Windows 10: I Can't See Windows 10 Defender Antivirus in the Windows Security Settings.

I recently uninstalled McAfee AV software from an Asus gaming PC and I wanted to use the built-in Windows 10 Defender AV utilities. The problem was that I could not see the AV user interface under Settings > Windows Security.


The UI was visible and accessible on my other Windows 10 machines. I could also see that the Defender AV service was running in the Task Manager.


I tried many of the suggestions that are on these Community pages as well as other sites.


I made sure to use the McAfee MCPR.exe tool to remove all of the McAfee AV software after using the standard Control Panel program removal tool.


After all of these attempts and reading the forums, I still could not see the Devender AV User Interface.


Here is how I fixed the problem:


1. Open the registry editor as administrator by typing "regedit" in the search window by the Windows start button.



NOTE: Be VERY CAREFUL editing anything in the registry as admin. You have been warned.


2. Right click on the "Registry Editor" application.


3. Select click "Run as Administrator".


4. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Policy Manager


5. Find the registry entry "AllowUserUIAccess"


6. Note the status of the data bit for the AllowUserUIAccess entry: 0x00000001 0 The zero means that access is turned off.


7. Right click on the "AllowUserUIAccess" then select click "Modify". remember the warning


8. Change the "0" in the "Value data" box to a "1" then click "OK".


9. Close the Registry Editor and restart the machine.


10. Go back to the Windows Security settings page to confirm that you can now view the Antivirus User Interface.

:)

 

Is Windows Defender a proper Antivirus for Windows 10 ?

1) Yes.

2) Yes.

3) Many. Suggestion to use your preferred search engine and look it up. Also see:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/18900/consumer-antivirus-software-providers-for-windows

Suggestion to read:

• How to Use the Built-in Windows Defender Antivirus on Windows 10
• Configure Windows Defender in Windows 8, 8.1 and 10
  
• What’s the Best Antivirus for Windows 10? (Is Windows Defender Good Enough?)
• Choosing an Anti-Virus Program
• Supplementing your Anti-Virus Program with Anti-Malware Tools
• Answers to common security questions - Best Practices

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4) Are you spamming?

 

"Attestation" A new feature coming to Windows Defender in Windows 10

Tech Republic - Upcoming Windows Defender feature will tell you when security fails

This seems very promising. Microsoft is in the unique position to know what Windows should look like, even before Windows Update pushes out new changes. As long as MS can properly sync WD with WU changes AND this new features does not make any "noticeable" hit on system performance/resources, all without any false positives, this should be a big step forward for consumer security, and a blow to the bad guys - always a good thing.

Of course, there will likely be some hiccups the Windows/Microsoft/Windows Defender bashers will surely pounce on - regardless how extensive the Beta process is. But hopefully open and unbiased minds will prevail. After all, the goal is to stop the bad guys and if this gets us closer to that, that's a very good thing.

For more detailed information, see Introducing Windows Defender System Guard runtime attestation)

 

Is antivirus necessary for Windows 10?

Windows 10 ships with the in-built Anti-Virus product Windows Defender.

I suggest to take the time to read the following articles:

• How to Use the Built-in Windows Defender Antivirus on Windows 10
• Configure Windows Defender in Windows 8, 8.1 and 10
  
• What’s the Best Antivirus for Windows 10? (Is Windows Defender Good Enough?)
• Choosing an Anti-Virus Program
• Answers to common security questions - Best Practices
• Antivirus and antimalware software FAQ