Windows Defender

[testcy]

Windows Defender is supposed to be disabled, but I still see notifications about last scan (quick scan) and threats found. How can I permanently disable this?

[Dr. Will0hlep]

Okay, just trying to get more details here. Do you mean you've installed some other anti-virus solution and therefore want windows defender to be diabled?

 

To check if it is disabled, type "Windows Security" in the search bar. Then look at Virus & Threat Protection. A tick means it is on.

 

[Dr. Will0hlep]

2 minutes ago, KodokuJ said:

I don't have a solution but dude I hate this sooo much. Like I turned everything off I could as a user and WOW I couldn't install an app because it kept deleting I wish Linux was an option for me

That is a different problem... what were you trying to install?

[testcy]

14 minutes ago, will0hlep said:

Okay, just trying to get more details here. Do you mean you've installed some other anti-virus solution and therefore want windows defender to be diabled?

 

To check if it is disabled, type "Windows Security" in the search bar. Then look at Virus & Threat Protection. A tick means it is on.

 

All protections are turned off, but quick scan keeps running. How do I disable quick scan?

[Dr. Will0hlep]

1 minute ago, testcy said:

All protections are turned off, but quick scan keeps running. How do I disable quick scan?

Can you take a photo/screenshot of the pop up you are getting?

 

Windows Defender has never given me a popup about quick scan ever.

[testcy]

14 minutes ago, Dr. Will0hlep said:

Can you take a photo/screenshot of the pop up you are getting?

 

Windows Defender has never given me a popup about quick scan ever.

It's not a popup, it's a notification about threats found after quick scan. I no longer see it on notifications to take a screenshot.

[Dr. Will0hlep]

Just now, testcy said:

It's not a popup, it's a notification about threats found after quick scan. I no longer see it on notifications to take a screenshot.

Okay,  next time it comes back take a screenshot and send it. Then I'll be able to diagnose and fix exactly what is happening.

[testcy]

48 minutes ago, Dr. Will0hlep said:

Okay,  next time it comes back take a screenshot and send it. Then I'll be able to diagnose and fix exactly what is happening.

The notification is gone, but I still see the quick scan details in Window Security.

[Dr. Will0hlep]

48 minutes ago, testcy said:

The notification is gone, but I still see the quick scan details in Window Security.

Send a screenshot of that then

[testcy]

13 hours ago, Dr. Will0hlep said:

Send a screenshot of that then

It's just a summary:

 

Current threats

No current threats.

Last scan: 02/07/2025 11:16 pm (quick scan)

0 threat(s) found.

Scan lasted 1 minutes 5 seconds

31861 files scanned.

 

The question is why quick scan still runs when Windows Defender is disabled?

[Lurking]

49 minutes ago, testcy said:

The question is why quick scan still runs when Windows Defender is disabled?

The real question here is, why do you want to turn it off? 

 

I'm only speculating, but it is possible windows doesn't let you entirely be without protection and if you don't have a 3rd party AV installed, it forces Defender to be on. Just a guess.

 

for a normal person there is zero need for 3rd party AV and defender likely is better than the semi-scam AV you can pay for. 

 

And what Windows? 10? 11? You need to provide much more context... 

[testcy]

4 minutes ago, Lurking said:

The real question here is, why do you want to turn it off? 

 

I'm only speculating, but it is possible windows doesn't let you entirely be without protection and if you don't have a 3rd party AV installed, it forces Defender to be on. Just a guess.

 

for a normal person there is zero need for 3rd party AV and defender likely is better than the semi-scam AV you can pay for. 

 

And what Windows? 10? 11? You need to provide much more context... 

Reason to turn it off are the many false positives and suspicious files quarantines under Windows 11.

[Pusbucket]

18 minutes ago, testcy said:

Reason to turn it off are the many false positives and suspicious files quarantines under Windows 11.

oh that's easy to fix.

stop downloading questionable stuff from sketchy sites.

[Pusbucket]

21 minutes ago, testcy said:

Reason to turn it off are the many false positives and suspicious files quarantines under Windows 11.

seriously though, you are getting annoyed because Defender is doing exactly what it's supposed to do?

[NinJake]

21 minutes ago, testcy said:

Reason to turn it off are the many false positives and suspicious files quarantines under Windows 11.

Even if it IS a false positive and quarantines the file, you can take it out of the quarantine and add an exclusion for that specific executable.

 

As others have stated, it's a terrible idea to fully disable your PC's antivirus.

[testcy]

12 minutes ago, jmwhite33 said:

oh that's easy to fix.

stop downloading questionable stuff from sketchy sites.

 

10 minutes ago, jmwhite33 said:

seriously though, you are getting annoyed because Defender is doing exactly what it's supposed to do?

False positives

10 minutes ago, NinJake said:

Even if it IS a false positive and quarantines the file, you can take it out of the quarantine and add an exclusion for that specific executable.

 

As others have stated, it's a terrible idea to fully disable your PC's antivirus.

I understand the need of an antivirus, but who actually likes Windows Defender?

