Microsoft Windows Defender 1.1.1

• Popularity:

  #2 in Privacy (out of 45 products)

• License:

  Free

• Editor's Rating:

  4.0 stars

• Average User Rating:

  3.5 stars (out of 1182 votes) Rate it!

• Downloads:

  3,551,062

• Requirements:

  Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server

• Limitations:

  No limitations

• Date Added:

  October 24, 2006

• Previous Versions:

  Select a version Microsoft Windows Defender beta 2 Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware beta

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Publisher's description of Microsoft Windows Defender

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Note: This product requires Windows validation. The Download Now link will take you to the Microsoft site for downloading.

Windows Defender is a free program that helps you stay productive by protecting your computer against pop-ups, slow performance and security threats caused by spyware and other potentially unwanted software.

The worldwide SpyNet community plays a key role in determining which suspicious programs are classified as spyware. Microsoft researchers quickly develop methods to counteract these threats, which are automatically downloaded to your PC, so you stay up-to-date.

This latest version of Windows Defender offers a new scanning engine for enhanced performance, simplified user interface and alerts, and support for 64-bit platforms.

This product is free of charge for licensed Windows customers. Users of 64-bit platforms should use WindowsDefenderX64.msi.

Editor's review of Microsoft Windows Defender

• 4.0 stars

• "PC protection"

Read a full CNET review of Windows Defender.

With a full feature set and solid spyware-removal functionality, Windows Defender makes a good choice for keeping your computer clean. Along with a variety of scan options, Defender includes a scheduler, active protection, and a useful set of advanced features. Spyware scan times are reasonably fast and seem thorough. Microsoft has revamped the interface with this version--it includes back and forward buttons (similar to a Web browser) for navigation; and a home button makes it easy for users to get back to the Update definitions screen.

Advanced tools include a Software Explorer for changing security settings for software on your hard drive; and Allowed items, giving you the choice to run applications that Defender has disabled. The scheduler is particularly nice, letting you customize scans at regular intervals, such as setting a deep scan to run every night at 2:00 a.m. By simplifying the interface and doing away with extraneous tools, this version of Windows Defender has become an exceptional spyware remover. Users looking for a solid antispyware utility should consider adding it to their security arsenal.

User reviews

• Average user rating: 3.6 stars out of 1182 votes
• My rating: 0 stars Write review

• Showing 5 of 134 user reviewsSee all 134 user reviews
  This software version | All versions

• 5 stars

  39 out of 47 people found this review helpful

  Version: Microsoft Windows Defender 1.1.1

  "Better Than All The previous Versions"

  by Reborn master on January 7, 2007

  Pros: A lot improved from beta 2.Better detection, uses a new technology for scanning and removal and it's very effective.User friendly and offers 90 day support from microsoft.Strong realtime protection, alerts quicker if there is a spyware attack.Smaller and faster updates.Works well with internet explorer7.

  Cons: Nothing so far.

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• 5 stars

  35 out of 40 people found this review helpful

  Version: Microsoft Windows Defender 1.1.1

  "new version is great."

  by veentampa on November 9, 2006

  Pros: this rates right along with the best realtime protection now. the new version is just great.. the perfect partner for ad-aware and thats final.. so this, adaware , avira antivir, zonealarm, hijackthis, advance windowcare v2 and you should be good to go.

  Cons: none for this program. i had rated (browser hijack retaliator 4.5) high but its garbage and draze toolbar is no good also.

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• 5 stars

  39 out of 49 people found this review helpful

  Version: Microsoft Windows Defender 1.1.1

  "Better than other paid to use products."

  by John.Moore. on November 2, 2006

  Pros: It caught stuff that Spy Sweeper, McAfee, Spybot S&D, and AdAware SE Personal didn't catch.

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• 5 stars

  36 out of 43 people found this review helpful

  Version: Microsoft Windows Defender 1.1.1

  "fantastic!!"

  by yprtb on October 25, 2006

  Pros: This new edition offers many good things. It is no longer a beta version. This is the full version! Its great!! Scans fast, low resources. To have a tray icon: open windows defender from start-windows defender-windows defender. Once it is open click tools, then options, scroll down, then click always (under choose when windows defender icon apperas in the notification area.) To check for updates, open windows defender from the tray menue that now appears afer doing the steps derciped above, or click start, windows defender-windows defender. once open, lick the down arrow next to the blue question mark. Then click check for updates. There you can check for updates. This program scans fast and is free. It scanned my 30 gb. hard drive, in less then 10 minites. (Quick scan) The full scan will probably take 30 minites to an hour. I liked this new version better.

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• 5 stars

  17 out of 19 people found this review helpful

  Version: Microsoft Windows Defender 1.1.1

  "Microsoft, Thank you so much"

  by Omega Weapon on January 10, 2007

  Pros: Like a dream, Free and Excellent Anti-Spyware

  Software, If you have a legal copy of your Windows, Go ahead and download it, If you dont have, Use any other cheap anti-spyware.

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