Updating Windows Defender

Question

Hello!

Would anybody please tell me how using Windows Update correlates with updaing Defender's signatures? Consider the following situation:

1. On 23 08 2024 at 12:20 PM I access the Windows Defender log and see that the latest installed update is the update xxx....262.0 and it was installed at 11:38 AM 23 08 2024
   At the same time I open Windows Update window and see that my Windows Server wants to install the update 256.0.
2. I install update 256.0 in Windows Update window and check the updates history:
   

Theoretically update 256.0 could be the latest update when the Windows Update was checking the signatures at 3:24 AM but in this case

Q: why does the update list above contains only update 256.0 and does not contain any other updates that can be seen in the Defender log (up to 262.0) ?

Thank you in advance,
Michael

Answer 1

Hi Hram,

Thanks for your post. Generally speaking, Microsoft Defender Antivirus uses cloud-delivered protection (also called the Microsoft Advanced Protection Service, or MAPS) and periodically downloads dynamic security intelligence updates to provide more protection. These dynamic updates don't take the place of regular security intelligence updates via security intelligence update.

Cloud-delivered protection is always on and requires an active connection to the Internet to function. Security intelligence updates occur on a scheduled cadence (configurable via policy). For more information, see Use Microsoft cloud-provided protection in Microsoft Defender Antivirus.

For a list of recent security intelligence updates, see Security intelligence updates for Microsoft Defender Antivirus and other Microsoft antimalware.

Engine updates are included with security intelligence updates and are released on a monthly cadence.

Reference: Microsoft Defender Antivirus security intelligence and product updates - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Microsoft Learn

Best Regards,

Ian Xue

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