What is the role of Windows Defender in Windows 7 and should it be enabled?

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Windows 7 includes Windows Defender, which is an anti-spyware tool designed to provide protection against malicious software. Users are advised to turn it on, especially if they do not have other antivirus software installed. However, if users already have antivirus programs like AVG, Bitdefender, or Malwarebytes, they may already include anti-spyware features. It is generally not recommended to run multiple antivirus programs simultaneously, as this can lead to system instability and performance issues, such as random lock-ups. Users have reported problems when running AVG alongside Microsoft Security Essentials, indicating potential conflicts. AVG has received positive reviews, suggesting it is an effective choice for antivirus protection.
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I have started using Windows 7 recently. There is a program called Windows Defender included with it, and it is turned off. What is its function (seems to be some sort of safeguard) and should it be turned on?
 
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Defender" . Do you have any antivirus software installed? If so, they may already include anti-spyware tools.
 
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Borg said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Defender" . Do you have any antivirus software installed? If so, they may already include anti-spyware tools.

I have AVG, Bitdefender, and Malwarebyte (all free versions).
 
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mathman said:
I have AVG, Bitdefender, and Malwarebyte (all free versions).
I can't say for sure but I don't think that it's good to have more than one antivirus program running at a time. I had a new Windows 7 computer last year and made the mistake of having both AVG and Microsoft Security Essentials running on it. They were causing it to randomly lock up especially while browsing the internet. It took me a while to figure that one out.
 
You are probably right. I am not familiar with Bitdefender (it came with my installation) and I've been thinking of removing it. AVG seems to do very well - Consumer Reports liked it.
 

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