Microsoft antispyware or anti spam or windows defender

Windows Defender or Previously known as microsoft antispyware
Windows Windows Defender application Previously known as microsoft anti spyware or anti spam is a important software for your computer. It is a free application that helps you stay productive by protecting your computer against pop-up windows, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other potentially unwanted software. Windows Defender (microsoft anti spyware) provides advanced system scanning and spyware removal technologies that simplify the removal of spyware on your system. Real-time protection helps prevent new spyware from installing while a streamlined alert mechanism minimizes interruptions

SCAN

Windows Defender (microsoft antispyware) helps users detect and remove known spyware and other potentially unwanted software. To help automate spyware protection, Windows Defender includes automatic scanning options to provide regular spyware scanning in addition to on-demand scanning options. The spyware scan functionality has three options for detecting spyware including:

?  Quick Scan . A quick scan rapidly checks the places on a hard disk that spyware is most likely to infect.

?  Full Scan . A full scan will check all files on a hard disk, the registry, all currently running applications, and all other critical areas of the operating system.

?  Custom Scan . A custom scan enables users to scan the drives and folders selected after performing a quick scan.

he spyware scan uses an updated spyware definition database to identify installed spyware on a computer, provide threat descriptions, and suggest appropriate actions.

Spyware Protection

Scanning and removal of known spyware that is already on your computer can help clean your system, but it will not keep new spyware from installing. To help protect you from new threats and even unknown threats, Windows Defender (microsoft anti spyware) offers real-time protection using monitoring agents. These nine security agents monitor critical areas of your computer that spyware might attempt to modify. The agents monitor:

?  Auto Start. This agent monitors the list of applications that you allow to run automatically when you start your computer. Spyware and other potentially unwanted software can be set to run automatically when Windows starts. That way, spyware can run without your knowledge and collect information. Spyware in your startup list can also make your computer start or run slowly.

?  System Configuration. This agent monitors security-related settings in Windows. Spyware and other potentially unwanted software can change hardware and software security settings to collect information and use it to undermine your computer security further.

?  Internet Explorer Add-ons. This agent monitors applications that automatically run when you start Internet Explorer. Spyware and other potentially unwanted software can masquerade as web browser add-ons and run without your knowledge.

?  Internet Explorer Configurations. This agent monitors browser security settings, which are your first line of defense against harmful content on the Internet. Spyware and other potentially unwanted software can try to change these settings without your knowledge.

?  Internet Explorer Downloads. This agent monitors files and applications designed to work with Internet Explorer, such as ActiveX controls and software installation applications. The browser can download, install, or run these files by itself. Spyware and other potentially unwanted software can be included with these files and be installed without your knowledge.

?  Services and Drivers. This agent monitors services and drivers as they interact with Windows and your applications. Because services and drivers perform essential computer functions, such as allowing devices to work with your computer, they have access to important software in the operating system. Spyware and other potentially unwanted software can use services and drivers to gain access to your computer or to try to run undetected on your computer like normal operating system components.

?  Application Execution. This agent monitors application execution activity and any operations they perform while running. Spyware and other potentially unwanted software can use vulnerabilities in applications that you have installed to run harmful or unwanted software without your knowledge. For example, spyware can run itself in the background when you start a frequently used application. Windows Defender monitors your applications and alerts you if it detects suspicious activity.

?  Application Registration. This agent monitors tools and files in the operating system where applications can register to run at any time, not just when you start Windows or another application. Spyware and other potentially unwanted software can register an application to start without notice and run, for example, at a scheduled time each day. This allows the application to collect information about you or your computer or gain access to important software in the operating system without your knowledge.

?  Windows Add-ons. This agent monitors add-on applications, also known as software utilities, for Windows. Add-ons enhance your computing experience in areas such as security, browsing, productivity, and multi-media. However, add-ons can also install applications that will collect information about you or your online activities and expose sensitive, personal information, often to advertisers.

Advanced User Options

Windows Defender provides you with visibility and control over your software. It provides visibility through the Software Explorer, scanning results, real-time protection alerts, event logs, and the history file. Windows Defender provides control by associating relevant information, guidance, and actionable choices to each item detected on your system. While the advanced user options are not necessary to keep your computer safe from spyware, they do enhance visibility and control.

Software Explorer

To help you understand what software is currently running on your computer, automatically starting or communicating over the internet, Windows Defender has a feature called the Software Explorer. This feature lists applications in various categories including:

?  Startup Programs- These applications run automatically with or without your knowledge when you start Windows.

?  Currently Running Programs- These applications are currently running onscreen or in the background.

?  Network Connected Programs- These applications or processes are currently connected to the Internet or to your home or office network.

?  Winsock Service Providers- These applications perform low-level networking and communication services for Windows and applications that run on Windows. They often have access to important areas of the operating system.

The Software Explorer enables you to quickly discover and remove hidden or potentially unwanted applications that have been installed without your consent. It displays relevant information about each of these processes and provides options for stopping or disabling unwanted applications as seen in Figure 3 below.

History Tab

The History page displays the actions you have applied to spyware and other potentially unwanted software that Windows Defender has detected on your computer. The actions include Remove, Ignore, Always Allow, and Quarantine. The Always Allow and Quarantine actions list the items in other areas to be managed later. From the History page, you have access to:

?  Allowed Items- If you trust the software that Windows Defender has detected, you can stop Windows Defender from alerting you to the risks by selecting the Always Allow action. This action lists these items on the Allowed Items page where they remain until removed. Removing a particular item from the Allowed Items list triggers Windows Defender(microsoft anti spyware) to resume detection of this item.

?  Quarantined Items- When Windows Defender quarantines software, it moves it to another location on your computer, and then prevents the software from running until you choose to restore it or remove it from your computer. This allows you to test the removal process before permanently removing the item from your computer.