ARCHIVED: In Windows Defender, what is Software Explorer?

In Windows Defender, Software Explorer provides detailed information about software on your computer that can affect your privacy or your computer's security. For example, you can see which programs run automatically when you start Windows, and how these programs interact with important Windows programs and services.

Software Explorer can monitor:

• Startup programs, which run automatically when you start Windows
• Programs currently running on the screen or in the background
• Network-connected programs or processes that can connect to the Internet, or to your home or office network
• Winsock service providers, which perform low-level networking and communication services for Windows and programs that run on Windows. These programs often have access to important areas of the operating system.

Software Explorer details

Software Explorer displays basic information about programs, such as name, publisher, and version. Depending on the category you choose, you might also see:

• Auto Start: Indicates whether the program is registered to start automatically when Windows starts
• Startup Type: The location where the program is registered to start automatically when Windows starts (e.g., in the registry or the All Users Startup folder)
• Ships with Operating System: Indicates whether the program was installed as part of Windows
• Classification: Identifies whether the program has been analyzed for risks to privacy and computer security
• Digitally Signed By: Indicates whether the software has been signed and, if so, whether the publisher listed has signed it. If the software is unsigned, UITS recommends that you do not trust the publisher information provided with the software, and that you review more details before deciding if you trust the software.

Note: UITS recommends you do not remove or disable any entry unless you are certain it is malware or is safely removable.

Using Software Explorer

To use Software Explorer to view and manage your programs:

Note: To view and manage programs and other software for all users on the computer, you must provide an administrator password or permission.

1. Click Start, then All Programs, and then Windows Defender.
2. Click Tools, and then Software Explorer.
3. In the Category list, select the type of software to monitor. To monitor software used by all users on the computer, click Show for all users. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

This information was adapted from the Windows Help and How-to article, Using Software Explorer in Windows Defender.