Microsoft Active Protection Service (abbreviated MAPS and formerly known as Microsoft SpyNet) is the network of

Windows Defender Microsoft Defender Antivirus (formerly Windows Defender) is an antivirus software component of Microsoft Windows. It was first released as a downloadable free anti-spyware program for Windows XP and was shipped with Windows Vista and Windows 7. ...

and

Microsoft Security Essentials Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is a discontinued antivirus software (AV) product that provides protection against different types of malicious software, such as computer viruses, spyware, rootkits, and Trojan horses. Prior to version 4.5, ...

users that help determine which programs are classified as

spyware Spyware (a portmanteau for spying software) is any malware that aims to gather information about a person or organization and send it to another entity in a way that harms the user by violating their privacy, endangering their device's securit ...

. The signatures created for any submitted programs by the users of the product are available to all users, displayed as a bar graph that shows the percentage of people who have allowed, blocked, or removed an item. This method of spyware classification allows rare, unknown, or new spyware to be categorized as most people choose to send their data.

Basic membership

The basic MAPS membership choice in Windows Defender or Microsoft Security Essentials does not alert the user of software, and changes made by software that has not been analyzed for risks. Computer information is sent (such as IP address, operating system, and Web browser), and personal information might be sent (such as search terms or data entered into forms), but will not be used to identify you or contact you.

Advanced membership

The advanced MAPS membership choice in Windows Defender or Microsoft Security Essentials results in sending more information about software files, usage, and how it affects your computer. Computer information is sent (such as IP address, operating system, and Web browser), and personal information might be sent (such as search terms, data entered into forms, file paths, or partial memory dumps), but will not be used to identify you or contact you.

Opt out

Users of Microsoft Security Essentials can opt out by left clicking on the task bar icon, choose ''settings'', ''spynet'' and then choose opt-out. Included in the v2.0 there is the ability to completely opt out of this program.

References

External links

Joining Windows Defender voting networkMicrosoft Client Security Privacy Policy
Active Protection Service {{windows-stub