BleepingComputer.com: is defender woth it?

is windows defender worth running? I have threat fire, and I have to wonder: is defender better than some other anti spyware products? I have read that it sucks, and its not really worth running. Should I run defender, or some other product for real time scanning?

It's free and it won't conflict with anything. It's ineffective so you just don't want to use it on its own.

No single product is 100% foolproof and can detect and remove all threats at any given time. The security community is in a constant state of change as new infections appear. Each vendor has its own definition of what constitutes malware and scanning your computer using different criteria will yield different results. The fact that each program has its own definition files means that some malware may be picked up by one that could be missed by another. Thus, a multi-layered defense using several anti-spyware products (including an effective firewall) to supplement your anti-virus combined with common sense and safe surfing habits provides the most complete protection.

ok, but I'm wondering if defender does a decent job at dection when compared to other free products.

"CNET Review of Windows Defender"
"PC World Review of Windows Defender"
"A Review of Windows Defender"

However, Defender is not just a scanner. It incorporates other features and tools:
"How to use Windows Defender Software Explorer"
"Manage startup programs in Vista using Windows Defender’s Software Explorer"