Windows 8 defenseless against 15% of known malware
Monday, November 12, 2012 by kona0197 | Discussion: Personal Computing
Reply #2 Monday, November 12, 2012 3:26 PM
Here's another spin on the same information:
I agree, malware evolves and so do the defenses. If either one us are running Windows 8, then we have our own things to worry about 
Reply #3 Monday, November 12, 2012 8:25 PM
I'm running Win 8 and I'm not too worried about it as I only visit sites I know to be safe and delete all emails from unknown sources, to be sure to be sure. Yeah, there's the treat of drive-bys, but hopefully the Tuesday Patch will address those vulnerablities.
Reply #4 Friday, November 16, 2012 9:15 AM
Just for the record this is about Microsoft Security Essentials (Windows Defender in W8) and not W8.
If you feel particularly threatened, install a different AV.
TheInquirer is about the most sensationalist garbage site I've ever come across.
Reply #5 Friday, November 16, 2012 9:52 AM
I've used Defender on Vista Home Basic, Vista Ultimate 32 bit and Win 7 64 bit since 2007. Other than getting definition updates through WU, I would never know it was there and running. It has NEVER, EVER alerted me to any threats, let alone stop any of them.
At the same time, several 3rd party programs did detect and block and/or allow me to remove various types of malware that made it onto my rigs.
Defender is like a condom with a hole it it. It gives you a (false) sense of security, but if you depend on it alone, you are going to get screwed and in a very bad way.
I can't explain why I haven't just shut it down other than someday, just maybe, it will do its job.
MSE is free because that is all it is worth. 
Reply #6 Friday, November 16, 2012 9:54 AM
Defender in Vista and Win7 was only to block spyware. It had nothing to do with malware in general.
Reply #7 Friday, November 16, 2012 10:37 AM
Be that as it may, it has never stopped or attempted to stop any malicious software of any type, spyware, adware, or malware. Therefore, it had nothing to do with security "in general" if its focus was so narrow as to only defend aginst one threat.
Reply #8 Friday, November 16, 2012 10:47 AM
I use MSE on Windows 7, and I will admit that it has not shown that it has found any problems. I always thought it was because I'm such a careful internet surfer. Prior to MSE I used a paid for anti-virus that also didn't find and problems, it just kept going up in price. I also use Advanced System Care V6d to clean up all the other stuff that may be there. 
Reply #9 Friday, November 16, 2012 11:05 AM
The general theory back then was that MS would fall afoul of antitrust concerns if they included an antivirus in their product.
Considering how much heat they've gotten for including a browser and a media player, I think those concerns were fairly valid.
Reply #10 Friday, November 16, 2012 11:09 AM
Quoting Wizard1956, reply 8Be that as it may, it has never stopped or attempted to stop any malicious software of any type, spyware, adware, or malware. Therefore, it had nothing to do with security "in general" if its focus was so narrow as to only defend aginst one threat.
The general theory back then was that MS would fall afoul of antitrust concerns if they included an antivirus in their product.
Considering how much heat they've gotten for including a browser and a media player, I think those concerns were fairly valid.
A very good point. I wonder what has changed that thinking with Win 8 with its included MSE?
Reply #11 Friday, November 16, 2012 11:13 AM
My personal opinion is that caring for the security of their product is Microsofts problem, not anyone elses.
Noone else should (or does) have a say in how Microsoft secures their product, whether there's an existing industry or not.
We'll see if that opinion is generally shared, but I don't expect any government interference.
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Reply #1 Monday, November 12, 2012 3:11 PM
Hence the patch on patch Tuesday (tomorrow).
And the malware will evolve, and so will the defenses...