[pcguy9441]

Do I need Windows Defender, or any other Windows anti Malware service if I an running a current state-of-the-art 3rd party andi Malware suite like Eset NOD32, McAfee, Norton, etc.... ?
I find Defender is runing a process called MsMpEng.exe which is hogging cpu cycles boging down the machine. There is a lot of info online indicating this process is a major offender. I just removed Defender.

Thanks in advance.

[BBQ_SNOB]

PCGUY,

I wouldn't rely on Windows alone, but also wouldn't disable Windows Defender. I have used several 3rd party applications that haven't fought with Microsofts toys too bad.

At an enterprise or mid-sized business level I have used everything from Sophos to AVG Network and had very good results with Defender

From a desktop level, I use the full paid version of AVG's Suite and a paid version of Malwarebytes. I haven't noticed problems with an exception of a year ago when defender picked up AVG as spyware. AVG apparently fixed the problem.

I am also one of those people who uses hand sanitzer.

[noxstrreak]

I never found windows defender to do anything worth while. Kaspersky seems to do well. also read that norton 2010 is really wonderful. I still have to test it.

[lunarlander]

To have Windows Defender show you anything, you have to join MS Spynet as an advanced member. ( Tools, MS Spynet, join with advanced membership )

Look in your Event Viewer and search for Event IDs 3004, 3005 on a Vista system. Windows Defender logs its finding there.