Windows Defender...is it actually useful?

Mo6152 · 09-20-2012, 09:13 AM

I keep getting updates via windows updates for this thing. Does it actually help or should I just disable it. I'm using Avast as my main AV.

rotNdude · 09-20-2012, 10:01 AM

Your confidence in Avast should dictate whether or not you keep running Windows Defender. If Defender isn't getting any results, then you can probably get rid of it. On the other hand, if Avast isn't getting any results, then you can assume there isn't any need for either. That is a bad idea though. If Defender or Avast aren't causing any issues with performance or download caps on your Internet, I wouldn't worry about it.

99Reaper99 · 09-20-2012, 10:18 AM

And disabling Defender can lead to it telling you all the time to enable it on start up unless you remove a registry value (at least in my case). But as rotN said, no issues, you can just ignore it.

Really all you need is Avast and the Firewall. For curiosity's sake if you want to see where Avast itself stands against others, check out www.av-test.org . Sort of the authority on AV benchmarks.

zezzex · 09-20-2012, 01:42 PM

here is an important question...what os are you using? If you are using windows 8, then windows defender is acutally the windows 7 version of Microsoft Security Essentials. MSE is a steam forum favorite. It is a great anti-virus scanner.

In previous versions of windows, Windows defender has never been a popular app, and I never use it.

09-20-2012, 09:13 AM	#1
Mo6152 Join Date: Apr 2012 Reputation: 8 Posts: 77	Windows Defender...is it actually useful? I keep getting updates via windows updates for this thing. Does it actually help or should I just disable it. I'm using Avast as my main AV.

09-20-2012, 10:01 AM	#2
rotNdude Volunteer Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Reputation: 9180 Posts: 45,465	Your confidence in Avast should dictate whether or not you keep running Windows Defender. If Defender isn't getting any results, then you can probably get rid of it. On the other hand, if Avast isn't getting any results, then you can assume there isn't any need for either. That is a bad idea though. If Defender or Avast aren't causing any issues with performance or download caps on your Internet, I wouldn't worry about it. __________________ Support Articles \| Support Account \| Forum Rules

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09-20-2012, 10:18 AM	#3
99Reaper99 Join Date: Apr 2009 Reputation: 123 Posts: 1,041	And disabling Defender can lead to it telling you all the time to enable it on start up unless you remove a registry value (at least in my case). But as rotN said, no issues, you can just ignore it. Really all you need is Avast and the Firewall. For curiosity's sake if you want to see where Avast itself stands against others, check out www.av-test.org . Sort of the authority on AV benchmarks.

09-20-2012, 01:42 PM	#4
zezzex Join Date: Oct 2006 Reputation: 672 Posts: 3,496	here is an important question...what os are you using? If you are using windows 8, then windows defender is acutally the windows 7 version of Microsoft Security Essentials. MSE is a steam forum favorite. It is a great anti-virus scanner. In previous versions of windows, Windows defender has never been a popular app, and I never use it.