Windows Defender Final Available

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Cheers Bink for the heads up on this update, as title suggests Microsoft have pushed Windows Defender final out and it's available for download now. You must be running either Windows XP SP2 or Windows Server 2003 SP1. Windows Genuine Advantage validation is required.

New option to display Windows Defender system tray icon even when there are no pending actions needed.
Enhanced performance through a new scanning engine.
Streamlined, simplified user interface and alerts.
Improved control over programs on your computer with enhanced Software Explorer.
Multiple language support with globalization and localization features.
Protection features for all users, whether or not they have administrator rights on the computer.
Support for assistive technology for individuals who have physical or cognitive difficulties, impairments, and disabilities.
Support for Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.
Automatic cleaning according to your settings during regularly scheduled scans.

Microsoft encourages all Windows Defender (Beta 2) users to download and install Windows Defender.

Download: Windows Defender Final @ Microsoft

View: Windows Defender Website @ Microsoft

Known issues

By design, the system tray icon for Windows Defender does not appear if you do not need to take action.
Windows Defender might prompt you to remove some peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing programs. If you choose to remove such a program, Windows Defender deletes all the contents of the Program Files folder associated with the P2P program. Because some P2P programs store downloaded files in a default folder under Program Files, this might remove all files you have downloaded through the file-sharing program. For example, KaZaA stores .exe and .dll files at C:Program FilesKazaa. Downloaded files are stored at C:Program FilesKazaaMy Shared Folder. If you use Windows Defender to remove KaZaA, all files and folders under C:Program FilesKazaa are removed. If you have installed any P2P file-sharing programs, it is a good idea to back up your downloaded files before you run Windows Defender.
You do not need to remove other antispyware or antivirus programs to run Windows Defender. Other programs or Windows Defender might prompt you to allow or block an action, but there are no other known incompatibilities between Windows Defender and other antispyware or antivirus programs.
By design, the final release of Windows Defender removes Windows Defender (Beta 2).
Windows Defender offers only limited Group Policy settings. The final version of Windows Defender will include administrator (.adm) files so that you can configure those limited settings in Windows Defender through Group Policy.

BETA 2 Expires December 21

#1 j0j081 on 24 Oct 2006 - 11:09

I quite like Defender been using it since the beta first came out. I think it's good how they have it integrated with Vista by default, should help out a lot of everday home users. Can never be too trusting though so I scan with Trend Micro every now and again just in case.

#2 Matt Zander on 24 Oct 2006 - 12:18

About time

#3 HDW-mobile on 24 Oct 2006 - 12:20

it's nice and works fine.
some vista look has been added in this version! :-)

#4 +Al on 24 Oct 2006 - 12:46

Nice, this is one of the best MS products :yes:

(1 reply) #5 Lee® on 24 Oct 2006 - 13:09

What is it like compared to Nod32?

#5.1 matthewfriedles on 24 Oct 2006 - 13:46

like apples to oranges. NOD32 is an anti-virus program whilst Defender is anti-spyware. As a safe bet its best to use both

(2 replies) #6 Joel on 24 Oct 2006 - 13:28

Sucks they removed Win2k support.

#6.1 onesolo on 24 Oct 2006 - 13:33

Not quite sure. It seems that it's only a check on the msi setup file. I still didn't find the right string...

After all it was very easy, it's only a check on the file. smooth and running on win2k...

Last edited by onesolo on 24 Oct 2006 - 13:52

#6.2 Joel on 24 Oct 2006 - 14:37

Quote - onesolo said @ #6.1

I said they removed support, not that it was impossible to install on win2k.

#7 +hayc59 on 24 Oct 2006 - 16:06

Thanks for the news

(3 replies) #8 Croquant on 24 Oct 2006 - 17:09

I'll stick with Spybot S&D, thanks. I don't trust Microsoft to defend me from much of anything, let alone spyware.

