Update Restart & Defender

[livetohike]

Running XP. Sorry for bundling multiple questions, but they are all
related. Even if you can only answer 1, please don't hesitate to
reply.

1) I use FireFox not IE, does Defender still apply?

2) Do I need this if I already have AVG (Free), SpyBot-SD Resident, Ad-
Aware, etc.? Does it add anything of value.

3) I always worry when I see "real-time". Does this thing slow down
my computer all the time, or only when it does its nightly scan.

4) Why do the updates come so frequently? Do new threats really appear
every 2-3 days?

5) It is a free MS product ... should I even bother w/ it?


6) Each MS Update requires a restart, a real pain. Any way around
this?
Alternatively: Each time I install any MS Update, I get that incessant
reminder to restart every 10 minutes or so. Anyway to turn the
reminder off, but still have the update take affect the next time I
restart.

Thanks
xx) FYI: It looks like it uses the "MS Automatic Updates" which I have
set to "Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install
them". Should that affect question #2 above.

x) If you have automatic updates turn on, why would you need the
"check online for updated definitions before scanning." setting?
-Will it do a restart automatically, if the "check online..." feature
is turned on?
-If not, then why do you need it when the only thing Automatic Updates
wants to install is a Defender update?

It is a free MS product ... should I even bother w/ it?


xxx) Each update requires a restart, a real pain. Any way around
this?
Alternatively: Each time I install any MS Update, I get that incessant
reminder to restart every 10 minutes or so. Anyway to turn the
reminder off, but still have the update take affect the next time I
restart.

xx) FYI: It looks like it uses the "MS Automatic Updates" which I have
set to "Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install
them". Should that affect question #2 above.

 

[Ken Blake]

Running XP. Sorry for bundling multiple questions, but they are all
related. Even if you can only answer 1, please don't hesitate to
reply.

1) I use FireFox not IE, does Defender still apply?

Yes.


2) Do I need this if I already have AVG (Free), SpyBot-SD Resident, Ad-
Aware, etc.? Does it add anything of value.

Yes. No anti-spyware program is perfect, and each identifies things that the
others don't. For good protection you need at least two or three.

3) I always worry when I see "real-time". Does this thing slow down
my computer all the time,

No.


or only when it does its nightly scan.

4) Why do the updates come so frequently? Do new threats really appear
every 2-3 days?

Yes.


5) It is a free MS product ... should I even bother w/ it?

I would. It isn't necessarily the single best product, but it adds
protection.

6) Each MS Update requires a restart, a real pain.

No, only some do.

Any way around
this?

No, although you don't have to do it immediately.

Alternatively: Each time I install any MS Update, I get that incessant
reminder to restart every 10 minutes or so. Anyway to turn the
reminder off,

Unfortunately, no. I'm with you and wish there were one.

 

[MowGreen [MVP]]

Alternatively: Each time I install any MS Update, I get that incessant

Unfortunately, no. I'm with you and wish there were one.

You can't turn it off the nags but you *can* set the time for the prompt
to restart.
See '2. Modify Group Policy settings' :
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000294.html

Please bear in mind that if a Critical Security update has been
installed for a known vulnerability and files are in use for said
update, than the system is still *vulnerable* for any exploit created
for it.
The system is in a mixed state and this can also hinder some functionality.

*STRONGLY* suggest that updates be installed when *you* want them
installed and that one should restart the system ASAP in the above scenario.

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

 

[Plato]

4) Why do the updates come so frequently? Do new threats really appear
every 2-3 days?

Yes, but in theory you really dont need to install them every 2-3 days
unless you are carrying on very careless pc ussage, ie like using file
sharing programs or downloading warez.

 

[Ken Blake]

You can't turn it off the nags but you *can* set the time for the prompt
to restart.
See '2. Modify Group Policy settings' :
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000294.html

Thanks for the addition, Mow.

Yes, you can do this if you have XP Professional, and therefore gpedit.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

Please bear in mind that if a Critical Security update has been installed
for a known vulnerability and files are in use for said update, than the
system is still *vulnerable* for any exploit created for it.
The system is in a mixed state and this can also hinder some
functionality.

*STRONGLY* suggest that updates be installed when *you* want them
installed and that one should restart the system ASAP in the above
scenario.

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

Yes. No anti-spyware program is perfect, and each identifies things that
the others don't. For good protection you need at least two or three.






I would. It isn't necessarily the single best product, but it adds
protection.






No, only some do.






No, although you don't have to do it immediately.








Unfortunately, no. I'm with you and wish there were one.

 

[Ottmar Freudenberger]

Thanks for the addition, Mow.

Yes, you can do this if you have XP Professional, and therefore gpedit.

Since policies are nothing else but registry settings:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328010 works for Home Edition too.

Bye,
Freudi

 

[Ottmar Freudenberger]

Since policies are nothing else but registry settings:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328010 works for Home Edition too.

Ooops, forgot to mention
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/75ee9da8-0ffd-400c-b722-aeafdb68ceb31033.mspx

And yes, it *is* essential to reboot the machine to install a lot of
updates. In case you don't get the "reboot message" any longer, that
might get forgotten and the updates don't protect the system.

Bye,
Freu"Especially in times where hibernation got that popular"di

 

[Ken Blake]

Since policies are nothing else but registry settings:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328010 works for Home Edition too.

Yes, you can accomplish the same thing, but my point was that you can not
simply follow the instructions on the page Mow cited.

 

[MowGreen [MVP]]

That's why Freudi's around ... to finish what I start <w>

MowGreen [MVP 2003-2007]
===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

 

[Ottmar Freudenberger]

That's why Freudi's around ... to finish what I start <w>

<shhhhttttt>

Bye,
Freudi