Using Security Essentials in Windows 10, vs. Windows Defender?

Question

So I upgraded from Windows 7 to 10, last month. I was running Security Essentials in 7, and to my surprise it is still running in 10. I was under the impression that MSE was incompatible with 10 and that it would be removed automatically and replaced by WD. Well, it's still running, it seems to be still updating its definitions, and doing its automatic scheduled scans just as it has always done before.

I didn't think too much about this before, but I notice that after every reboot, I always get the message "Windows Defender has been turned off and isn't monitoring your system. If you're using another app to check for malicious or unwanted software, use Action Center to check that app's status." So checking Action Center shows that MSE is running properly, but if so, why should I get the warning about Defender?

Answer 1

I, personally, do have my doubts that Microsoft is working on any fix for this issue.

Seems that they have quite a few more pressing problems to tackle...

Oh well.

Well, as it turned out, Microsoft did work on a fix for this issue. It's called the Anniversary Upgrade. All I had to do was upgrade to the latest revision of Win 10, and it removed the Security Essentials for you during the upgrade process!

Wow.

If it's true what you're stating then it took Microsoft "only" more or less well over a  year to "fix" the MSE in Win 10 issue.

Well, I don't know if it might have been fixed by the two intermediate upgrades too (version 1511 & 1607), as I didn't install those, I went straight from the initial version to the Anniversary upgrade.

Defender is the one that's working now. I did find one thing a little disconcerting about the Anniversary UPgrade, and it was the fact that as soon as it was done installing, it went through my list of installed programs, and automatically uninstalled programs it deemed incompatible with Windows 10. It must've uninstalled maybe 10+ programs like that. It didn't give me a choice whether I should do it, it just did it, and then sent me a message saying what it's done!

Then Defender also did it's own little bit of automatic nannying, by doing a scan of my computer and just deleting stuff it deemed as malware! It didn't give me a choice to quarantine it, or ignore it.

Answer 2

I know you installed it manually. I asked if it was offered via Windows Update before you installed it manually?

KB3189866 = Win10 1607 (Build 14393.187). It was released on 13 September 2016. 

PS: Is Adobe Flash Player version 23.0.0.162 (or higher) installed now? TEST HERE USING INTERNET EXPLORER OR EDGE ONLY! => http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

Answer 3

I know you installed it manually. I asked if it was offered via Windows Update before you installed it manually?

KB3189866 = Win10 1607 (Build 14393.187). It was released on 13 September 2016. 

PS: Is Adobe Flash Player version 23.0.0.162 (or higher) installed now? TEST HERE USING INTERNET EXPLORER OR EDGE ONLY! => http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/ 

No, it wasn't offered beforehand. It looks like that earliest version of Win 10 has no more support left for it, no further updates are coming for it.

Actually, it looks like that patch did finally come in last night.

As for Flash Player, it's showing "23,0,0,162", and that link also works in Firefox, don't need IE or Edge.  Why is this relevant, anyway?

Answer 4

Q: I know you installed Win10 Anniversary Update manually. I asked if it was offered via Windows Update before you installed it manually?

A: No

1. Is KB3189866 and/or KB3172729 listed in Installed Updates (not just Update History)? [1]

2a. Open Edge or IE - not Firefox or Chrome! - to this page: http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

2b. What version is displayed in the VERSION INFORMATION box on that page?

==============================================

[1] Control Panel | Programs | Programs and Features | Installed Updates

Answer 5

Q: I know you installed Win10 Anniversary Update manually. I asked if it was offered via Windows Update before you installed it manually?

A: No

1. Is KB3189866 and/or KB3172729 listed in Installed Updates (not just Update History)? [1]

2a. Open Edge or IE - not Firefox or Chrome! - to this page: http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

2b. What version is displayed in the VERSION INFORMATION box on that page?

==============================================

[1] Control Panel | Programs | Programs and Features | Installed Updates

1. Yes.
2. It shows exactly the same thing that Firefox showed: "You have version 23,0,0,162 installed".