what does Defender really do?

[Luvrsmel]

I haven't once seen this program ever catch spyware, viruses or any other
malicious content on my computer. I have other programs installed that do
that. So what is Defenders purpose? Is it a secret call home program for
Microsoft only? I remember when Giant owned it and it actually served a
purpose catching all kinds of crap, but now it just seems to do nothing.
Anyone else shed some light on this wonderful program? :-\

 

[Spirit]

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/defender.mspx

Anti-spy/Malware

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/spyware/windowsdefender.mspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Defender

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10877_11-6151136.html

 

[Richard in AZ]

I haven't once seen this program ever catch spyware, viruses or any other malicious content on my
computer. I have other programs installed that do that. So what is Defenders purpose? Is it a
secret call home program for Microsoft only? I remember when Giant owned it and it actually served
a purpose catching all kinds of crap, but now it just seems to do nothing. Anyone else shed some
light on this wonderful program? :-\

I know that Defender ignores most of the "tracking cookies", which is not really a problem, but it
has caught 3 attempted Trojan horse programs that attempted to get into my test computer when I was
reviewing some questionable web links.

 

[forty-nine]

I know that Defender ignores most of the "tracking cookies", which is not
really a problem, but it has caught 3 attempted Trojan horse programs that
attempted to get into my test computer when I was reviewing some
questionable web links.

Give us the links, please !
: D

 

[Richard in AZ]

Give us the links, please !
: D

All links were for some games that computer club members asked me to look at for
possible programs to include in our monthly disk of free software. None of the links were XXX.
But it has be months since I encountered these. I often check recommended / requested free
software on a test machine.

 

[John]

I think it was Defender --- it caught an email from eBay that was a
modification of a real email, but with a link to a bogus site.

This is probably one of those things that doesn't react often, but if it
didn't it would spoil your whole day.

John