Windows Vista Forums

what does Defender really do?

  1. #1


    Luvrsmel Guest

    what does Defender really do?

    I haven't once seen this program ever catch spyware, viruses or any other
    malicious content on my computer. I have other programs installed that do
    that. So what is Defenders purpose? Is it a secret call home program for
    Microsoft only? I remember when Giant owned it and it actually served a
    purpose catching all kinds of crap, but now it just seems to do nothing.
    Anyone else shed some light on this wonderful program? :-\




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Spirit Guest

    Re: what does Defender really do?

    http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro.../defender.mspx

    Anti-spy/Malware

    http://www.microsoft.com/protect/com...sdefender.mspx

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Defender

    http://articles.techrepublic.com.com...1-6151136.html


    "Luvrsmel" <not@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:%23FMTaj9OIHA.1164@xxxxxx

    >I haven't once seen this program ever catch spyware, viruses or any other
    >malicious content on my computer. I have other programs installed that do
    >that. So what is Defenders purpose? Is it a secret call home program for
    >Microsoft only? I remember when Giant owned it and it actually served a
    >purpose catching all kinds of crap, but now it just seems to do nothing.
    >Anyone else shed some light on this wonderful program? :-\


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    Richard in AZ Guest

    Re: what does Defender really do?

    "Luvrsmel" <not@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:%23FMTaj9OIHA.1164@xxxxxx

    >I haven't once seen this program ever catch spyware, viruses or any other malicious content on my
    >computer. I have other programs installed that do that. So what is Defenders purpose? Is it a
    >secret call home program for Microsoft only? I remember when Giant owned it and it actually served
    >a purpose catching all kinds of crap, but now it just seems to do nothing. Anyone else shed some
    >light on this wonderful program? :-\
    I know that Defender ignores most of the "tracking cookies", which is not really a problem, but it
    has caught 3 attempted Trojan horse programs that attempted to get into my test computer when I was
    reviewing some questionable web links.



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Richard in AZ Guest

    Re: what does Defender really do?


    "forty-nine" <49@xxxxxx-u> wrote in message news:fjn6i3$7lm$1@xxxxxx

    > "Richard in AZ" <me@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:On5hbUCPIHA.2208@xxxxxx

    >> "Luvrsmel" <not@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:%23FMTaj9OIHA.1164@xxxxxx

    >>>I haven't once seen this program ever catch spyware, viruses or any other malicious content on my
    >>>computer. I have other programs installed that do that. So what is Defenders purpose? Is it a
    >>>secret call home program for Microsoft only? I remember when Giant owned it and it actually
    >>>served a purpose catching all kinds of crap, but now it just seems to do nothing. Anyone else
    >>>shed some light on this wonderful program? :-\
    >> I know that Defender ignores most of the "tracking cookies", which is not really a problem, but
    >> it has caught 3 attempted Trojan horse programs that attempted to get into my test computer when
    >> I was reviewing some questionable web links.
    >>
    >>
    >
    >
    > Give us the links, please !
    > : D
    All links were for some games that computer club members asked me to look at for
    possible programs to include in our monthly disk of free software. None of the links were XXX.
    But it has be months since I encountered these. I often check recommended / requested free
    software on a test machine.



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5
    joel406's Avatar

    Senior Member
    Join Date : Sep 2007
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    Vista Business/Home Premium/Ultimate x64/Server 2008 X64
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    Re: what does Defender really do?

    I just figured that sice I have NOD32, Spybot, A-Squared and the premium version of Super anti-spyware that they were beating Defender to the punch. I know Onecare is a joke so I figured..heh..defender must be as well.

    I ignore it.

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    John Guest

    Re: what does Defender really do?

    I think it was Defender --- it caught an email from eBay that was a
    modification of a real email, but with a link to a bogus site.

    This is probably one of those things that doesn't react often, but if it
    didn't it would spoil your whole day.

    John

    "Luvrsmel" <not@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:%23FMTaj9OIHA.1164@xxxxxx

    >I haven't once seen this program ever catch spyware, viruses or any other
    >malicious content on my computer. I have other programs installed that do
    >that. So what is Defenders purpose? Is it a secret call home program for
    >Microsoft only? I remember when Giant owned it and it actually served a
    >purpose catching all kinds of crap, but now it just seems to do nothing.
    >Anyone else shed some light on this wonderful program? :-\

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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