#8.1 lordpake on 24 Oct 2006 - 18:49

Well, it does offer better real-time protection than as far as I am aware is offered by tea-timer in spybot. Why not use both?

#8.2 Ice Brewed Beer on 25 Oct 2006 - 05:22

Quote - Croquant said @ #8

I use both, because Spybot doesn't always pick up everything that Defender blocks. I don't see you're point about distrusting MS products. If anything this is a good thing because releasing progs to keep Windows safer keeps customers happy and keeps them coming back for more.

#8.3 MrCobra on 26 Oct 2006 - 14:02

I use several including Defender. No one program will find everything.

#9 GShapiro on 24 Oct 2006 - 19:31

Guys:

This is my first time using WD or it's previous incarnations.

Is the only alert you get the WD icon in the tray area? I made a change to one of my Registry's RUN entries and nothing visibly alerted me to the change. All I saw was the WD icon in the tray. Since I autohide my taskbar the WD icon is very easy to miss.

Unless I am missing something shouldn't there be a popup or something to alert you to a change not just a tray icon that is very easy to miss?

(1 reply) #10 malebolgia on 24 Oct 2006 - 19:53

I can't remember, but does Microsoft allow Windows Defender (this release) to be installed on commerical computers. For example, computers on a campus?

#10.1 SHADOW-XIII on 25 Oct 2006 - 15:04

Quote - malebolgia said @ #10

I think any computer must pass genuine validiation, if it will pass then it is fine as far as I know

#11 GAM on 24 Oct 2006 - 21:44

Windows Defender Final?

I bet it won't be final....ha, ha....

(1 reply) #12 timmmay on 24 Oct 2006 - 22:39

What I don't understand is why Beta 2 is running fine on my pc at work running Windows 2000 yet the final release won't install coz apparently I need XP

arrgghhh

#12.1 lordpake on 24 Oct 2006 - 23:41

That's because the Final release only supports 2003 SP1 and XP SP2. 2000 support was withdrawn as the OS itself is not supported anymore (or something like that). You can check the details in Microsoft pages.

(1 reply) #13 TheDarkKnight on 25 Oct 2006 - 04:23

Can you install the final build of Defender on Vista RC2 (5744)?

#13.1 WindowsNT on 25 Oct 2006 - 09:37

Windows Vista has it's own version built in and would get updated on a later build.

(2 replies) #14 Vomer on 25 Oct 2006 - 07:27

Bypass the WGA validation in the installer : http://digg.com/software/The_Ultimate_WGA_...nfested_product

http://www.haklabs.com/?p=17

#14.1 WindowsNT on 25 Oct 2006 - 09:36

I would say this is against forum rules. Simple answer is Dont like Microsoft? then go away and use somthing else.

#14.2 nookadum on 26 Oct 2006 - 09:50

Quote - WindowsNT said @ #14.1

Simple answer is Dont like stupid validation? then go crack the son of a gun.

Capitalization intended.

#15 death on 25 Oct 2006 - 07:38

Thanks for the heads up. This is a nice program to have.

#16 Sniper101 on 25 Oct 2006 - 09:03

Direct download without Messing around with WGA on there site.

Windows Defender X86
http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/d...owsDefender.msi

Windows Defender X64
http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/6...DefenderX64.msi

#17 EduardValencia on 25 Oct 2006 - 14:58

this is a very nice little program,great MS

(1 reply) #18 gav616 on 25 Oct 2006 - 21:02

program for stupid ppl.....right...

i dont download spywayre myself....spybot check once a week, and only download off creditable sites.... easy really.....cough

#18.1 lordpake on 26 Oct 2006 - 19:18

Question is not just downloading apps that are clean, you can for example get infected via trusted website that has been hijacked and spiced up with some browser exploit(s) that push spyware-crap to unsuspecting users. Not so easy for regular users to spot that, actually.

#19 xpgeek on 29 Oct 2006 - 06:27

This has turned into a pretty nice program and I consider it one of the best anti-spyware apps there is.

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