Microsoft Windows Defender Protects Your PC from Spyware

Microsoft is on the verge of releasing the next generation of its spyware protection software line, Windows Defender, and has recently provided reviewers with pre-release versions of the software. Defender’s predecessor, Microsoft Windows Anti-Spyware (or MWAS), was criticized for its cluttered interface and sub-par spyware protection. Will the new Windows Defender (beta 2) succeed where MWAS failed?

Windows Defender (beta 2): A Clean Interface with Exciting New Features

Windows Defender succeeds admirably in improving its user interface. Defender boasts a cleaner design and expandable windows that allow both experts and novices to access the information they need without any extraneous, distracting features. The main page is almost empty, and boasts a color-coded message describing the general health of the system and the time of the last spyware scan. You can easily launch a quick or full scan in a few mouse clicks, making it easy for home users to protect their computers against spyware.

Spyware experts and IT professionals will be excited to discover that there are plenty of features for them as well. You can bring up advanced configuration options by clicking the “Tools” button. This window takes the guesswork out of protecting a large network of computers by allowing you to schedule automatic scans, and configure default actions to take when the program finds spyware of different threat levels.

Windows Defender even provides access to a community of spyware experts if you opt for an advanced SpyNet membership. SpyNet gathers information on actions you take against spyware to help categorize new threats, and provides you with a list of threats you previously chose to quarantine or ignore. If you want to see what actions other SpyNet members are taking against spyware, open up the more accessible Software Explorer and view a list of programs it is tracking, as well as how many other members have blocked, quarantined, or ignored each.

Windows Defender (beta 2) Must Improve Spyware Protection Abilities

Unfortunately, Windows Defender’s improvements over the standard Microsoft Windows Anti-Spyware seem to end at the interface level. In a test pitting Windows Defender against other leading spyware programs like Spyware Doctor and SpySweeper, Defender detected and removed 65% to 75% of the spyware its competitors did. Windows Defender performed slightly worse when removing registry keys.

It seems that although Windows Defender has made significant advances in user interface and experience improvement, Microsoft must significantly improve its core spyware protection abilities to remain competitive with other offerings. Of course, the fact that the program is being offered for free to all Windows users, and that it is being built into Windows Vista, may make it a solid choice for those inexperienced with spyware protection or on a tight budget.