I am using Windows XP home, Windows Defender, is my laptop protected enough or do I need an antivirus program?

Answer 1

You need anti-virus. Defender only protects against Spyware and Adware. It is not an Anti-Virus program.

Answer 2

You have "never had a problem." You might not be spot on there. Often, there are security programs which do not pick up ever single virus/trojan/worm/etc. Windows defender and firewall = You'd probably want to look at getting something on top of that. AVG Free = AVG, in my opinion, is great, but statistics have shown that is only has records of/picks up about 85-90% of infections. Also, is AVG only an anti-virus? I suggest you get an anti-spyware (or two... AVG Anti-spyware and Ad-Aware are fine), and an anti-rootkit (which many, many computer users don't have... AVG Anti-rootkit will do). I didn't know what a rootkit was until I looked it up and learnt about it, then downloaded an anti-rootkit... which picked up a rootkit on my system right away!

Answer 3

Windows Defender is an anti spyware program, not an anti virus program. But it is good at detecting changes done to your computer settings when you download or install another program. To be safe you had better have an anti virus program too like AVG Anti Virus. And for more protection install another anti spyware program like Spybot Search &Destroy.

Answer 4

you need an antivirus program, windows defender does not protect you from everything , and thats why security center keeps reminding you to get one

Answer 5

any computer using the internet needs anti-virus protection
windows defender is a very good program but its not a anti-virus program ,it actually protects you from spyware and adware
but dont worry,you can get some excellent free anti-virus programs,dont think because their free they dont work ,i have allways used free anti-virus software and i am very serious about internet security
infact only today i have changed my anti-virus softwrae from avast 4.7(http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html),which is a excellent free anti-virus program to another excellent free anti-virus called anti-vir(http://www.free-av.com/)
i can recommend both of these programs as they both provide excellent all round protection and have excellent scanning qualities
so the easy way to decide which one to use is a)if you lie a snazzy good looking anti-virus with a free downloadable skins plug in..choose avast anti-virus,however if you like a anti-virus which uses very little system memory and resources then anti-vir is the program for you
however both of these programs are excellent in their own right so why not give each a weeks trial(never install 2 anti-virus programs at the same time,it can damage your operating system)
while on the subject of security,you can have as many anti-spyware programs as you want,i have 4 running on my system at the moment(including windows defender)
2 excellent anti-spyware programs avalible free of charge are spybot(http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html)and adaware personal(http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5)
both of these work well together and spybot also has a imunization feature which blocks bad websites in internet explorer,this works by regular updates and then imunizing the program,this program is used by 1000,s of users worldwide
good luck mate

Answer 6

Get an Anti Virus program as well

AVG 7 Free Edition from www.grisoft.com

Windows defender isn't the best form of defence...helps...but ain't brilliant!

Answer 7

You most defently need an Anti-Virus program. Windows Defender is only a Spyware program which also checks for vulnerabilities in your ports on the computer. It is not able to fight viruses at all or hackers, or dialers, or fishing scemes, jokers, or stop the downloading of malicious code, or many other threats.

There are a number of full featured software programs to choose from, and many freeware programs too. While I personally prefere to pay for a full featured Internet Security Suite; mine is by Panda, many people seem content in using multiple free programs. Go here:

http://www.cnet.com/downloads

Start your search there, that site has many different freeware, and shareware programs with great reviews you can read before making a choice.

AVG is not just a freeware program. While this company does indeed have a free version it also has a more fully featured pay subscription version, which many users implement on their machines.

Please be fully aware that you can only have one Firewall and one Anti-Virus installed and in use and any one time. Using multiple versions of these programs not only is ineffective, but can and will create BSD-Blue Screen of Death, which is a computer crash. Note also that the Windows XP Firewall only stops and checks incoming connections, but does not monitor outgoing connections at all. This is not a solid solution and Microsoft has corrected this in Vista. So, you may want to consider implementing a proper two way Firewall. If you do, the installation process should shut down the Windows Firewall for you, but it is a good idea to go into your Security Center, click on the Windows Firewall and just make sure it is turned off. Do not turn if off before the installation.

Now, it is vital to know that these software programs must embed deeply into the OS in order to carry out their functions of protrecting the system from malware. Due to this embedding, the Add/Remove applet is NOT adequent for removing them if you should decide you do not care for the one you installed and wish to install a different one.

You MUST go to the manufacturers website and then to the support section and look for or request that manufacturers Special Removal Tool for a complete removal off of your system. If you try using the Add/Remove applet large chunks of the program will be left behind causing instability, improper protection from the new installation, and crashes. Also know that a few manufacturers do not really care to lose customers so they are a bit reluctant to give the Special Tool, or the proper one out. Yes this is poor business practices, but as it is not a well docuemted need by these manufactures many simply do not know of the need for these tools and then do not understand why their computers no longer work as it once did, and why it crashed.

Symantic/Norton is the worst of the bunch, so avoid them, and any security solution they put out. If you ever get a system with Symantic or Norton installed, make sure you demand the full removal tool and not the partial. Some of these manufactures use two tools for each product, one for the intention of a re-install of the product after some maintainace need, or other need to remove the security software which they claim makes the re-install simpler, but I question the truth of that statement, and another for a Full Removal, which is what you want to use regardless of the reason for removing the software.

When I bought my most recent computer it came with the McAfee Secutity Suite 2006 pre-installed in a bundle of software trials etc, which I wanted none of. However, it is how these folks advertise and get new users as many folks just keep the software and get use to using it as in oppostition to actually going out and viewing the different versions by other manufactures which may have suited their needs more adequently. I am so opposed to this practice of imposing software on us consumers that my husband and I will be building our own this year for installing Vista.

Anyway, when I went to the McAfee technical assistance to request the removal tool, the tool they gave me was not the full removal tool. When I placed my preferred solution, Panda, I was having a lot of problems. Finally, Panda's technical team had me check my Registry and low and behold there sat the entire McAfee Firewall, which was the culprit for my troubles. I then went and demanded the proper tool and was given it.

Please also be aware that when you use a few of these removal tools, they first pull up the folders and files and plop them down on the desktop in ghosted transparent images, as they are in the hidden folders and files of the OS. However, when you reboot the system these folders and files will be deleted. Not all of these tools do it this way, but I wanted you to know that some do so you were not freaked out by all the folders suddenly appearing on your desktop. The McAfee Security Suite 2006 full removal tool does it this way.

My final bit of advice is to really be sure of which product you want so as to avoid having to use these tools in the first place. While there is little way to avoid having to use them when they come pre-installed, once you do remove one and install a different solution you do not want to keep removing and installing. So, please do all your homework before the installation to ensure you will be happy with the one you select.

Good luck and a very nice day to you.

Answer 8

It would be better with an antivirus programme than without,have a look on www.downloads.com for a free one.

Answer 9

you certainly need an anti-virus because windows defender can only do minor protection