If I have Norton Security installed, will Windows Defender or Microsoft
Security Essentials conflict with it?

If I am using Windows Defender should I also use Microsoft Security
Essentials.

Does Malicious Software Removal Tool, Windows Defender and Microsoft
Security Essentials use the same updated definitions, so are they redundant?

I'm not familiar with all the Norton products. If your Norton product is a
suite which includes anti-spyware functionality, I would expect it to
automatically disable Windows Defender on installation.

Microsoft recommends that only a single product doing real-time scanning be
installed, if possible.

Microsoft Security Essentials will request uninstallation of other
anti-virus products as part of the installation routine, and it will disable
Windows Defender, because it incorporated Windows Defender's functionality.

A better way to phrase your second question would be "If I am using
Microsoft Security Essentials, should I also use Windows Defender?" and the
answer would be no--Microsoft Security Essentials will disable Windows
Defender.

In terms of your final question, I'm not Microsoft Security Essentials
definitely incorporates Windows Defender's protections, so they are
redundant, but I would always let the Malicious Software Removal tool run as
part of the monthly security updates--it is possible that there is
redundancy there, but this is a once a month run--I wouldn't bother to take
any action to change the way things work.

So--in summary, I would recommend that if you've purchased a security suite
which provides both anti-virus and anti-spyware, that you allow it to
disable Windows Defender, and trust the vendor you've chosen to protect you.
If you want to switch vendors, Microsoft Security Essentials provides
well-reviewed effective coverage at an excellent cost for home users. The
Malicious Software Removal tool may be redundant, but I wouldn't worry about
it.



"Barry" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:FE2CC87F-8AEE-4A5A-A6FC-(E-Mail Removed)...
> If I have Norton Security installed, will Windows Defender or Microsoft
> Security Essentials conflict with it?
>
> If I am using Windows Defender should I also use Microsoft Security
> Essentials.
>
> Does Malicious Software Removal Tool, Windows Defender and Microsoft
> Security Essentials use the same updated definitions, so are they
> redundant?

I'm not familiar with all the Norton products. If your Norton product is a
suite which includes anti-spyware functionality, I would expect it to
automatically disable Windows Defender on installation.

Microsoft recommends that only a single product doing real-time scanning be
installed, if possible.

Microsoft Security Essentials will request uninstallation of other
anti-virus products as part of the installation routine, and it will disable
Windows Defender, because it incorporated Windows Defender's functionality.

A better way to phrase your second question would be "If I am using
Microsoft Security Essentials, should I also use Windows Defender?" and the
answer would be no--Microsoft Security Essentials will disable Windows
Defender.

In terms of your final question, I'm not Microsoft Security Essentials
definitely incorporates Windows Defender's protections, so they are
redundant, but I would always let the Malicious Software Removal tool run as
part of the monthly security updates--it is possible that there is
redundancy there, but this is a once a month run--I wouldn't bother to take
any action to change the way things work.

So--in summary, I would recommend that if you've purchased a security suite
which provides both anti-virus and anti-spyware, that you allow it to
disable Windows Defender, and trust the vendor you've chosen to protect you.
If you want to switch vendors, Microsoft Security Essentials provides
well-reviewed effective coverage at an excellent cost for home users. The
Malicious Software Removal tool may be redundant, but I wouldn't worry about
it.



"Barry" wrote:

> If I have Norton Security installed, will Windows Defender or Microsoft
> Security Essentials conflict with it?
>
> If I am using Windows Defender should I also use Microsoft Security
> Essentials.
>
> Does Malicious Software Removal Tool, Windows Defender and Microsoft
> Security Essentials use the same updated definitions, so are they redundant?