Does Windows defender add to my antivirus software

Or am I just duplicating up

I know they will all pick up different things but I am wondering if windows defender is particularly good at getting at things that perhaps embed themselves more deeply etc

??
 

obscure

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Jan 18, 2008
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The world
My understanding is that you should not install more than one anti-virus solution as they can conflict (trying to do the same thing to the same files at the same time) and cause slow down or even more serious problems.

Second I don't think Windows Defender is particularly good at getting at anything, deeply embedded or not. Last set of tests I saw rated it pretty low down the list effectiveness wise.
 
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Simply Business

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Dec 1, 2009
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Obscure is right: you shouldn't install two anti-virus packages over each other as they'll conflict and cause errors, however most new antivirus software will be aware of Windows Defender and will turn it off to make sure this doesn't happen.

Windows defender is also pretty basic so don't rely on it for digital security.

Hope that helps!
 
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Just my opinion - I used windows defender and Microsoft Security Essentials for years and never had a problem. I am now on Apple so no longer relevant day to day - though I still have a Windows 8 machine running this without issue.
 
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Squantrill

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Sep 19, 2014
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As a long term sysadmin I can say it's technically best if you can to use multiple virus scanners. This is to make sure at least one will pickup a new threat. However in practice this doesn't usually work as some virus checkers do not play well together.

My view if you have two running without problems then leave it, if you are having issues then remove one. Normally the Microsoft defender is a little behind the paid for offerings like symantec kaperskey etc so if you have to remove then take of defender..

Hope this helps


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
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