Windows Active Defender

Windows Active Defender is another entry into the annals of rogue anti-malware software that's classified under the umbrella of the Win32/FakeVimes (or simply FakeVimes) family. While Windows Active Defender doesn't have any true functions intended for the protection of your computer against viruses, rootkits and other PC threats, Windows Active Defender's pop-up alerts and system scans will display inaccurate information to convince you otherwise. Attacks by Windows Active Defender may also include the creation of junk files, browser redirects or blocking legitimate PC security applications. Since Windows Active Defender's real features place your PC in a state of considerable vulnerability, SpywareRemove.com malware experts encourage the use of exhaustive anti-malware scans to find and delete Windows Active Defender and anything else that was included in its installation attack.

Windows Active Defender: a Vigorous Offense Hiding Behind a Lackluster Defense

Windows Active Defender uses the same methodology common to all scamware: creating fake reasons to panic as an incentive for spending money on its fraudulent security software. Buying Windows Active Defender's registration key should never be considered a wise idea, even though Windows Active Defender will constantly announce the presence of everything from keyloggers to unauthorized network activity to remote attempts to steal your identity. Because Windows Active Defender's system scans and other security pretenses are all utterly fake, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers note that the best thing that you can do is ignore them wholesale.

As long as Windows Active Defender is active in memory, Windows Active Defender may also be a source of other attacks that Windows Active Defender will attempt to make look like activities of unrelated PC threats. These can include:

• Browser redirects that promote malicious sites, including spam-based search engines. SpywareRemove.com malware researchers especially advise you to minimize contact with any sites that are promoted by Windows Active Defender's browser attacks.
• Blocked security and anti-malware tools, up to and including basic utilities like your Windows Task Manager.
• The creation of dummy files that Windows Active Defender may use to implicate other types of malware. These files are, in and of themselves, harmless, except insofar as they're symptoms of a Windows Active Defender infection.
• Reduced security settings for various programs, including the Windows OS and your web browser.

The PC Security That Even Windows Active Defender Can't Defend Itself Against

Windows Active Defender should always be disabled and removed as soon as possible, assuming you have access to anti-malware products that can do so with maximum safety. If Windows Active Defender attempts to block software that could remove Windows Active Defender, SpywareRemove.com malware researchers recommend booting into Safe Mode or using other alternatives in OS boot-up techniques to ensure that Windows Active Defender can't launch. Failure to do this prior to a system scan can result in Windows Active Defender or other PC threats surviving even if they're detected.

Similar precautions should be taken against any other member of WinPC Defender, such as Ultimate Defender, SystemDefender, IE Defender, Advanced XP Defender, XP Defender, WinDefender2008, PCTotalDefender, PC Defender 2008, Personal Defender 2009, WinDefender 2009, Perfect Defender 2009, Total Defender, Malware Defender 2009, WinPC Defender, PC Privacy Defender, Smart Defender Pro, Rogue.UltimateDefender, FraudTool.LastDefender.b and Security Defender Pro 2015. Modern FakeVimes variants are particularly likely to resemble Windows Active Defender in both their appearances and naming schemes – the latter of which will usually (but not always) follow a pattern such as 'Windows [adjective] [noun].'

Technical Details