Malwarebytes no longer supported in Vista?

[townsbg]

Maybe newer versions are throwing it. Have you contacted MBAM about it or will they only tell you to get a newer version? The big question is are you receiving definition updates?

 

[Vistaar]

...The big question is are you receiving definition updates?

I’m sure the answer to that question is “Yes” (Malwarebytes couldn’t very well sell subscriptions for a legacy version without providing definitions, and MB Free 2.2.1 still receives definitions). Are you still relying on Microsoft Security Essentials to protect your Windows 7 system townsbg? MSE could properly be described as abandonware because there has been no new client version since November 2016 (I was using the “current” version on Vista 4 years ago); but if definition updates constitute support, then I suppose MSE is still supported even though Win7 is not?

 

[Vistaar]

Funny thing is that the Norton software itself has not yet indicated that support is no longer in effect since Feb. 28.

As Imacri has pointed out at various other forums, Norton has evidently changed its mind and will continue to accept your money after all: Maintenance Mode for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 SP0 for Norton security software | Norton Community.

 

[wither 3]

Yeh, he told me about it in a PM. Since I have a 5-device subscription for Norton (I have 4 devices) I'll continue that and maybe discontinue MBAM Premium when my subscription runs out. At this time, I'm not worried about the money. Come to the think about it, the government handouts are paying for it.

 

[townsbg]

Are you still relying on Microsoft Security Essentials to protect your Windows 7 system townsbg? MSE could properly be described as abandonware because there has been no new client version since November 2016 (I was using the “current” version on Vista 4 years ago); but if definition updates constitute support, then I suppose MSE is still supported even though Win7 is not?

I thought that I replied to this. I got a "new" unwanted computer to replace my primary when it went out last week. It came with 10 on it so I installed 8.1 which I find tolerable with open shell. I've been using 2012R2 on my server so it wasn't much of a switch. I've already updated my system specs.

 

[bree]

Are you still relying on Microsoft Security Essentials to protect your Windows 7 system townsbg? MSE could properly be described as abandonware because there has been no new client version since November 2016 (I was using the “current” version on Vista 4 years ago); but if definition updates constitute support, then I suppose MSE is still supported even though Win7 is not?

Microsoft will issue scan engine updates for MSE until 2023, in addition to the definition updates.

Microsoft will continue to release signature updates (including engine) to service systems currently running Microsoft Security Essentials untill 2023.

What is Microsoft Security Essentials?

Learn about Microsoft Security Essentials, a free antivirus program to help protect your computer from viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

support.microsoft.com

 

[Vistaar]

I got a "new" unwanted computer to replace my primary when it went out last week. It came with 10 on it so I installed 8.1 which I find tolerable...

There are obviously few Win10 lovers here, although the novices who sometimes post here might be well-advised to adopt Win10. I never used 8.1, but would be interested in knowing the highest Windows Defender client version number that 8.1 can be updated to? Unless I’m mistaken, Defender has not properly supported 8.1 for several years, i.e. only 10 receives client version upgrades. Is Defender now one of the world’s best anti-malware products? Yes indeed! Is that information relevant to anyone who is not running 10? Very likely not I’m afraid. On the other hand, all third-party anti-malware solutions fully support 7 and 8.1 for the time being, whereas the situation for Vista diehards is so bleak that they prefer novel definitions of “support.”

 

[bree]

Unless I’m mistaken, Defender has not properly supported 8.1 for several years, i.e. only 10 receives client version upgrades. Is Defender now one of the world’s best anti-malware products? Yes indeed! Is that information relevant to anyone who is not running 10? Very likely not I’m afraid.

I am happy to tell you that you are mistaken. Windows 10 Security, Windows 8.1 Defender, and even MSE on Windows 7 all use the same scan engine and definitions. All are kept fully up to date, and by implication all should be as effective an AV.

Only the antimalware client differs, but that's just the GUI. It's the scan engine/definitions that do the real work.

Win7/MSE



Win8.1/Defender



Windows 10

 

[Vistaar]

...Only the antimalware client differs, but that's just the GUI. It's the scan engine/definitions that do the real work.

I appreciate the effort you went to in making your point Bree! So you think the last 8 client version upgrades only made cosmetic changes to the GUI without doing anything that improves protection? I doubt that, but I have nothing to do with making Windows Defender so I can’t be certain.

Since this is Vista Forums, what if I told you that an MSE client version released in 2013 (before Microsoft added an EOL kill switch targeting XP/Vista to the client) still seems to work on Vista? Of course it would have to be downloaded from a third party, since only the version in your Win7 screenshot (released in November 2016) is available from Microsoft. There would be no automatic definition/engine updates, but those could be manually downloaded and installed if (and only if) certain updates for Server 2008 SP2 adding SHA-2 support were manually installed on the Vista system. Do you think that would give someone running Vista an AV that is just as effective as Win10, and is that something we should be recommending here? I think not!

 

[wither 3]

You must be getting mellow Vistaar. You and the others are talking about MSE and Defender in a thread about Malwarebytes.

 

[townsbg]

There are obviously few Win10 lovers here, although the novices who sometimes post here might be well-advised to adopt Win10. I never used 8.1, but would be interested in knowing the highest Windows Defender client version number that 8.1 can be updated to? Unless I’m mistaken, Defender has not properly supported 8.1 for several years, i.e. only 10 receives client version upgrades. Is Defender now one of the world’s best anti-malware products? Yes indeed! Is that information relevant to anyone who is not running 10? Very likely not I’m afraid. On the other hand, all third-party anti-malware solutions fully support 7 and 8.1 for the time being, whereas the situation for Vista diehards is so bleak that they prefer novel definitions of “support.”

I'm not sure about Defender on 8 but I know that generally support for 8 was discontinued shortly after 8.1 was released. Strangely 2012 is still supported. That's the server version of 8.

 

[Vistaar]

...All are kept fully up to date, and by implication all should be as effective an AV. Only the antimalware client differs, but that's just the GUI...

After reviewing a Microsoft document, I don’t think I can agree with you. My advice to those running Win7 or 8.1 would be to use the current version of one of the best third-party antivirus products (but perhaps not Avira, which plans to end support for 7 and 8.1 at the end of this year).