rover wrote:Will either Windows Defender or Avast work on Windows XP?
Yes according to this: (Avast will work.) Windows Defender will not work on Windows XP. Note that Windows XP is a no longer supported Microsoft Operating System. (See below after Avast 2016 requirements: )
- Operating system Microsoft Windows 10 / 8.1 / 8 / 7 SP1 or higher / Vista / XP SP2 or higher (any Edition, 32-bit or 64-bit)
- Processor Intel Pentium 4 / AMD Athlon 64 or above.
- 256 MB RAM memory or above.
- 1.5 GB of free hard disk space.
Updates For Windows XP Ended in April 2014
Be aware that Windows Updates are just as important as anti-virus, at times even more so, because they are the protective root of the operating system. Microsoft no longer supports updates for Windows XP, and stopped providing updates for it and Outlook Express in April 2014. Thirteen years after XP's first lanuch. Computers have come down dramatically in price, and if you are still using Windows XP, you really should consider an upgrade to Windows 10 for better security, built in protection in Windows Defender, plus added safeguards to protect against ransomware attacks. You could pick up a good computer for about $500. (With Windows 10.)
Microsoft did provide an out of cycle update for the "Wanna Cry" ransomware because so many millions were affected on systems as old as Windows XP. Don't count on them doing that for older systems. Updates for Windows Operating Systems are as follows:
Windows 7: Till January 2020
Windows 8.1: Till July 2023
Windows 10: (Regularly Updated For the life of the device on which it is used.) Microsoft wants everyone on Windows 10 and have it evolve over time with monthly security updates, and new update features 2-3 times a year.
If you download Avast, make sure you examine the URL carefully and that it is from Avast.com. If the URL says CNet.com or Cnet.net, there may be some adware bundled with the download.
Satch