How Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Works

How Windows Defender Protects Against Spyware

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Spyware, Malware, and Viruses Spyware is a type of malware, or malicious software. Other types of malware include computer viruses and worms, which infect your system and make unwanted changes to program files and documents. A spyware program is not a virus, and is not normally detected by antivirus utilities; nor does Windows Defender detect or protect against computer viruses and worms. This is why you should install a separate antivirus program in addition to the Windows Defender anti-spyware utility.