[Pusbucket]

20 minutes ago, testcy said:

 

False positives

I understand the need of an antivirus, but who actually likes Windows Defender?

I like it compared to the ones you have to buy.

Defender probably has a smaller footprint.

It is consistently updated without having to think about it.

It doesn't act like malware by throwing ads and offers in my face.

Except in an Enterprise environment, Defender is probably the best option for the majority of general users.

[Lurking]

1 hour ago, testcy said:

 

False positives

I understand the need of an antivirus, but who actually likes Windows Defender?

Defender is better than the paid consumer grade AV. 

 

Unless you have real Enterprise solutions, Defender is your best bet (and free). I know Windows had a bet reputation 20 years ago... but the recent versions are very good and secure out of the box. 

 

Only very rarely I notice Defender flagging something that it shouldn't. But I only download what I really need....  

 

Maybe those positives are real positives? what are examples of legit files it flags? 

[testcy]

5 hours ago, Lurking said:

Defender is better than the paid consumer grade AV. 

 

Unless you have real Enterprise solutions, Defender is your best bet (and free). I know Windows had a bet reputation 20 years ago... but the recent versions are very good and secure out of the box. 

 

Only very rarely I notice Defender flagging something that it shouldn't. But I only download what I really need....  

 

Maybe those positives are real positives? what are examples of legit files it flags? 

No, they are not real positives. There are other examples, but I will only mention ExplorerPatcher.

 

https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases

[Lurking]

3 minutes ago, testcy said:

No, they are not real positives. There are other examples, but I will only mention ExplorerPatcher.

 

https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher/releases

Yes, and it says right there that other AV also could false-flag it. As long as you run any AV, you likely will get false-positives.

 

And if this is a known problem to the developer, it is up to them to fix. Defender (and other AV) just do their job - finding SUSPICIOUS files. 

 

i don't know what that software does for you, but they themselves warn against using it on mission-critical systems. Defender is doing you a favor to warn you from this type of software. 

 

Did you try the script they recommend to exclude Defender from scanning it? 

 

I think the best way to avoid Defender (or any AV) to complain, is avoid questionable software..... that software sounds like a sure way to screw up your system. Why not run ccleaner as well, just to ruin your system entirely?  

[testcy]

33 minutes ago, Lurking said:

Did you try the script they recommend to exclude Defender from scanning it? 

No, I don't currently use ExplorerPatcher.

33 minutes ago, Lurking said:

Why not run ccleaner as well, just to ruin your system entirely?  

What do you mean by this?

[Lurking]

1 hour ago, testcy said:

No, I don't currently use ExplorerPatcher.

What do you mean by this?

Probably a good choice if AV flags it and the developer themselves state to not use it on computers that matter.... 

 

Ccleaner (and other magic software to "improve" your OS are great tools if you like a buggy system and enjoy frequently re-installing windows. 

 

You are much better off using defender, but staying away from all that questionable software. If you don't download questionable software, Defender won't annoy you often. 

 

The root of your problems isn't Defender. The root is using questionable software. Defender is just the alarm preventing you from doing questionable things - exactly what it is supposed to do. 

 

This is a really big red flag for any software. At least they are honest and admit that their software screws up your system. You should thank Defender... 

What could be the possible upside of using such software? 

 

 

 

 

[testcy]

13 hours ago, Lurking said:

Probably a good choice if AV flags it and the developer themselves state to not use it on computers that matter.... 

 

Ccleaner (and other magic software to "improve" your OS are great tools if you like a buggy system and enjoy frequently re-installing windows. 

 

You are much better off using defender, but staying away from all that questionable software. If you don't download questionable software, Defender won't annoy you often. 

 

The root of your problems isn't Defender. The root is using questionable software. Defender is just the alarm preventing you from doing questionable things - exactly what it is supposed to do. 

 

This is a really big red flag for any software. At least they are honest and admit that their software screws up your system. You should thank Defender... 

What could be the possible upside of using such software? 

 

 

 

 

I tried ExplorerPatcher, but no longer use it, as I don't know if it will stop working, after the next windows update.  I don't believe in magic, but surely there are must be some software (ever freeware) that can be useful?

[Lurking]

4 hours ago, testcy said:

I tried ExplorerPatcher, but no longer use it, as I don't know if it will stop working, after the next windows update.  I don't believe in magic, but surely there are must be some software (ever freeware) that can be useful?

You mentioned ExplorerPatcher as an example of your Defender trouble... if you don't use that anymore, why the worry about Defender? Defender (or any AV) are just doing their job preventing you from doing extremely stupid things. 

 

Sure there is useful software. But getting software from sketchy sources that makes changes to your OS, is one of the riskier options. Any software you install should clearly have a value proposition and at least have a legitimate website or some review/recommendation from the community. Even if the makers of those github downloads don't have malicious intent, they don't have the resources to verify their software works well on your system. I don't think that specific software is malicious, because a maker of malicious software wouldn't write in bold letters to NOT use it. 

[RockstarArthur]

Have no idea why you are trying to get rid of Defender despite it being annoying here and there when it's way better than many other AV softwares. All the best trying to find a better alternative.