Windows Defender

I downloaded the new beta for what they are now calling Windows Defender the other night. (Formally known as Microsoft Anti-Spyware)

It’s definitely a clean interface, and it seems to run a bit quicker. A “quick-scan” of my laptop system only took 3 minutes. That seems faster than I remember most products quick scans taking. I haven’t done any full or customized scans yet, mostly due to lack of time and the fact that I’m pretty attuned to what’s going on with my PC at all times, so I don’t think there’s any spyware running around loose that I need to be doing full scans for. Therefore, at this point I lack the incentive to wait for one of those to run. I’ll let you know if I ever get around to it.

Otherwise it just hums along in the background and does it’s thing. Which is good, that’s what I like my security software to do.

The one question I have, it automatically updated itself today, with definitions that were created Feb 12. Four days ago? What took it so long to update? My anti-virus (AVG) checks for updates everyday. I have Defender set to check for updates before starting a scan. I did a scan this afternoon, obviously it didn’t find any available updates. Tonight I get an update that’s 4 days old? It’s a beta, and it was free, but this seems like an area ripe for imporvement.

Tags: WindowsDefender, Spyware

ESBN 58919-060216-506325-29

Similar Posts

  • Various stuff

    Brad reminded me about the Columbus ITEC show going on next month. I had forgotten all about it. I’ll probably be there at some point during the two days of the event, but I’m not sure when yet. Gonna have to get a good look at the seminar schedule and what not before then. 🙂…

  • BartPE

    Today’s column by Fred Langa is the second recent reference I’ve seen to BartPE: Bart’s PE Builder helps you build a “BartPE” (Bart Preinstalled Environment) bootable Windows CD-Rom or DVD from the original Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 installation/setup CD, very suitable for PC maintenance tasks. It will give you a complete Win32 environment…

  • Pat LaFontaine’s sweet dream

    Pat LaFontaine’s sweet dream. While we’re all so busy bashing Microsoft, I noticed that they are the corporate partner along with ex-NHL player Pat LaFontaine in trying to equip children’s hospitals with high-tech play rooms. I may not agree with everything they do, but you gotta stop and give them credit for this. I hope…

  • Am I missing something?

    I was reviewing some exam questions for the A+ exam over my lunch today, using the practice tests included with Mike Meyers’ A+ Certification Passport. It’s a decent book and the practice tests seem decent, but one of the questions had to do with someone who’s new email client could get incoming email but couldn’t…

  • Embedded XP?

    According to Cringely’s latest at InfoWorld, the soon to be released Dell PDA’s will be running an embedded version of Windows XP, not Pocket PC 2002. Could that be what’s keeping the price down? Should be interesting to compare the two I would think, although I think I’ll stick with PocketPc 2002 for my Xmas…

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

To respond on your own website, enter the URL of your response which should contain a link to this post's permalink URL. Your response will then appear (possibly after moderation) on this page. Want to update or remove your response? Update or delete your post and re-enter your post's URL again. (Find out more about Webmentions.)