Windows Defender Being Renamed

Corrine · Jul 20, 2019

Windows Defender Gets a New Name: Microsoft Defender

In a statement to BleepingComputer, Microsoft has stated that they are making these changes to show that their security products have become cross-platform under the umbrella name Microsoft Defender.

“As part of our continued $1B a year investment to deliver a world class security platform for our
customers, we are extending Windows Defender ATP capabilities beyond the Windows operating
system. As a result, we are renaming to reflect our cross-platform approach to endpoint security”

Digerati · Jul 20, 2019

Yeah, I saw this yesterday at ghacks. Personally, I think it should have been named Microsoft Defender (or something else) right from day 1 when it was introduced with W8 to avoid confusion with their other identically named product, "Windows Defender", the anti-spyware only program that worked on W7 and earlier versions of Windows. Perhaps Microsoft Security Essentials? Or just Microsoft Security?

Oh well. I just hope beyond the name change, MS continues to enhance and improve what is already an excellent security solution (its what I use on all my systems - without reservation).

Corrine · Jul 20, 2019

Yes, indeed, I agree with you that using the same Windows Defender name when it switched from being an anti-spyware program to an antivirus wasn't the best decision.

Masterchiefxx17 · Jul 20, 2019

This is the right move and agree with it!

Digerati · Jul 21, 2019

Masterchiefxx17 said:
This is the right move and agree with it!

Yeah. I think the most difficult challenge will be training my brain to use the new name.

Corrine · Jul 21, 2019

Perhaps it will be commonly called "Defender" just as Microsoft Edge is frequently referred to as "Edge", Microsoft Office as "Office".

Digerati · Jul 21, 2019

Good point. We should start that movement now!

Will · Jul 21, 2019

I don't know why they didn't keep Microsoft Security Essentials as the name, as that really seems to me to be what the parent of the current software is (not the original Windows Defender from XP).

Easy if they wanted to make it cross-platform, had started to gain brand recognition already on Win 7, and the AV companies can't have complained too much about the "Essentials" - aka non-premium - in the name, as it still gives them a good opportunity to sell AV on top.

Digerati · Jul 21, 2019

Will Watts said:
as that really seems to me to be what the parent of the current software is

It is very much the same.

Will Watts said:
as it still gives them a good opportunity to sell AV on top.

True - but "opportunity to sell" and "reason to buy" are totally different - especially since in the real world, there is very little, if any, benefit in paying for something that really doesn't ensure freedom from compromise any better than the free product Microsoft offers. None of my personal systems, nor any of those I am responsible for have been compromised since W7 and MSE, and then W8/W10 and WD... errr... MD. So what incentive do I have to start paying recurring payments for something that provides nothing extra in return?

For the record, I call recurring payments, "bills". Who here wants another bill?

Corrine · Jul 21, 2019

Digerati said:
Who here wants another bill?

Nope, unless it is Bill.

Digerati · Jul 22, 2019

Ahh shucks! Thanks.

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Windows Defender Being Renamed

Corrine

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Digerati

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Corrine

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Masterchiefxx17

Sysnative Staff

Digerati

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Corrine

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Digerati

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Will

Senior Administrator

Digerati

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Corrine

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Digerati

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Windows Defender Being Renamed

Administrator, Microsoft MVP, Security Analyst

ModeratorHardware ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Administrator, Microsoft MVP, Security Analyst

Sysnative Staff

ModeratorHardware ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Administrator, Microsoft MVP, Security Analyst

ModeratorHardware ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Senior Administrator

ModeratorHardware ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Administrator, Microsoft MVP, Security Analyst

ModeratorHardware ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)