Windows Defender

Let me first explain what spyware is.
Spyware is generally installed on your computer when you or other free software programs installed on your computer, or when you’re on a different site and give permission to install anything on your computer.

Once this spyware has nested on your computer, they record all the actions you perform on your PC and send it via Internet to the makers of the software.

The data they transmit can be anything, such as the software you use, or how many hours you spend on the Internet, or which sites you visit, or how much mail you receive.

To avoid this we have “Windows Defender” application in Windows 7 and Vista.

In order to install Windows Defender, click the “Start” button in the taskbar, and type ‘defender’ in the search box.
This gives us two results.

Since we first need to enable the software, we choose the first option.
This opens a dialog box that asks you to turn on the application.

After clicking this option, we see a box where we have the latest version of this application to download.
When we click this option, Windows will check for updates for this application that are available to download.

Once all the new updates are downloaded, we get the message that Windows Defender is updated.

Next, we scan our computer for Spyware.

Click the button “scan”.
Once you have clicked this button, Defender starts with your hard disk to perform a quick scan for Spyware.

When the scan is performed Defender shows you the results in a status window.

If there is no unwanted or malicious software found, this gives Defender back in a green frame.
If there is something found, Defender will notify you and a number of options are proposed to get rid of this spyware.
“Ignore”, then no action taken.
“Quarantine”, Defender will create a backup of the downloaded software in a protected area.
“Delete”, the spyware, it will hence remove the software from your computer.
And “Always allow”, the software is added to the list of authorized software.

We can also compile this list using “Utilities” under the “Options” section.
Or by clicking the “Permitted Programs”.

In the dialog box for “Options” we find a number of possibilities with which we can adjust the settings for Windows Defender.
Choose the option on the left side of the dialog box and enter the settings for this option on the right side of the dialog.
There are many options you can set, that are pretty self explanatory.

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