"defwatch.exe" is part of Norton AntiVirus from Symantec Corporation. It detects out-of-date virus definitions for Norton Anti-Virus software and warns you about them. Required only if you don't update your virus definitions manually on a regular basis.  

Get more detailed information about defwatch.exe and all other running background processes with Security Task Manager.

Note: Any malware can be named anything - so you should check where the files of the running processes are located on your disk. If a "non-Microsoft" .exe file is located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder, then there is a high risk for a virus, spyware, trojan or worm infection! Check it out!

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Users Opinions

365 users ask for this file. 42 users rated it as not dangerous. 4 users rated it as not so dangerous. 1 user rated it as neutral. 8 users rated it as dangerous. 1 user didn't rate it ("don't know").

All comments about defwatch.exe: Part of Symantec/Norton Antivirus - Virus definition scout   defwatch.exe is part of Norton Antivirus Corporarte Edition. It monitors the virus definition files and will initiate a process to update these if necessary.   Billy X Norton Anti-Virus Corporate Edition Definition Updater   www.PC-Component.com It is the prog that tells you "Your definitions are out pf date. Please Run Liveupdate."   It also totally ignores the exclusions you set in SAV and removes those programs you thought you had excluded from deletion such as RAdmin   Part of Anti-virus software   Justin This is the Software Firewall (NeoWatch) originally created by NeoWorx. NeoWorx was purchased by McAfee in 2002 (for $10mil). NeoWatch a great SW firewall, easy to use and works on Win95-XP and below. If you can find a copy, I recommend using it.   Stu Pidaso do a live update with ur anti virus def. ppl lol   This is the file which alerts about auto updates   magesh babu Norton's File   Sesshy It is used for Symantec Corporate Edition   The file that checks your definitions, and tells them when they're out of date   Skavold Well it may be a norton process but I DON'T have norton installed! I use avg AV, is it normal to have a norton process? or could it be a virus?   it is not malicious   daniel component of Norton CE - 280K reported in task manager   bozo This is a safe Norton Symantic file that watches for new virus, worm, trogen definitions and initiates a process to download them if the system operator has not run a Live Update for virus definitions for a set period of time. Set Norton to automatically update definitions at an obsure hour every day and this file will no longer need to run on startup.   TheWord It's a virus. Chews away at your registry files   Adam Norton / symantec virus definition updater.   This helps deaf users.   Keith Mghee It is a file from norton av and not to worry abt it, while takes quite cpu resources during startup. Better to check if it is a malware.   Parvesh Paliwal Used in Symantec Anti Virus Corp Editions   If you know more about defwatch.exe, share your knowledge and help other users. Security Rating:  --- don't know ---  1 (not dangerous)  2  3 (neutral)  4  5 (dangerous) What do you know about this file: Link for more details: Your Name:

More process information

Is defwatch.exe spyware or a virus, trojans, adware or worm? Is there a known defwatch.exe error?

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[defwatch.exe in German] [all processes]