Howto: Show the Defender icon in Windows 8

[Kaido]

Win8 isn't too bad to use with StartMenu8, and I like to set it up with Microsoft's free Defender antivirus when I work on people's machines. Defender was in Windows 7 as an anti-malware software package, whereas Microsoft Security Essentials was the free antivirus package for XP, Vista, and 7. In 8, Microsoft combined MSE & Defender into a single package named Defender.

The problem is, even after you install it, there's no taskbar icon, so you don't know what the status is of your protection, and you aren't able to select individual files to scan through the context menu. However, like StartMenu8, there's an aftermarket app called "Windows Defender Status Manager" that adds this functionality, as well as adding the ability to right-click on a file or folder and scan with Windows Defender. It's available free here:

http://www.itknowledge24.com/

The steps are:

1. Install Windows Defender Status Manager
2. Turn Windows Defender off, then back on

After you install the status manager app, you have to "activate" it by cycling Defender off and on. Then the flag gets sent to the status manager to begin monitoring Defender's status. Just do a search for "Defender" in Metro or the Start Menu (the Defender app looks exactly like MSE), then go into the Settings tab, uncheck "Turn on real-time protection", save changes, then check it and save again. The Status Manager icon should now have a green circle with a check in it, showing your status as protected. It doesn't seem to show the yellow "potentially unprotected" status if you need an update or haven't scanned in awhile, but it's better than nothing.

When I setup Windows 8, I typically install StartMenu8, Windows Defender Status Manager, and then disable Action Center & User Account Control. Perhaps not the best security setup, but it makes Windows 8 a lot less whiny out of the box and at least gives you free, low-resource A/V coverage. If you've uninstalled your previous antivirus and Windows Defender won't turn on, make sure it is being monitored in Action Center; you may also need to turn on Action Center messages temporarily to get it to cycle on. I usually disable the Action Center flag in the taskbar; this has to be on initially for you to reset Defender after uninstalling another A/V, if the other A/V doesn't reset Defender for you (Norton hasn't in my experience). I also disable the annoying SmartScreen popup.

 

[Kaido]

Just wanted to report that this trick works the same on Windows 8.1

 

[mikeymikec]

What's wrong with relying on the Action Manager flag to warn you that something's up with Windows Defender?

 

[Kaido]

What's wrong with relying on the Action Manager flag to warn you that something's up with Windows Defender?

Personal preference, I don't like popups.

 

[corkyg]

Action Manager flag is not a pop up - it can stay in the Notification area, and includes Defender notices.

 

[mikeymikec]

It popped up when I disabled MSE as a test on Win7. My first thought was "wouldn't one want that to happen?", followed by "not if one dislikes pop-ups"

 

[Pardus]

MSE was awful for me, highly recommend Avast free instead.

 

[Kaido]

It popped up when I disabled MSE as a test on Win7. My first thought was "wouldn't one want that to happen?", followed by "not if one dislikes pop-ups"

Yup. Classic Theme + disable Action Center + disable UAC = nice quiet interface

 

[Kaido]

MSE was awful for me, highly recommend Avast free instead.

I've actually had pretty good results with it, especially when combined with Malwarebytes Pro Lifetime, which sometimes goes on sale for $15. It's not the best antivirus, but it's great for a low-hassle solution. It doesn't have crazy popups, it doesn't slow down your system, and it auto-updates & auto-scans - basically self-maintaining! When I do computers on the side for non-technical people, I usually throw this on when I don't want to provide support down the road, because they have no clue how to renew free antivirus solutions like Avast & Antivir a year from the install date when it expires.

I also setup Click-to-Play in the Chrome options, which disables plugins unless you click on them (great for Flash, won't load ads!). I also usually setup a shortcut to Chrome with the Incognito flag and remove the default Chrome & IE browser shortcuts; this prevents cookies from being stored and also seems to help reduce toolbars/plugins automatically loading since most of them don't install themselves to load in Incognito mode by default (a few do though, unfortunately). Nothing is more sad than coming back to someone's computer a year later and having the "better" Chrome browser loaded up with a zillion toolbars (Ask.com, uTorrent, etc.)

 

[mikeymikec]

Yup. Classic Theme + disable Action Center + disable UAC = nice quiet interface

What about notifications for Windows Firewall, Windows Update etc being disabled / on non-ideal settings though?

 

[Kaido]

What about notifications for Windows Firewall, Windows Update etc being disabled / on non-ideal settings though?

Depends on how you want to roll. Personally, I disable automatic updates on my machines and just do it manually when it is convenient for me. Nothing is more frustrating than being in a hurry and having your laptop say "installing 1 of 132 updates, please do not shut off your laptop"