Windows 10 Creators Update and Windows Defender

[mr__ed]

Microsoft just installed the creators update yesterday. So far, all is OK. I was curious, though, that they made it a point to rename Windows Defender,"Windows Defender Anti-virus". I was under the impression it was already an anti-virus. Does that mean Defender is now a force to be reckoned with? I'm already using Norton Security, but when the subscription ends, I may like to try WD as long as there have been meaningful improvements.

Toshiba laptop, W10 Home, version 1703

[larry_barnhart]

My wife has a dell windows 10 that is under years old and a virus took out windows 10 last winter . WD did not stop anything for her.

chevman

[trb46]

deandec wrote:
I have used WD only on two laptops since installing the W10 in 2015.

No problems to report so far.....

X2

[deandec]

I have used WD only on two laptops since installing the W10 in 2015.

No problems to report so far.....

[mr__ed]

wa8yxm wrote:
Last I checked Windows Defender was not rated well by the white hat guys (People who fight hackers)... And i'd assume that has not changed.

I used to say that I felt MS paid a bonus to the programmer who's back door was the hardest to find.

I believe I read somewhere that there have been improvements to WD since the recent W10 Creator's Update.
Still, the best antimalware is the computer operator. Many problems can be prevented by being careful on the web and where you click.

[wa8yxm]

Last I checked Windows Defender was not rated well by the white hat guys (People who fight hackers)... And i'd assume that has not changed.

I used to say that I felt MS paid a bonus to the programmer who's back door was the hardest to find.

[mr__ed]

OP here. I decided to try Comodo free internet security. Just installed it today. I had no problem with Defender, but I'll use this program for now. I'm a consummate experimenter. 🙂

[mr__ed]

AsheGuy wrote:
All rating websites probably have some bias but this one (PC Magazine on Windows Defender) seems likely to be as unbiased as any.

It doesn't rate the upgraded WD above even free antivirus programs. I use AVG Free and have for years and never gotten a virus but their constant nudges to buy their paid version makes me wish it wasn't true about WD.

That was a good article, AsheGuy. Thanks for sharing. When my Norton subscription expires, I'll no doubt use a 3rd party AV app, such as AVast or Bitdefender, both of which I've used in the past. Here's a snippet from that article, which gives some nice options:
FreeFree at AVG Technologies 9.5. Webroot, PC Matic, and Comodo all earned a perfect 10 points.

Can't improve on that!

[AsheGuy]

All rating websites probably have some bias but this one (PC Magazine on Windows Defender) seems likely to be as unbiased as any.

It doesn't rate the upgraded WD above even free antivirus programs. I use AVG Free and have for years and never gotten a virus but their constant nudges to buy their paid version makes me wish it wasn't true about WD.

[shum02]

mr. ed wrote:
Microsoft just installed the creators update yesterday. So far, all is OK. I was curious, though, that they made it a point to rename Windows Defender,"Windows Defender Anti-virus". I was under the impression it was already an anti-virus. Does that mean Defender is now a force to be reckoned with? I'm already using Norton Security, but when the subscription ends, I may like to try WD as long as there have been meaningful improvements.

Toshiba laptop, W10 Home, version 1703

It is and has been since Window Security Essentials. Been running it since WinXP and have yet to have anything get past it.

[mr__ed]

coolmom42 wrote:
Who knows.

I use Avast Free, and Malwarebytes free. I hate Norton/Symantec. It's a memory hog and almost impossible to completely uninstall. Good luck with that piece of it.

I've had no problem completely uninstalling Norton, using Revo Uninstaller. I've done this several times recently, just experimenting with different products.

[coolmom42]

Who knows.

I use Avast Free, and Malwarebytes free. I hate Norton/Symantec. It's a memory hog and almost impossible to completely uninstall. Good luck with that piece of it.