Microsoft's Windows® Defender Final

Any Changelog from previous beta?

 

After installing this, I realized that it had put both the WGA Notification and WGA Validation on my system. I purchased my OS about a month ago but I still don't want this junk on my computer.

Is there a way to install Windows Defender without WGA?
Is Windows Defender even worth it?

 

@NICK ADSL UK
I wonder if u can convey to MS that they must improve it. It,s a shame for such a big software company to have an AS that has below average performance. Even MSAS was much better than this.
Not a bashing for MS, just my feeling after comparing WD with other As like Ewido, SS, Cs etc.

 

Probably best to install wga then install defender then remove wga. There is a tool available to remove wga.

 

Apparently the tool that I am familiar with was shut down by MS recently:
http://www.firewallleaktester.com/removewga_forbidden.htm

 

LOL was it? I can't remember where i got my wgaremoval tool from but i'm glad i still have a copy of it.

Just trying this new version of defender out now, i'll post the results later on.

 

cool i cant wait for the results to see if it has improved. can you post screenies?

 

I used it about a year ago when it was still MSAS but haven't used it since; haven't really followed the development of it much either.

How does it compare (detection-wise) to Ad-adware and Spybot?

I am just trying to decide if it is worth it or not. I usually prefer to avoid MS software, aside from the OS of course.

 

Looks pretty much the same as the previous beta version. Even tho it claims a simpler interface i don't really see much of a difference.

 

The tools and settings page.

 

Resource use.

 

Hi Nick !
I am really sorry for somehow hijacking this thread . May I post some things I dislike in Windows Defender which I would be glad to see them forwared to as you say those concenred and later improved. Thanks in advanced , Nick

My exprerience is based on beta 2

• First , I don't like its "very simple" user interface (not a big problem at all but... I would like to be informed more)
• Its detection rate is too poor , in my opinion . I have big experience with this products although I don't use it . I read in forums and newsgroups where it can't find even a very simple and popular spyware ,however many others security products can
• Have seen that it finds a spyware but sometimes can in no way remove it
• It can't start in Safe Mode (to scan and clean), as far as I understand from forums/newsgroups
• The most that annoys me is the way it updates . When I had Defender beta 2 it updated using Windows/Microsoft Update . All my computers are set to automatically check for updates but not to download or install without me ( I only receive a pop-up which notifies there are new updates for Windows) One a month I update Windows (regular Windows Updates). However Defender updates more often than once a month , as far as I can remember some times a week and I don't like a pop-up then goto Microsoft site , slow update procedure, restart ... I would like it update flawlessly usings its own feauture (like all all other antivirus and antispyware softwares update)

Edit:
To sum-up I would encourage Microsoft to get back Antispyware beta 1 and work on it to make it the best antispyware software

Thank you very much , Nick

 

~~ removed quote ~~ no need to quote an entire post when it's just above....Bubba ~

the stupid thing is the update procedure in Microsoft antispyware was more streamlined and done it with in the program.

and i like you comments most of those i would like to see to

 

Is it true that it install WGA If so, I am really not interested to have this sh*t again on my system...

 

True , it won't install without that . AFAIK , it will install it if you don't have it and later this will decide if your Windows is genuie . If your Windows is not genuie , WD will not work as a whole but will remove only Severe threats coresponding to Microsoft's policy to prevent illegal computers become hosts for viruses/malware

By the way , I have WGA installed on my systems , no problem for me

 

My windows is genuine so as every softwares on my system... The last time I had WGA on my system, it was giving me so much troubles that I had no other choices to remove it and you can bet that I won't reinstall that little bugger any time soon...

 

No problems , I trust you

I am sure

 

Windows Defender is on my blacklist.
- I can't install it without internet connection.
- when it was installed, it didn't do anything.
- I hate the Windows on-line activation, so I hate the WGA-stuff too.
I'm glad it's out of beta.

 

Thanks.
I have some points.

1- It,s detection rate is average. I myself checked by some spyware samples/ IM worm not dtected by it and dtected by SAS and Ewido. Again it is understandable that not all threats can be detected by a single scanner but these were in my opinion common malwaree that would have been detected anyway. I see lot of people complaining about poor results. I read PC Magazines saying that its results as average. I think if so many people complain, there is sure some base. In contrary MSAS from same company used to have much better repute, so it is not a simple MS bashing.

2- The way of notifying the new start up enteries is really very very poor indeed. Whenever it finds a newstart up entery/ service/ driver, it says by a baloon that WS Defender have detected changes, then u have to click tray icon to open main console and then have to accept or deny changes. Agin it will take a while to get community information for the threat.
One thing that is so annoying is that there is no way to remember this start up entery.
Wht not just a pop up from tray area or in the middle of screen saying that there is new start up entery/ service/ driver etc with the option to accept or deny and also to remember this action or not.
The need to open main console and no option to remember this action is really annoying.

3- It does not stop new start up enteries/ services in real time rather I think it uses pooling. MSAS used to do same if I remember correctly. I am not expert but in my opinion it should be stopped in real time. Spyware terminator does this and this is nice feature.

4- It will tell u that there are changes detected via a baloon from systray, if u ingore this warning, the warning will totally disappear from it just after a reboot of system.

5- The way it tells u the details of a result is poor, I mean the user interface for that is poor, u have to scroll down each time to see all details. Why not to adjust them in default screen size.

6- The update system is really poor and annoying, it should be updated like some other AV, AS or AT does.

- Automatic( with option of notifying or silent).
- Manual with progress bar( esp on dial up I am interested to see update progress as some times it takes a lot time).

I can,t understannd why they have affiliated auto-upadte with scheduled scans. I don,t find auotupdate option if I disable scheduled scans( or may be I missed).
Even to find manulal update option is a bit tricky. It is hidden. Don,t know how it can be part of a simple and clean user interface.

My experience is based upon it,s use a few months back. I will expect other users to comment/ coprrect me if I am wrong/ right.

Thanks.

 

Agreed with aigle's comments.

That's why I don't install it even when it is free for legitimate Windows XP users. The way it updates itself is really a joke. I just hope it is not installed by default in Windows Vista.

 

I never really thought of that, but I'm willing to bet my money that it will be installed by default on Vista.

 

I think it's supposed to be integrated in Vista so good luck killing it.