Changing security suppliers ?

[Lloydy]

Thanks Ticker

All installed and working fine!!

Jan

[Wendi]

Hi all, and thanks for the in depth answers, I appreciate them all 

Rob, my eyes started to glaze  but I did read on !!! what would you call "good hardware firewall” I do have my Windows set to update my windows security on auto – in essence I try to do everything I know of – the prob is knowing about it in the first place   

Downside, don’t worry I avoid phishing mail to the detriment of my friendships LOL…..I did Spybot, but actually found Microsoft AntiSpyware Solved my problem, so still run that.

I use Mozilla Firefox most of the time, does that mean Defender isn’t running

My intention was to pay and install Kaspersky, which I have used  before, and worked so seamlessly I got concerned it was not there !!!

I do agree that there is no such thing as a free lunch, just looking to properly protect my hard earned piece of kit, which frightenly now has even harder earned info on it - however I did recently go out and buy a backup drive  and I use it

Wendi

[downside]

Hi Wendi

To see if Windows Defender is running:

Press Control + Alt + Delete and it will bring up Windows Task Manager.

Scroll down and look for these processes MSmpeng.exe and MSascui.exe

They are associated with Windows Defender.

downside

PS Windows Defender should be a stand alone program that can be run on its own i.e. not dependent on Internet Explorer.

[acorngen]

Hi all, and thanks for the in depth answers, I appreciate them all 

Rob, my eyes started to glaze  but I did read on !!! what would you call "good hardware firewall” I do have my Windows set to update my windows security on auto – in essence I try to do everything I know of – the prob is knowing about it in the first place   

Downside, don’t worry I avoid phishing mail to the detriment of my friendships LOL…..I did Spybot, but actually found Microsoft AntiSpyware Solved my problem, so still run that.

I use Mozilla Firefox most of the time, does that mean Defender isn’t running

My intention was to pay and install Kaspersky, which I have used  before, and worked so seamlessly I got concerned it was not there !!!

I do agree that there is no such thing as a free lunch, just looking to properly protect my hard earned piece of kit, which frightenly now has even harder earned info on it - however I did recently go out and buy a backup drive  and I use it

Wendi

Wendi any hardware firewalls are good.  They are very expenisve in my opinion and unless you runa  business or have plenty of cash you dont need one
Rob

[Wendi]

Thanks Rob 

Scroll down and look for these processes MSmpeng.exe and MSascui.exe

downside  Thanks for the info.  The only ones starting with "M" I have running are msimn.exe &
MSMSGS.EXE

Is there a way to enable Windows Defender?

Wendi

[downside]

Hi Wendi

Check whether you actually have the program installed.

Start->Programs and scroll down to see if it is listed.

You may actually have the program installed but it is not continuously running.  You have options to run a short scan manually or automatically with a schedule.  There should also be options to run it full time - checking for new files as you are browsing on the internet.  Essentially you can configure it to your needs.

You should also configure it to get new updates automatically.

downside

[Wendi]

Hi downside 

No it was not there, but I have made discoveries, the Microsoft Antispyware I was running, was the original, Defender is the upgrade(or whatever) visited the Windows Defender site, and upgraded. They said it should have happened automatically, but anyway I'm covered now, with hopefully automatic updates.

At the weekend I'm going to uninstall Norton, give Grisoft a shot, and sort out a firewall

Grateful for your help, I've learned a lot 

Wendi

[downside]

Hi Wendy

I downloaded the Microsoft AntiSpyWare Beta 2.0 some time ago.  Then it seemed to get upgraded to Windows Defender in the last few weeks.  There was no announcement about it.  I also recently upgraded from I.E.6 to I.E. 7 and I suspect that part of that upgrade included Windows Defender.

As you do not use Internet Explorer I expect you missed out on the Windows Defender upgrade.

downside

[Wendi]

Thanks downside

I guess that would make a bit of sense, I still use Explorer occasionally, but I just love the mulit-tab facility of Firefox.

- I really do appreciate your time and guidance.

Wendi