Windows 8 Windows Update Settings for Windows Defender

Forums › Microsoft Windows › Windows 8 Windows Update Settings for Windows Defender

1 | 2 | 3

BDFL - Memuneh
80652 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41038

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#774424 4-Mar-2013 17:05

A version of Microsoft Security Essentials comes pre-installed on Windows 8 which basically covers the old Windows Defender plus the Microsoft Security Essentials.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1630
Inactive user

#774456 4-Mar-2013 17:39

freitasm: I find it incredible that Microsoft makes security a priority but Windows Update lists Microsoft Security Essentials virus list updates as "optional".

Security shouldn't be optional. It should mandatory and be automatically installed if the user PC is set to automatically install updates.

they do download an install automatically

if your AU is turned on and Windows Defender is not installing definitions every day please let us know so we can raise a support case

they're optional because multiple signatures normally come out during a day

but every day your Defender should be checking, downloading, installing new sigs

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1630
Inactive user

#774458 4-Mar-2013 17:45

StevieT: Done!

BTW in the default configuration your signatures should be downloading and installing every day, you shouldn't need to edit LGPO to do this

StevieT

706 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 34

#774503 4-Mar-2013 18:58

Ran a quick scan, then hit the Update button - checked for updates. It started downloading them WHILE the quick scan was running.

So it seems there is no update prior to a scan.

StevieT

706 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 34

#774509 4-Mar-2013 19:02

nathan:
freitasm: I find it incredible that Microsoft makes security a priority but Windows Update lists Microsoft Security Essentials virus list updates as "optional".

Security shouldn't be optional. It should mandatory and be automatically installed if the user PC is set to automatically install updates.

they do download an install automatically

if your AU is turned on and Windows Defender is not installing definitions every day please let us know so we can raise a support case

they're optional because multiple signatures normally come out during a day

but every day your Defender should be checking, downloading, installing new sigs

Mine is not.

Also, you open Windows Defender as a program (to run a scan, manually hit close). But then I close it (Alt-F4). Is it still running in the background? Should it download automatically new virus definitions in this state?

Also, any way around having windows updates installed once they're downloaded, rather than wait for a certain time to install them? And also have any updates downloaded immediately once they're picked up by Windows Update (and would I need to open windows update, or is it also running in the background?)

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1630
Inactive user

#774510 4-Mar-2013 19:03

StevieT: Ran a quick scan, then hit the Update button - checked for updates. It started downloading them WHILE the quick scan was running.

So it seems there is no update prior to a scan.

I believe the policy you have edited is to check for updates on WU before schedule scans

IIRC default scan schedule is once a week

what is it that you want to achieve?

do you want Windows Defender to automatically download and install updates more than once a day?

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1630
Inactive user

#774511 4-Mar-2013 19:06

StevieT:
nathan:
freitasm: I find it incredible that Microsoft makes security a priority but Windows Update lists Microsoft Security Essentials virus list updates as "optional".

Security shouldn't be optional. It should mandatory and be automatically installed if the user PC is set to automatically install updates.

they do download an install automatically

if your AU is turned on and Windows Defender is not installing definitions every day please let us know so we can raise a support case

they're optional because multiple signatures normally come out during a day

but every day your Defender should be checking, downloading, installing new sigs

Mine is not.

Also, you open Windows Defender as a program (to run a scan, manually hit close). But then I close it (Alt-F4). Is it still running in the background? Should it download automatically new virus definitions in this state?

Also, any way around having windows updates installed once they're downloaded, rather than wait for a certain time to install them? And also have any updates downloaded immediately once they're picked up by Windows Update (and would I need to open windows update, or is it also running in the background?)

so you have turned WU on, but your Windows Defender on Windows 8 is not automatically downloading and installing updates every day?

MaxLV

656 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 161

#774696 5-Mar-2013 01:39

joker97: Re OP

i thought one puts win defender in the bin and use microsoft security essentials instead

Windows Defender replaces Microsoft Security essentials in Windows 8.

"In Windows 8 and Windows RT, Windows Defender provides the same level of protection against malware as Microsoft Security Essentials. You can't use Microsoft Security Essentials with Windows 8 or Windows RT, but you don't need to—Windows Defender is already included and ready to go."

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/windows-defender#1TC=t1

The "Check For New Signatures Before a Scheduled Scan" is also off by default, it has to be manually turned on via Group Policy Editor, but if you have Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 8 (not pro) the Group Policy editor is not available. (disabled in those versions)

In all versions of Windows 7 and 8, the only way to check to see if the signature files are up to date is by starting Windows Defender, or in WU history.

Also with Windows 8, you can only schedule Windows Defender scans by setting up a scan in Windows Scheduler, there is no option in Windows Defender to schedule a scan, however Windows Defender is run as part of the daily scheduled System Maintenance, which also runs WU before Windows Defender.

[My experience with getting Windows Defender to run on 3 computers and a Windows 8 Tablet with Windows 7 Home Premium, and upgraded to Windows 8 pro.] YMMV

billgates

4706 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 672

Trusted

#774870 5-Mar-2013 10:40

freitasm: I find it incredible that Microsoft makes security a priority but Windows Update lists Microsoft Security Essentials virus list updates as "optional".

Security shouldn't be optional. It should mandatory and be automatically installed if the user PC is set to automatically install updates.

In Windows 8, Windows Defender updates are listed under important so they auto download and install themselves after couple of days I believe. I just took this screenshot.

Do whatever you want to do man.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80652 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41038

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#774880 5-Mar-2013 10:55

Yes, Windows Defender on Windows 8 are Important. Microsoft Security Essentials on Windows 7 are Optional.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1630
Inactive user

#774928 5-Mar-2013 12:29

freitasm: Yes, Windows Defender on Windows 8 are Important. Microsoft Security Essentials on Windows 7 are Optional.

they appear as Optional in WU, yes, when you manually go looking, but MSE should be updating these signatures everyday

is that not what you're seeing?

if its not happening lets log a bug because that shouldn't be happening

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1630
Inactive user

#774930 5-Mar-2013 12:31

billgates:
freitasm: I find it incredible that Microsoft makes security a priority but Windows Update lists Microsoft Security Essentials virus list updates as "optional".

Security shouldn't be optional. It should mandatory and be automatically installed if the user PC is set to automatically install updates.

In Windows 8, Windows Defender updates are listed under important so they auto download and install themselves after couple of days I believe. I just took this screenshot.

they should be updating every day automagically

they get from WU but don't rely on the WU schedule

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
80652 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41038

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#774944 5-Mar-2013 12:57

If MSE updates these everyday on Windows 7 then that's fine. I guess showing this as option on Windows Update when user checks gives the impression is not being updated...

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1630
Inactive user

#774979 5-Mar-2013 14:03

freitasm: If MSE updates these everyday on Windows 7 then that's fine. I guess showing this as option on Windows Update when user checks gives the impression is not being updated...

ill try to find where this is documented publicly so you guys can read why/how this happens under the covers

StevieT

706 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 34

#775002 5-Mar-2013 14:38

I open Windows Update, and I have to manually click 'Check for updates' to see new definitions for Windows Defender as 'important'. They don't download automatically otherwise.

Nor, when I initially open Windows Update, do they show any as available.

1 | 2 | 3