Well, there is confusion about Windows Defender. The old Win Defender was
an antispyware program and got rolled into Microsoft's anti-virus program
MSSE. But, that is not the same as an antispam program.
Here is a brief note about the history from a Windows Secrets article a
couple months ago. By the way, Windows Defender Offline is a beta that will
boot independent of windows to scan for malware and rootkits. It will
likely get released in conjunction with Windows 8.
The branding history of WDO goes something like this. Back in 2004,
Microsoft bought a company called GIANT AntiSpyware and turned that product
into Microsoft
AntiSpyware the next year. MS then rewrote it and renamed it Windows
Defender in 2006 - and made it a free download for Windows XP. Later, MS
built Windows
Defender into Vista and Windows 7.
In 2005, Microsoft also bought a company called Sybari and turned Sybari's
antivirus product into a corporate AV suite - Microsoft Forefront. Many
companies
are still running Forefront.
Microsoft then created a free, consumer/small-business version of Forefront
and called it Microsoft Security Essentials. If you download and install MSE
on a PC that has Windows Defender (whether manually installed on XP or baked
into Vista and Win7), it automatically disables the Windows Defender user
interface and takes over Defender's functions - MSE effectively supersedes
Windows Defender.
It now appears that Microsoft is recycling the Windows Defender name, but
none of the original WD code. Windows President Steve Sinofsky, who's in the
thick of finishing Windows 8, stated in a Building Windows 8
blog,
"With Windows 8, we are extending the protections provided by Defender to
address a broader range of potential threats." He added that Win8 will have
"improvements
to Windows Defender to provide you with real-time protection from all
categories of malware .."
In short, there's every indication that Windows Defender Offline is based on
the Forefront/Microsoft Security Essentials code base and has absolutely
nothing
in common with the old Windows Defender - regardless of what you may have
read in the computer press.
Regardless of its history, Windows Defender Offline's primary advantage is
as a self-booting anti-malware system. Try it out!
Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: "tim" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 2:03 PM
Subject: Re: [JAWS-Users] Anti-spam programs
Look at vista or win7 and you will find windows defender. When you install
MSE it turns it off to use its data base. I have removed MSE and windows
defender turned back on. that program is built into the op, and for those
non tech's op is operating system.
At 12:16 PM 4/11/2012, you wrote:
Tim,
Since when does MSSE do spam? I don't care if you are running Vista, Win
7, XP whatever. Cite your source, because I think you are confused.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Rick Justice"
<[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 11:57 AM
Subject: Re: [JAWS-Users] Anti-spam programs
Hi Tim,
Why bother, when I can get all of the answers from you?
BTW, wonder what op stands for.
Thank you,
Rick Justice
----- Original Message ----- From: "tim" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 8:04 AM
Subject: Re: [JAWS-Users] Anti-spam programs
If you run xp then no it don't do spam. Now if you run vista or win7
then yes it does. See there is a background program on that op called
defender. Witch just happens to be the old giant killer. When MSE
upgrades so does defender. Always know your op.
At 07:24 AM 4/11/2012, you wrote:
Hi Miriam,
Just a note:
Others have suggested MSE, which is good for anti-virus and
anti-spyware,,
however, it is not an anti-spam program.
It is much easier to simply delete spam then try and find a program
that is screen-reader friendly,and doesn't cause e-mail problems.
HTH,
Rick Justice
----- Original Message -----
From: "Miriam Vieni" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 10:20 PM
Subject: [JAWS-Users] Anti-spam programs
My new computer arrived with mac Afee anti-span software which I hate.
It
doesn't appear to be at all accessible and it is blocking my wonderful
update flash program. Do you have suggestions. I had Avast before which
didn't seem to cause me problems. Any other suggestions?
Miriam
Miriam Vieni
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