Microsoft Defender could be your free antivirus fix

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PUBLIC DEFENDER By Brian Livingston Microsoft Defender — a free antivirus app that’s included in Windows — provides a highly rated service, but it’s r
[See the full post at: Microsoft Defender could be your free antivirus fix]

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ibe98765, AlexEiffel, opti1, rChaz, fisher75, 280park, Norio, GeeBeeDee, windbg, satrow, glnz, rizzquery, Dennis Page, Geo, Seff, DLivesInTexas, rbailin, lmacri

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A fascinating article Brian, thanks a lot for all that went into it!

One additional point in Microsoft Defender’s favour, which I don’t think was in the article but apologies if I missed it, is the one made here in the past by Susan Bradley if I recall correctly. It is that an anti-virus program produced by Microsoft is likely to be inherently more compatible with Windows monthly Updates than other third party security programs.

I’ve used MSE and then Microsoft Defender for years now on my home desktop PCs, and never had any issues with them, and in recent years have stopped running Malwarebytes anti-malware software as an additional protection as it just didn’t seem necessary.

If I could offer a suggestion for a future article, how about one dealing with security on our smart phones including androids? Is the default protection adequate or should it be enhanced with a paid-for upgrade?

Thanks again.

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GeeBeeDee

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Seff wrote:

If I could offer a suggestion for a future article, how about one dealing with security on our smart phones including androids?

I have Microsoft Defender on my Samsung S23.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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wavy

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Been using Defender for years.  The trick with doing this is to also sandbox your browser and any suspect application you are trying out.   I use Sandboxie to do that.   🙂

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wavy, rChaz

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Has any of you actually used “Microsoft Defender for Individuals“?  (See the second bullet point in Brian’s article.)

We already have a single MS 365 Family subscription that we use on my home PC (and my iPad and iPhone), my wife’s numerous Apple Devices, and three PCs in my wife’s small business.  All the PCs already run normal Windows Defender.  Wondering whether adding “Microsoft Defender for Individuals” is a net plus or just a bother.

Thanks.

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You want me to use Microsoft software to solve problems caused by Microsoft software??????????? Yeah and I will use gasoline to out out a fire. I think NOT!

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My problem with Microsoft Defender is that I block Windows updates. I assume if I am blocking those updates then Microsoft Defender updates will be blocked also. My current anti-malware product often updates several times a day.

Is there a way to block Windows updates but not Microsoft Defender updates?

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First, if you are using Windows Pro, there is a way to block updates by using the Group Policy Editor. You can set it to notify you about updates ready to download, but wait for you to start them.

Second, what method are you using to “block updates”?

 

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I block updates using a combination of Update Manager for Windows by David Xanatos and Windows Update Blocker.

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racorbin2010 wrote:

Is there a way to block Windows updates but not Microsoft Defender updates?

Microsoft Defender updates are not blocked if you block Windows updates.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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GeeBeeDee

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When Microsoft will stop updates for Win 10 next year does it mean that they will also stop sending virus defenition updates also ?

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Sorry to say but what i have seen in some recent Unknown Ransomware testing Defender did nothing to stop files from being encrypted.

Bitdefender did stop suspicious behaviour and the files from being encrypted

Malwarebytes did not stop files from being encrypted

Kaspersky did stop suspicious behaviour and the files from being encrypted

ESET did stop suspicious behaviour and the files from being encrypted

Just something to think about.

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ibe98765, windbg

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sudo wrote:

Sorry to say but what i have seen in some recent Unknown Ransomware testing Defender did nothing to stop files from being encrypted.

Because its Ransomware Protection was not enabled for appropriate folders?

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sudo

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Hi b

b wrote:

sudo wrote:

Sorry to say but what i have seen in some recent Unknown Ransomware testing Defender did nothing to stop files from being encrypted.

Because its Ransomware Protection was not enabled for appropriate folders?

Good point, i did try to reach out to the person that did the testing.

I ask if the folders had the protection enabled.

So far no reply.

 

 

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b

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Jazzwineman wrote:

You want me to use Microsoft software to solve problems caused by Microsoft software?

Are you suggesting that Microsoft is deliberately making its software vulnerable? That’s like saying you are responsible if you leave your front door unlocked and then are robbed. You didn’t want to be robbed and it was probably an accident that the door was left insecure, but you aren’t to blame for the robbers’ actions.

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ibe98765

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Will Fastie wrote:

Jazzwineman wrote:

You want me to use Microsoft software to solve problems caused by Microsoft software?

Are you suggesting that Microsoft is deliberately making its software vulnerable? That’s like saying you are responsible if you leave your front door unlocked and then are robbed. You didn’t want to be robbed and it was probably an accident that the door was left insecure, but you aren’t to blame for the robbers’ actions.

No, it is just the inadequacy of their programmers to get it right. Do you see the same extent of problems with Linux, Unix or Mac OS?

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