What's New in Windows Vista?

Security Features

This section looks at three security features that are now included with the Vista operating system. They are Windows Defender, Windows Firewall, and the Windows Vista Parental Controls. Each will be discussed in its own subsection.

Windows Defender

Vista ships with a built-in anti-spyware tool called Windows Defender. Previously known as Windows Anti-Spyware, Defender's mission is to prevent installation of malware, software that can either install itself or run without your knowledge or consent. It's sometimes difficult to determine whether or not malware has been installed; a well-written piece of malware calls little attention to itself,thus making detection and removal all the more critical. Why bother? Because malware has a job, and it's one you probably don't want it to do.

Malware applications can be written to gather information about online usage, including vital information such as login names, passwords, and credit card information. They can also change settings on your computer such as Internet Explorer's home and/or just generally slow down performance.

And of course, there's the pop-up advertisement, brought to you courtesy of that old friend, adware. While malware can define a broad range of code: worms, Trojans, viruses, etc., one of the things Defender works hardest against is the pop up. (Really nasty adware can display ads even when you're not connected to the Internet.)

Windows Defender helps to keep spyware off your computer—and remove it should ...