Windows 10: Turn On or Off Windows Defender in Windows 10

Glad it could help David, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

Please go ahead and post a new thread for your Mail app issue, and we'll see what we can do to help.

 

I will try to post something this afternoon about my mail app. I have lots of screen shot to post.

I lived in Hartshorne, OK for a period of time to help take care my father when his health was declining.
Those Oklahoma cops are mean. I am saying "mean" like no other place I have ever lived.

 

Hi Brink, *Thumbs

This thread solved my email problems. I checked for other threads before starting my own. I am really impressed with TENFORUMS, I have found more solutions here than at Microsoft Community Forums.

Mail Notification Question

 

Hi

Thanks very much for this article. It worked perfectly here with a couple of caveats.

First of all, I had the Windows Defender notification in the task bar nagging me that the service was disabled. But, after a restart that seems to have gone completely, so that's nice. *Smile

However, there's a new problem.

Windows update still tries to automatically download the latest definitions for it then fails when it won't install, because it can't do so. So, my question is:

How do I stop Win 10 from even looking for Defender updates?! *Think (BTW, I used your other article to disable 'automatic' updates, so it's set to notify me when updates are available).

I noticed in the group policy editor for Defender, there is a signature updates section, but I think disabling that just diverts the updates from Windows Update to Microsoft update or something?

Also, yes, I can use the "wushowhide.diagcab" to show/hide the defender update (when it's available) but when there's a new one I'll have to do it again (every day at the rate it gets updated)! Not very practical.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

Hi,
I have installed Comodo Firewall and i don`t think this version on Comodo had anti virus in it. the problem is this program disabled windows defender and now I cannot turn it on. i tried all the things you suggested no luck. I just Enabled the defender through group policy and when i click on windows defender in control panel it still showing the message that says : this app is turned off by group policy.

 

Hello injaneb, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

If Comodo disabled Windows Defender, then only uninstalling Comodo would enable it again.

 

here what i did to fix the problem with Comodo firewall. looks like comodo firewall has Defense+ feature in it (Sandbox-HIPS) these two have to be Disabled the rest is like what u said in tutorial.

 

Thank you for posting back with your results injaneb. *Smile

 

I think I've found a solution to Windows update prompting to install defender updates.

In the Windows Defender group policy editor in the Signature Updates section -> 'Specify the day of the week to check for definition updates', set this to enabled then in the drop down selector choose 'Never'.

This seems to work now.

 

Two things.
The following is incorrect:

I turned off my AV (Bitdefender Free) and Defender almost immediately turned itself back on. I reenabled Bitdefender and Windows Defender turned itself back off. I do not receive any Windows Defender updates either.


Second, you can not run a .reg file by double clicking on it. You have to right click on it and choose to open it with Regedit. At least that's what I have to do. Double clicking it opens it in Notepad.

 

Hello Dch48, *Smile

1) True. You do not always have to uninstall a 3rd party AV to enable Windows Defender again. However, some have been known to be so aggressive and evasive, that you have to use their removal tool to completely get rid of it. I'll update that note to be more accurate.

2) Your default association for .reg files has been changed. By default, it should open with Registry Editor when you double click on it. Double check in Default Programs to make sure that the .reg file extension has it's Current Default program set as Registry Editor (C:\Windows\regedit.exe) to fix this.

 

Hello Brink:

I have been reading the posts about additional antivirus like comodo. I too have been using comodo for ages and in addition Orbit malware fighter. I now notice that win 10 has turned off all spyware fighters including windows defender. when a window pops up "Security and Maintenance" it lists the three (Comodo Defense+, Iorbit Malware Fighter, Windows defender) when you try to "turn on..." these three, they don't turn on. This seems to me to be a bug in Win 10. In your best call, if I were to remove Comodo Defence = and Iorbit Malware fighter, would Windows defender be turned on automatically? It seems to me this is a tragic flaw in win 10 which lends all our computers vulnerable without any protection.

 

Hello ILIOSELLAS, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

Yeah, I'd say it was a big with both Windows 10 and the AV program's compatibility. I'm sure they'll get it work out before to long.

Be sure to send feedback.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7...dows-10-a.html

 

How do you solve the other half of this problem?

Sure you can disable Defender but Microsoft Update will still download and install updates for Defenders definitions, taking up your space and resources for an app that will never run.

I know there are ways to disable Microsoft Updates but that's NOT a good option. One of the Worst things Microsoft did was take away the ability to choose what updates you want to install. That's so Draconian. Any way around this Update problem?

 

I have Home with No Group Policy Editor. Is there another way to do this for us non Pro users?