Multiple Scanning Schedules

[Guest]

I am wondering it might be considered to include multiple scheduling of scans
in the final release. For example, let's say I wanted to schedule a Quick
Scan once a day, but a Full System Scan only once a week. I think this
would be very helpful.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Go to control panel, performance and maintenance, and open the scheduled
tasks folder.

Go to advanced and have it show hidden tasks.

There you will see the scheduled scan.

(look for mpcmdrun.exe)

Run \program files\windows defender\mpcmdrun.exe

to see the syntax--this is a command line app.

You can schedule this yourself to your hearts content--schedule updates,
schedule different types of scans on different days--whatever.

I think it's unlikely they'll change the options within the UI, but you can
do this yourself.

 

[Guest]

Actually, it would be nice if they would add that to the UI. It was kind of
nice in beta1 to be able to schedule something like M-W-F, which is gone now.
I have this (erroneous?) mental image of daily scans wearing out my HD.

I can see the point of trying to make this as much of a "background" app as
possible. But, the process you describe seems like a lot to go through to
make this kind of change.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Part of the thrust, in Vista, Windows Defender, and for Microsoft in the
security area (Per Bill Gates' RSA speech this year) is to simplify.

I don't think you'll see much more complexity added to the UI--the
functionality is there for those that want to dig, and the UI is simple
enough that the average user--and face it, those folks are very different
from those who find there way to these groups and are doing beta testing, by
and large)--can handle it without problems.

This is also behind some of the decisions about update mechanisms and the
lack of an easily accessable "update" button, I believe.

When you need to count the number of things you need to do to "be safe" on
more than a few fingers, life is getting too complex--I'm in favor of the
de-emphasis--I want this to be something that is just out there on every
machine, and doesn't bug me (as an admin, or the users)--not that I can say
that it has managed that so far!

--

 

[Linuxgirl]

Part of the thrust, in Vista, Windows Defender, and for Microsoft in
the security area (Per Bill Gates' RSA speech this year) is to
simplify.
I don't think you'll see much more complexity added to the UI--the
functionality is there for those that want to dig, and the UI is
simple enough that the average user--and face it, those folks are
very different from those who find there way to these groups and are
doing beta testing, by and large)--can handle it without problems.

This is also behind some of the decisions about update mechanisms and
the lack of an easily accessable "update" button, I believe.

When you need to count the number of things you need to do to "be
safe" on more than a few fingers, life is getting too complex--I'm in
favor of the de-emphasis--I want this to be something that is just
out there on every machine, and doesn't bug me (as an admin, or the
users)--not that I can say that it has managed that so far!

Bill. Defaults are fine but if software doesn't have enough options for the
advanced user to feel comfortable, the advanced users simply will not use
it. That would cover a lot of systems.

 

[plun]

Bill. Defaults are fine but if software doesn't have enough options for the
advanced user to feel comfortable, the advanced users simply will not use it.
That would cover a lot of systems.

Hi LG

It has enough with info ! But MS messed it up.... but with notifys "on"
and Advanced member this app is great. (and maybe blocked transmission
to Spynet within firewall )

"Always allow" is also missing.

And most important XP Security Center supervision. (no WD icone)

See this little test:
http://hem.bredband.net/b288305/testing_spyfalcon_and_errorsafe.htm

AndyM also tested it with great result

20 out of 25 of todays most popular "Hijacks"

So it works also in IRL......

regards
plun

 

[Guest]

OK...I went in to the task scheduler and made some schedule adjustments.
Actually, it really is easy. Once I got the item to appear in "scheduled
tasks" (following Bill's instructions), all I had to do was double click on
it, and the window with the schedule options (just like beta 1) opened up.

Follow-up questions. My original schedule still appars in the Defender
settings. Should I expect that this one will continue to run, despite the
other schedule I set up? If I turn off the automatic scan feature, will that
also disable what I set up in the task mgr?

 

[Bill Sanderson]

How many advanced users are satisfied with, say, Outlook Express, or
WordPad? I'm not intending to put down Windows Defender--I hope it will be
among the top contenders in the antispyware crowd--but it doesn't have to be
all things to all people, and it does have to work for my parents, and all
the clueless officeworkers around the world who will find it on their
machines. My guess is that for most of those workers in large managed
networks, it'll be invisible--monitored centrally as part of Microsoft
Client Protection, or perhaps other central management apps--and that's just
fine--as long as it works.

I'm reasonably sure that 90% of the users of Microsoft Antispyware have
never messed with the tools, advanced tools, system explorers. Or visited
these newsgroups, fortunately for us. The final app will be a supported
app--I'm not sure what that means, exactly, but it will have $ signs
attached to it for both Microsoft and their OEM partners.

Lots of factors--I miss some of those features too--but ultimately, as I
said--I support the goal of simplifying the users view of security, and
think that the "dumbing down" is generally in a good cause.

--

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Always ignore was available for all the VNC variants I've found on the
various machines I administer.

 

[Bill Sanderson]

I'm guessing, but I suspect that if you change the job in the Windows
Defender GUI, it'll set up another hidden task. If you disable, I'm not
sure, but I suspect it'll simply remove the hidden task. So--if you
schedule yourself, you are on your own--the appearance within Windows
Defender may be contrary to what is really happening.

--

 

[Guest]

I miss the multiple schedules. I had to run a scan three times a week on my
work laptops. No I can't.

AND - it's not like the scheduling system is any easier anyway.

That sucks.

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

But you can--just go to control panel, performance, scheduled tasks, and
make your own schedule.

To see the current job set up by Windows Defender, go to Advanced, and show
hidden tasks.

to see the syntax and commands available, run mpcmdrun.exe, in \program
files\windows defender (this is a a console-mode program--run it at a
command prompt)

Scheduling should be more reliable and more flexible than ever, even though
the options exposed within the program itself are simpler.

 

[Guest]

Yes. But we shouldn't have to do it that way! I know my users will look in
the GUI and see one time, when ultimatly that is not the time(s) the scan
will run.

I wish I could

1. Disable the GUI, or parts of it.
2. Centrally Administer this Defender from a Group Policy (Like most "REAL"
MS products.)

This program is good for consumers. Not for corporate networks.

My 2kb.

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

And I can't disagree. Defender as a product is not designed for corporate
networks--here's what is:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/solutions/security/clientprotection/default.mspx

Mind you I believe the technology involved is largely the same, but the
controls and interface will be very different.

 

[Guest]

Oh la la!!! That does look GREAT!

Will it be free? Pricing?

Thanks!

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

It does look great, but it won't be free--it'll be subscription based, as
OneCare is.

I don't think anyones even floated any balloons about pricing. I do recall
hearing a rumor a year or more ago that it would be very attractive if you
were on software assurance. I'm worried about its applicability to smaller
shops--I work with SBS sized offices, and I'm not convinced it will be
priced or architected in a way that would make it appropriate for SBS users.

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