The Windows 10 operating system has a built-in tool that provides security in terms of preventing all sorts of threats or potentially dangerous software from entering the computer. This is Windows 10 Defender. ” How to enable it, configure or deactivate, and then it will be considered. But first, let’s dwell on the service itself, with an emphasis on user reviews and on how to configure Windows systems.
"Defender" Windows 10 "": reviews leave much to be desired
According to the official description, this service in the tenth version of the system was completely redesigned and is able to function no worse than any antivirus. But is it or is it?
If you read the comments of users, you can find many unflattering reviews, indicating that the service cares about security already somehow excessively strong. Basically, this situation occurs when installing some software products that for some reason are recognized by the system not only as dangerous, but also as potentially unwanted. This may even include optimizers or specialized utilities that allow you to deactivate some unused or unnecessary tools of the system, for example, regarding tracking user actions. In addition, as the reviews of disgruntled people say, the OS installs updates of Windows 10 Defender with enviable constancy, which most users do not need when installed full-time antiviruses. Why good, there may also be conflicts between firmware and third-party software. But here it is not so simple.
Do I need to disable the service?
Of course, the question of whether or not Windows 10 Defender is needed on local computers remains open to many. Okay, if these are network terminals, otherwise sometimes the protection comes to the point of absurdity when a user cannot install completely legal software on his own PC or laptop, even if he is a system administrator.
Yes, you can disable the product “Windows 10 Defender” (the reviews directly indicate this), however, provided that the system has a full-time antivirus. You can do this in at least four ways. But first, you should look at the configuration of the service itself. It is possible to turn it off and not have to, setting acceptable parameters for themselves.
How to setup
“Windows 10 Defender” after the upgrade or “clean” installation of the system is in the active state by default. Initial setup can be done in the options section.
The section is accessed through the standard Start menu, and then the update and security item is selected. The menu on the left has a link to the service, and on the right is the settings menu where you can set the activation of cloud protection, automatically send samples, and so on. There is another tool to help activate the Windows Defender Defender service. ” How to enable it? Yes, just move the real-time protection switch to the on position.
You can also configure or enable directly in the program by calling it, for example, through a search and setting the necessary parameters directly in the scan window.
Install antivirus software
Now a few words about disabling the service. The easiest method is to install any antivirus package. Built-in protection will be deactivated automatically.
But this is a temporary phenomenon, because after a certain period of inactivity the Windows 10 Defender will be activated again. ” How to enable it yourself? In principle, this is not required, since the service will be launched without user intervention (this can be read even in the description under the protection enable slider.
Actions in the group policies section
You can also disconnect in the services section, which can be reached by entering the gpedit.msc command in the Run console.
In the computer settings and administrative templates section, go to the Windows components and find the Endpoint Protection directory there. On the right there is a similar parameter, but with an indication of shutdown. Next, go into its settings and activate the “Enabled” line, after which it will be disabled. Re-enable is done by setting a mark on the lines “Not set” or “Off”.
Using the registry
Similar actions are performed in the system registry, the editor of which is called by the regedit command in the "Run" menu.
Here you need to use the HKLM branch, after which, through the SOFTWARE and Microsoft directories, go to the Windows Defender directory. On the right side of the editor, you need to use RMB and create a DWORD parameter of 32 bits (if it is not), name it DisableAntiSpyware and set the value to 1. This is how Windows Defender 10 is disabled. How to enable it again after performing such actions? There are two options: either set the parameter to 0, or simply delete it.
Note that the described procedures in the registry and in group policies duplicate each other, and after setting parameters in the registry, actions in the group policies section are impossible (but editing can be done).
Additional methods
In principle, you can also turn off or re-activate Defender using special programs like NoDefender or Win Updates Disabler.
Disabling or enabling system components is quite simple. In the first utility, configuration is done through the system parameters, in the second there are special tabs for this, on which descriptions and settings of the corresponding services are located.
A few words in the end
Despite the negative reviews, Microsoft experts still do not recommend refusing to use this service. If for some reason the user does not like it, in the settings you can disable the use of cloud protection and sending samples to improve this tool. But real-time protection is better left. By and large, it has no special effect on computer performance and only works at critical moments. If a warning is issued during the installation of some software (even if the installer is started on behalf of the system administrator), the installation can be started using the additional information button in the notification with the option to select "Perform Anyway", or add files in the settings to the list of exceptions.