Migrating to Windows Defender etc.?

Hi,

I want to ditch my old third party anti virus and spyware shield etc. It was made by Webroot... it seemed fine until they went to forced auto updates... so I haven't updated in several months.

Now I want to make use of the Windows security package.

I'm using my laptop... i7 Win 64 Home edition.

Do I unistall all my old stuff and then go straight to MS and get started?

Is there a window where I'm not protected? Do I just use really good safe surfing habits for those few minutes?

Do I install the MS stuff before I unistall the thrid party stuff?

Thanks for any tips.


best regards,
mike

Hi Mike,

These are the steps I'd take:

1. download the MS Defender package.
2. Take PC offline - pulling the plug out works fine
3. Uninstall previous anti-virus.
4. (Optional) Run CCleaner, or similar, to clean registry out and general cleanup.
5. Install Defender from download.
6. Get PC back online.
7. Immeditaly run the update for Defender.
8. Do a scan.

HTH

EDIT: Download here.

It was made by Webroot... it seemed fine until they went to forced auto updates... so I haven't updated in several months.

Are you saying something stopped working when it went to auto-update, or you don't like the idea or forced updates?
 
Any AV package is only as good as its last update, even Win Defender, so forced update is virtually a requirement to stay "safe".
 
As for the change over,  there can be problems installing AV while another package is still installed as the old one will/maybe/sometimes can think the new one is attacking it and will do its best to prevent it being installed correctly. Norton is notorious for this.
 
 
Urban Myth: There are thousands of hackers, worms, trojans, viruses, assorted pond life queing up to jump into your computer the moment you remove your AV software.  NOT TRUE.  Under 99.9% of normal circumstances your computer cannot be seen from the internet and all you need once you've removed your old AV (and rebooted several times to check that it has actually been removed (Norton again...)) is go direct to the web download site of your new AV and follow the instructions.

Using AV with out of date definitions is like getting a flu jab with last years vaccine.

New viruses are being written all the time and old ones are being modified. The only way to be (almost) safe is by having up to date definitions in your AV, and the easiest way to do that is to allow it to auto update.  Unless something goes wrong you'll never know its happening.  Not Nagware.

I've been doing it manually since the beginning.

I didn't mind doing frequently... I just couldn't let the auto update take all my bandwidth when I needed to get to business email etc.

all the best,
mike

I downloaded MSE on the recommendation of ... someone here last week. I plan on installing it as soon as the Kaspersky subscription is up. Will disconnect the modem when I install it, after removing Kaspersky, and I guess Defender needs to be removed as well.
Windows Defender is pretty unobtrusive. It has updated about every 2 days for me and is very quick. Haven't had to do any restarts with it like some other virus software.
Strange that I have both Defender and Kaspersky, but HP Advisor says I don't have any virus scanners installed.

If you're on a hi-speed ADSL link or cable, the definition files are so small you blink and they'll be downloaded ! Taking up bandwidth is also a myth, unless, of course, you're on dial up.... !

Just enough disturbance to cause a pop or glitch when you've otherwise made a really good take and the updater kicks in.

(for those connected to the internet with their DAW machine.)

Thats why I like manual control so I can decide when something can have access to its updater.  If I let everything auto-update to it's own schedule it would be a right PITA.

I will not relinquish control of any aspect of my machine to any old software purveyor if I can at all help it.  Remove the option to manually update and I will remove your software.

Myth or otherwise it's a principal I intend to maintain.

bapu

Jonbouy

I will not relinquish control of any aspect of my machine to any old bapu if I can at all help it. 

Myth or otherwise it's a principal I intend to maintain.

Justified.

The Bapu can do what he likes with my computer anytime.

He's a rare exception.

JonBouy

True enough, but then you can also programme them to work when you're not being creative. Mine cut in on b oot up, and not at any other time. Suits me fine.
Cheers,
Jerry

mike_mccue


When you are on 56k as I was just a few months ago a 4MB download at boot up feels like you have been kidnapped and are being held hostage. :-)


best regards,
mike

That was a million miles away from where you are today though, no?...

Man, you could host my connection today and not even notice.

mike_mccue


That's my mother in laws place... I'm only at 8.

Here's what I have left over while watching Columbo on Netflix:

Columbo is a bandwidth hog, just when you think he's gone there's always 'just one more thing'.

mike_mccue


I'm studying his schwa.

aaaaahhh