# Source for Microsoft Windows Defender?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-microsoft-windows-defender/462878>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 10, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-microsoft-windows-defender/462878 "2008-09-10T00:55:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-microsoft-windows-defender/462878/1 "2008-09-10T00:55:17Z")

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Hi folks. Can someone recommend a known, trustworthy site from which to download Microsoft Windows Defender? It’s been recommended, and I think it defeats the purpose to choose a site I know nothing about and invite it to download software to my computer. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-microsoft-windows-defender/462878/2 "2008-09-10T01:21:53Z")

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[http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx](http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx)

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**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-microsoft-windows-defender/462878/3 "2008-09-10T01:58:31Z")

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Thank you! There do not, however, appear to be updates for XP, so I may need to broaden the question to ask what I can install for XP that’s still supported. I run McAfee as my virus protection (which I have under my employer’s license).

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**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-microsoft-windows-defender/462878/4 "2008-09-10T03:36:54Z")

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I’d recommend doing a search in GQ for “spyware”. There’s a couple threads that recommend and compare the various offerings, most of all of which are free.

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/source-for-microsoft-windows-defender/462878/5 "2008-09-10T04:58:59Z")

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> [@susan](#):
>
> Thank you! There do not, however, appear to be updates for XP, so I may need to broaden the question to ask what I can install for XP that’s still supported. I run McAfee as my virus protection (which I have under my employer’s license).

From **Sage Rat’s** link:

> [@](#):
>
> Windows Defender is included with all versions of Windows Vista and is **available to download for genuine copies of Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later** , or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or later.