How to Disable Windows Defender for Microsoft Vista?

Windows Defender is a free Spyware/Malware active scanner Microsoft shipped with their latest client Operating System, Windows Vista (you can download here for XP). By default it’s enabled on Vista which is OK unless your using another product like Spybot (my fav). Recently in my forum, a user asked How To Disable Windows Defender so I figured it would make a good How-To write-up. Just follow the simple steps below.

Disable Windows Defender:

1. Double Click on the Windows Defender Icon in your Taskbar


1a. Another simple way to open Windows Defender is to: Click the Windows Start button and Type Defender in the Start Search Text box then Press the Enter key.

2. Click Tools then Click Options


3. Scroll to the bottom of the Options and uncheck the box Use Windows Defender. Click Save to exit and save changes


4. Click Close