Windows Defender

Windows Defender and on-going updates are available for no additional charge to Windows XP and Windows Vista customers.

Windows Vista

If you are using Windows Vista, you already have Windows Defender, although it might be turned off if you have Antivirus security software installed. To find out if Windows Defender is turned off, click on the Windows Vista Start button and type in “Windows Defender”.


If Defender is turned off, you can turn it back on by clicking the ‘Turn on and open Windows Defender’ link.

If you are running a valid copy of Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, follow the steps below to download and install Windows Defender:

1. Confirm that your computer meets the minimum system requirements to install Windows Defender.
2. Visit the Windows Defender page in the Microsoft Download Center. Click the Continue button and follow the directions on the following pages to download the program and start the Installation Wizard.
3. Follow the steps in the Installation Wizard. You will be asked if you want to participate in the Microsoft SpyNet online community. We suggest you choose the first option, Use recommended settings.
   
   Join the SpyNet community to help defend computers from unwanted software.
   Note: SpyNet is a community that brings Windows Defender users together to identify and share information about spyware. This community reports potential threats identified by the Windows Defender real-time system agents to the SpyNet servers, which catalog and update the system to help protect you from new spyware threats. The SpyNet community collects information, such as the file name and the action that the community chose to take (to block or allow) in a report about the file in question. When Windows Defender sends the report to the SpyNet Community it also sends standard computer information, such as your region and language setting. No personal information is collected.
4. Click Next to continue.
5. Click Install to begin installing Windows Defender.
6. When installation is complete, you should see the page displayed below. Click Finish. Windows Defender will begin to scan your computer.