SmartScreen/Change Settings.
     
  23. J_L

    J_L Registered Member

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    It's never enough for click-happy users, more than enough for cautious surfers, and not even necessary for an experienced Wilders member.
     
  24. CHEFKOCH

    CHEFKOCH Registered Member

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    Strange that such statement coming from someone which uses a lot of tools:

    • Windows 10 built-in (system imaging, file history, SmartScreen, Windows Defender, Protected Mode, UAC, etc.)
    • Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Premium
    • Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit Premium
    • Sandboxie
    • Emsisoft Emergency Kit, HitmanPro
    • Steganos Privacy Suite, SoftPerfect RAM Disk, VirtualBox
    • Glary Utilities Pro, PeStudio, Process Hacker, VTchromizer
    • Prey Anti-theft, SUMo
    • LastPass, Bitdefender TrafficLight, WOT, µBlock
    • HostsMan, SpywareBlaster
    Makes me somehow smiling. ;)


    But to stay on the topic, I still think Defender is okay for beginners and server users to not getting bothered by annoying popups. :rolleyes:

    If there is a wish to get 'more' options or gimmicks how about reporting this in the Windows forums. :isay:
     
  25. bjm_

    bjm_ Registered Member

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    Sandboxie download and install does not prompt SmartScreen for me. I'm not downloading SBIE in IE11 and if SmartScreen is related to administrator approval. I have UAC Off. And v5.09 Sandboxie binaries are now dual-signed (SHA1 & SHA256) to eliminate IE 11 and Win 10 certificate warnings.
     
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