Windows Defender vs Norton Antivirus

[DanInPhilly]

I installed Norton Antivirus when I made my new PC -- Vista-64 -- and it works fine. (I avoided the full Norton package cuz I heard it had problems)

Today -- for the first time in the six months I've had the PC -- I got a popup from Windows defender saying that my computer hadn't been scanned for three days. So I clicked OK. I expected the Norton scanner to appear, but it didn't; just windows defender doing its thing. It didn't find any problems, but now I'm wondering: what's the difference between the two? why did W.defender get a bee in its bonnet all of a sudden? and why doesn't Norton do it anyway?

BTW, Norton scans my pc every day.

 

[law9933]

Norton is for virus protection/scans.
Defender is more for spyware protection.
I have never had that popup.

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: law9933
Norton is for virus protection/scans.
Defender is more for spyware protection.
I have never had that popup.

I have had Windows Defender give me that pop up.

If I were you, I would disable Windows Defender, and install something that can actually detect spyware such as Super Antispyware.

Window Defender's detection rate is pretty bad. It is more of a waste of resources than anything.

 

[AnnonUSA]

I agree Windows Defender would only be good at telling you after the fact. It is crap software. Get something good. Most of the norton AntiVirus packages do now scan for Spyware and AdWare too, check to see if your does, and eliminate the Windows Defender.

 

[law9933]

"If I were you, I would disable Windows Defender, and install something that can actually detect spyware such as Super Antispyware."

I have Spyware Blaster & Spyware Guard, I thought Defender would add a little more & they get along together.
SUPERAntispyware is only a active protection if you by it, I use free programs, but use it as a great manual scanner.
I will be updating to AVG 8 (free) (no link scanner installed) with its active antispyware.

I have a free year of Ubantu by a-squared, it seems to be a real good idea???

 

[DanInPhilly]

Thanks all.
Norton does scan for spyware and adware. But it's funny with the latter. Sometimes it tells me to delete a cookie (which I do), but not often. But when I load up Windows XP (it's a dual boot PC) and run AdAware then it finds lots of cookies in the Vista user folder (which I delete).

 

[law9933]

I have several manual scanners & active protection programs. There is not only one program that is up to date on everything. Some are mainly AV or AS, or detect
a different way.