What is the difference between Windows Defender and Security Essentials?

Defender is spyware protection only. MSE is complete antimalware protection (spyware, viruses, trojans, worms, rootkits).

Windows Defender is software that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software by detecting and removing known spyware from your computer.

Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

So Microsoft Security Essentials is basically an Antivirus program.

And Windows Defender is an Antispyware program.

As far as I'm concerned, Microsoft Security Essentials is better than any other antivirus I have used so far. Its also free if you have a genuine copy of windows. You should definitely ditch McAfee. Kaspersky is the second best according to me.

Hope it will work...

http://www.iyogi.net/security/

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Hi, I'm Emilio, owner of Syco's Computer Repair Services. Windows Defender is just a spyware/adware program. Security Essentials is the new and improved version. Its both an ant-virus and Spyware removal tool. Its really great, I use it and recommend it to all those who prefer a free program. Once installed it will disable Win Defender automatically. Win Defender was pretty annoying, and slow. I would always disable it and use an alternative before Windows Security Essentials was available. If you have any computer related questions, please feel free to email me. I posted my info below. I don't charge for any advice, and I always try to help with computer repairs without anyone having to pay a dime :) take care. BTW this goes to the other poster. Windows Defender is not an antivirus program so it wouldn't affect Security Essentials if you were able to install both. But yes once you install security essentials it will install over Windows Defender. Having 2 anti-virus programs will cause a problem. But like I said, Windows Defender is not an anti-virus program so even if you could have both it wouldn't affect it :)

Windows Defender is a decent anti-spyware program bundled with Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Microsoft Security Essentials is an anti-virus and anti-malware program that protects from many more threats than Windows Defender and also adds some protection from network threats. Security Essentials is free for home users and small businesses with up to 10 computers.

In Windows 10, Windows Defender has been upgraded to include all the protection of Microsoft Security Essentials. If you try to install MSE, you get an error message saying it is not necessary.

Are you 100% sure that you have Windows Security Essentials loaded and running and not some rogue named just "Security Essentials"?

Because when geniune Windows Security Essentials is installed it should automatically disable Windows Defender by design.

Windows Defender = antispyware with real time protection.

Security Essentials (MSE) = antivirus program.

When you run MSE it will turn off Windows Defender.

Delete one of them running more than one virus program is like not having one at all.