Privacy, Security & Virus Information

What is Windows Defender?

Wow. A windows defender. Sounds like it should be six feet tall, well muscled, lantern jawed, with steel black hair and a thousand yard stare, and wearing a cape.

Actually, well it’s a little less exciting than a caped crusader, but whereas Superman might have a little trouble protecting your beloved computer from all sorts of nasties, including that menace of menaces, Spyware, Windows Defender has no such worries.

Windows Defender is a clever piece of software created by the boffins at Microsoft.

It is specifically designed to protect against a number of quite common problems, including security threats, slow performance and pop-ups.

Bear in mind that your computer is under constant attack and with the Barbarians at the gate every minute of the day, you’re going to need some help with keeping the marauders at bay.

And one of the biggest villains is Spyware, which are basically invidious software programmes that are designed for nefarious purposes. Simple Spyware can introduce infuriating pop-ups, others can slow down your computer, even change your Internet settings, or, collect personal information from your computer and upload back to the person who created the software in the first place. And with your bank and personal details out the back door, it’s no prizes for guessing what happens then.

And Windows Defender does it’s job with some élan. If you make a mistake and remove something that you actually wanted, it can help bring it back. It will also work around you, and will perform scans and removal times when they suit you, not your virus software.

When on the Internet, Windows Defender works ceaselessly to catch the Spyware before it arrives on your computer, unwanted and unloved. And it works away in the background, keeping computer performance disruption down to a minimum.

And you can rest assured that back at Microsoft HQ, there are a bunch of researchers doing their best to monitor Spyware activities, keep an eye open for new ones and constantly develop ever better strategies for coping with them.   

If you use Windows Defender, you will be given the option to have updates automatically downloaded onto your computer as you work away. This will ensure that you have the best possible protection for your computer and it’s valuable store of information.

All versions of Windows Vista have Windows Defender installed and it is also available as a download for Windows XP Service Pack 2, or later, or Windows Server Service 2003 Service Pack 1, or later.

So, although Windows Defender might not be a former member of the A-Team, it will do a better job of protecting you in cyber space. Remember, don’t even switch on your computer without proper protection and never, ever surf without making sure the sentries are there to guard against all the bugs and viruses that have one thing in common: to get you.

 

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