Entered CNET Catalog: 03/14/2007
SKU: CNETMSWINDOWSDEFENDER
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp.
Manufacturer description
Windows Defender detects and removes known spyware from your computer, which helps make your Internet browsing safer. The software uses automatic definition updates provided by Microsoft analysts to help detect and remove new threats as the threats are identified.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 03/15/2007
Microsoft Windows Defender is perhaps the best free antispyware application we looked at this year, but it's lacking when compared to brand-name antivirus-plus-antispyware solutions. We also disagree with Microsoft's aggressive need to verify our Windows license (not once but twice) before allowing us the opportunity to download and install Windows Defender. Given it's a free app, we would prefer that Microsoft see the larger picture and have all desktops clean of malicious spyware, regardless of their Windows status. Once Windows Defender is installed, it's not bad, though it could be better. Advanced users will appreciate the granularity in its controls. We fault Windows Defender only for being too lenient with some adware and spyware, labeling most every item we tested as low threats, an opinion not shared by other vendors.
Setup
Although Windows Defender is free, you cannot simply download and run the product. As mentioned, if you haven't already done so, you must first download and install the Windows Verification tool on your desktop, then you must validate that you are in fact running a licensed version of Windows. Only then may you download Windows Defender. Guess what? Microsoft then asks you again to validate your copy of Microsoft Windows before continuing with the Windows Defender wizard. If you follow the default settings in the installation wizard you are automatically signed up for Microsoft SpyNet, Microsoft's in house database of spyware seen in the wild. If you do not want any information transmitted back to Microsoft, choose the Install Definition Updates Only option instead. You will also need to agree to a supplemental license agreement (one that goes beyond what you agreed to when you installed your genuine version of Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista). And there you have it. It's like getting frisked (twice) as you walk into the post office; Microsoft makes the process of downloading and installing unpleasant for such a pithy application.
The final release of Windows Defender didn't wow us with its design. The interface looks as though some coder realized they needed a front end to go with the program and slapped together some buttons, a dropdown menu, and a few other goodies. More advanced users won't care; the interface is clean and relatively well-organized. But there's a lot of unused white space and small type.
The final version of Windows Defender includes, among other changes from the beta, support for Windows XP SP2 x64 editions. There's also an enhanced scanning engine, a new interface, and protection for non-administrator users on your system. As for specific features, advanced users will appreciate these more than the casual user.
The Windows Defender History feature acts like HijackThis, logging changes made to the system registry. The difference is that HiJackThis provides a snapshot; Windows Defender provides a running log of all system changes. The Tools page is Defender's catch-all page. Under Options, you'll find automatic scanning, default actions, real-time protection options, advanced options, and administrator options. Most users will not need to change these settings. There's also an option to join or leave SpyNet. As a member, quarantine lists will be sent to SpyNet for processing, alerting Microsoft to new outbreaks and new spyware.
Software Explorer is also a cool tool, allowing you to look at startup programs, currently running programs, network connected programs, and Winsock service providers. Reviewing these lists is another way to check against rogue applications running on your desktop. Many name programs are automatically listed as "permitted," but we found several Google products, such as Picasa, marked "not yet classified."
Performance
Windows Defender is fast at scanning, but we found it always removed all the traces of sample spyware in our tests. Overall, Windows Defender is neither excellent nor seriously deficient. In exclusive testing by CNET Labs, Windows Defender's active shields identified and blocked seven out of eight spyware samples we attempted to install, missing only one generic Trojan, Compare-prices.zip. For scanning and removing existing spyware samples, Windows Defender faired worse, catching and removing only half. As for the removal itself, in half the cases Windows Defender left some spyware residue behind, creating the possibility that some of the sample spyware could reinstall itself.
Support
Windows Defender includes two free support incidents, except Microsoft qualifies it by adding "examples of valid support scenarios are installation, configuration, definition update, detection, and removal errors." After the first two, Microsoft will charge $35 per incident. Microsoft does host several free user forums around its Windows Defender product.
Conclusion
It's hard to knock a free product that works and gives you some technical support. We only wish that Microsoft would be more aggressive with its threat ratings and actually remove items that other vendors agree could pose a danger. Now that the Anti-Spyware Coalition has agreed upon best practices, perhaps Microsoft will improve its test results next year.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
User Rating: 
4/10
Offers the most basic security for home users.
Pros: Contains some basic tools and offers some BASIC security.
Cons: Very vulnerable to viruses, it cant even protect itself from viruses.
User Rating: 
3/10
Never finds anything?!
Pros: 0 to my knowledge
Cons: Ive had it since vista came out and not once has it detected even a cookie!
I recommend Ashampoo Antispyware OR Webroot OR FREE Malwayrebytes
User Rating: 
1/10
Slow, slower, dead stop
Pros: How should I know? It does its scan. It updates itself every time I turn on my computer --- but there is the problem.
Cons: Its constant updates are TOO SLOW.
User Rating: 1/10
Completely Worthless
Pros: The only thing to like about this product is that it does absolutely nothing so it's a big zero.
Cons: Does nothing, finds nothing. Completely, utterly worthless. Buy Spyware Doctor or another legitimate program, and don't bother using this piece of dreck.
User Rating: 
10/10
spywareguard2008 BYEBYE!
Pros: Found spyware (spywareguard2008) instantly and the best part is --- ITS FREE!!
Cons: NONE AT ALL
User Rating: 10/10
best security software
Pros: very detailed scanning
Cons: there is absolutely nothing bad to say about this product.
User Rating: 1/10
Worthless. Computer attacked by virus, non usable.
Pros: That it can be removed
Cons: it doesn't pick up a virus even after it has infected the computer.
User Rating: 3/10
Not very wonderful
Pros: It's free if you have a real copy of Windows
Cons: Defender misses
But apart from that I have found since I installed it that it misses a number of common spyware. Others that it catches it signals them at low risk while other programs such as Ad-Aware etc class them as middle to high risk.
User Rating: 
8/10
A Pleasant surprise!!
Pros: East set up and exceeds my expectations for sure!
Cons: None because i have licensed Windows XP OS :P
User Rating: 8/10
Very useful Anti-Spyware.
Pros: Easy to use, good detection.
Cons: Requires Validation
User Rating: 8/10
Impressed !
Pros: Very user friendly interface
Cons: no complaints so far !
User Rating: 
2/10
Missed ALL the malware/spyware
Pros: Easy to understand interface I guess
Cons: Didn't pick up one shred of malware
User Rating: 3/10
Slugware that slows your pc
Pros: Price - get what you pay for
Cons: slows everything.
User Rating: 3/10
Slows down boot-up
Pros: Allows easy access to active program task manager
Cons: slowwwwwwwwwwww, hard to customize
I guess this is supposed to be a Spy sweeper but I never get any messages about that. I have Webroot Spy Sweeper anyway, although I'm also happy with free Lavasoft Ad-Aware.
Once I disabled Defender and started using Vista's ReadyBoost with a memory card, my brand new factory-installed Vista computer went from miserably sluggish to tolerably almost OK.
User Rating: 3/10
Never found spyware
Pros: It's free to use
Cons: virtually useless experience
User Rating: 
6/10
Great free program
Pros: Free, comes preinstalled on Vista, Easy to use..
Cons: As part of Vista should come with Anti-virus.
