Windows Defender Shield Means What?

[John]

I have a program that has the Windows Defender/Security Center shield. What
does that mean? How do I get rid of it?

 

[Malke]

I have a program that has the Windows Defender/Security Center shield. What
does that mean? How do I get rid of it?

We need a bit more information. What program and what do you mean by
Windows Defender/Security Center shield? If you have an icon popping up
in the system tray saying that your computer is infected, what is the
exact text of the message and what program is giving you this warning?


Malke

 

[Dave]

If you mean the shield that shows up on the program icon, that indicates
that UAC will ask you to confirm running the program.

 

[John]

Thanks, Dave. That's exactly what I needed to know.
Any easy way to get UAC off that program. It's a simple dictionary program.
I have been using gpedit to edit UAC functions but can't see how to get rid
of that UAC badge of shame.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

John

The shield simply means that the program needs administrator privileges to
run. This program was probably written to work with previous versions of
Windows. The question that you need to ask yourself is "Why would a simple
dictionary program need administrator privileges to run"?

The obvious answer is that the developers were lazy and it was easier to
just give the program complete and unrestricted access to the entire
computer, instead of following the developer guidelines that have been
recommended for the last 8 years.

If the program is requiring this type of privileges, there's not a lot you
can do, except elevate it whenever it is run. The shield is generated by the
program.

You might also ask the programs developer if they have an update for Vista
available.

 

[John]

Ronnie, thank you. I had given it Admin rights to run in the very beginning.
All was well but then one day UAC or Defender or whatever silly program
announced that it had blocked it. No reason... since it's a Permitted
program in the list. One suggestion was uncheck the admin run box... I did
and, no good. It's obviously something than can't be fixed since the
Permitted program isn't listed in the Blocked list of programs in Defeater--
it has defeated me. It's very, very frustrating. Too much complexity in
Vista has caused unpredictable behavior. Not the sign of a stable OS, IMHO.
I'm a heartbeat away from returning to XP after 6 months of struggle with
Vista irrationalities and unpredictabilities.

 

[Charles W Davis]

John,

I really don't understand. I use have used my Vista machine an average of 4
hours a day since March 31. By using the system as installed by the
manufacturer, I have noticed nothing that would make be even consider going
back to a 6 year old OS.

Quit tweaking and enjoy!

 

[Not Me]

I don't know what you use it for, but it must not make Vista display it's
nanny attitude.
I don't want nor need a nanny and to build one into an OS is silly.
That is why we don't boot to AOL-OS...but MS obviously missed that point.
Maybe it was because of all the laid off AOL programmers that went to
Redmond (after AOL lost so many customers it had to start giving away it's
'service').

 

[John]

I'll knock on some wood for you, Charles. May your good fortunes continue.