Windows Defender (Beta 2) was released on February 13, 2006.

The first beta release of Microsoft AntiSpyware from Januwas a repackaged version of GIANT AntiSpyware There were more builds released in 2005, with the last Beta 1 refresh released on November 21, 2005.Īt the 2005 RSA Security conference, Bill Gates, the Chief Software Architect and co-founder of Microsoft, announced that Windows Defender (formerly Microsoft AntiSpyware prior to November 4, 2005) would be made available free-of-charge to users with validly licensed Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 operating systems to secure their systems against the increasing malware threat. While the original GIANT AntiSpyware officially supported older Windows versions, support for the Windows 9x line of operating systems was later dropped by Microsoft. The company's acquisition was announced by Microsoft on December 16, 2004. Windows Defender was initially based on GIANT AntiSpyware, formerly developed by GIANT Company Software, Inc. Microsoft AntiSpyware Beta 1 (Version 1.0.701) running Windows XP.

In the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, a new logo is introduced and a pop-up notification will appear to announce the results of a scan, even if no viruses are found. In Windows 10, Windows Defender settings are controlled in the Windows Defender Security Center. It also uses the same anti-malware engine and virus definitions from MSE. Protection against viruses was subsequently added in Windows 8 which resembles Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). Windows Defender featured an integrated support for Microsoft SpyNet that allows users to report to Microsoft what they consider to be spyware, and what applications and device drivers they allow to be installed on their systems. It also has the ability to remove installed ActiveX software. It includes a number of real-time security agents that monitor several common areas of Windows for changes which might have been caused by spyware. Before Windows 8, Windows Defender only protected users against spyware.

Windows defender review